I am currently finishing up research on a philosophy book I am writing. While philosophy and fitness might seem at first glance to be very different subjects, they actually have some important similarities: the approach to philosophy I am writing about could be described as “fitness for the mind and soul.”
Even if you don’t concern yourself with philosophy as it was introduced to you in school, this perspective will be of interest to anyone who wants to become fit: not just physically, but fit in a more comprehensive sense, towards every aspect of life.
The book will explore and explain the idea of philosophy as a hands-on approach to life. This attitude was integral to the way philosophy was originally conceived in ancient Greece, and is very different from the purely academic and theoretical thinking that most people nowadays consider philosophy. The book will draw from many traditions and also utilize current knowledge in psychology and related fields.
But its foundation was laid by ancient Greek philosophers, and especially their ideas about what makes for a good life and how to go about achieving it.
Happiness is a Skill
While an academically correct title like “Contemporary Applications of Ancient Virtue Ethics” might sound both boring and daunting, the actual working title — Happiness is a Skill — provides a more accurate sense of the content, and is probably friendly enough that you will be interested in seeing how it may apply to you.
If so, the blog post Essentials of Practical Philosophy provides a concise introduction, and I will post essays and short working papers related to the subject on this page.
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