Reason and Emotion: How to Decide Which to Listen To

A scale balancing a heart and a brain

How do you know whether reason or emotion is the right voice to listen to? What’s the best way to make decisions? Reason and emotion both have a role to play in making decisions and living a good life, and philosophers have suggested choosing reason over emotion or aligning reason and emotion. Understanding each of these perspectives can help you live life better. Keep reading for more on living a rational life and balancing reason with emotion.

The Confucius Philosophy of Life: Dedication to a Purpose

A man sitting by a lake

What is the Confucius philosophy of life? What did Confucius teach about living well? Confucius’s philosophy of life is that meaning comes from dedicating yourself to something bigger. He suggested dedicating yourself to your community and family by obeying cultural traditions and respecting elders. Learn more about what Confucius said about living well, as well as similar philosophies from other thinkers.

Nietzsche and Camus: No Such Thing as a “Good” Life

Statues of a man with angel and devil on each of his shoulders

What did Nietzsche and Camus teach about leading a good life? Why did they let go of the idea of pursuing goodness? Nietzsche and Camus both taught that pursuing moral goodness is not the best way to optimize your life. Looking at their philosophies, you can see how other ways of thinking can help you to make good decisions, too. Learn why Nietzsche and Camus let go of the idea of moral goodness and what they suggested instead.

Does Reincarnation Exist? What Believers & Skeptics Say

The process of a butterfly being reincarnated into a man.

Does reincarnation exist? What are skeptics’ and believers’ takes on reincarnation? In simple terms, reincarnation is the process of a human’s or animal’s soul being transferred to another body after a biological death. Reincarnation is a popular belief among many religions, but the concept isn’t universally accepted due to a lack of scientific evidence. Let’s explore different perspectives on whether or not reincarnation exists.

Trust and Inspire Leadership: The 5 Fundamental Beliefs

Trust and Inspire Leadership: The 5 Fundamental Beliefs

How do your beliefs shape your leadership style? What do you believe to be true about yourself and the people you lead? In Trust and Inspire, Stephen M. R. Covey says that as a modern leader, you must inspire employees to maximize their work quality by trusting and encouraging them to achieve their full potential. He contends that the foundation of this type of leadership is a set of beliefs. Keep reading to learn the five fundamental beliefs of Trust and Inspire leadership.

How to Accept Reality and Be Happy Through Self-Compassion

A man accepting reality and being happy as he sits on a bridge overlooking an Asian scenery.

Do you want to learn how to accept reality and be happy? What does it take to be happy with how things are? Learning how to accept reality and be happy requires an objective perspective paired with self-compassion. Looking at your life this way can help you be more content regardless of your circumstances. Keep reading to learn how to become more comfortable accepting reality.

Life Worth Living: A Guide to What Matters Most (Overview)

A young woman reading a book outside in an urban courtyard.

What does it mean to live well? How should we approach life? How should we think about death? The authors of Life Worth Living: A Guide to What Matters Most don’t claim to have the answers, but they offer some possible answers based on the life philosophies of several great thinkers. Even if you disagree with their ideas, you can use them as a springboard for figuring out what you believe. Continue reading for an overview of this book that will get you thinking about what truly matters in life and how to translate those beliefs into action.

What Is a Life Philosophy, and Why Should You Have One?

A man pondering what life philosophy is with a cityscape in the background.

What is a life philosophy? Do you have one? Should you? In Life Worth Living, Miroslav Volf, Matthew Croasmun, and Ryan McAnnally-Linz define the notion of a life philosophy. Then, they explain why you should have a life philosophy by exploring the value it can bring to your life. Read more to learn what a life philosophy is and why it’s important to have one.

Philosophy of Happiness: Utilitarians, Buddhists, & Oscar Wilde

Three cartoon smiling people with glasses representing the philosophy of happiness.

What’s your philosophy of happiness? Is it a goal or simply a byproduct of certain aspects of your life? In Life Worth Living, Miroslav Volf, Matthew Croasmun, and Ryan McAnnally-Linz discuss happiness in the context of your philosophy of life. They explain various perspectives on the role that happiness plays in life. Continue reading to understand these various philosophies and see where your values line up.

Promote Existential Well-Being Through Your Life Philosophy

A woman with high existential well-being as she smiles on a farm ranch.

Are you happy to be alive? Are you thriving or just surviving? In Life Worth Living, Miroslav Volf, Matthew Croasmun, and Ryan McAnnally-Linz argue that a good life philosophy promotes existential well-being. It inspires you to take actions that make you feel good about your existence given your beliefs about the purpose and significance of life on Earth. Keep reading to learn more about the argument these three Yale professors make.