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365DaysOfPhilosophy 181- Book Resource The Consolations of Philosophy
“…But what matters most is what we put last: ‘Has he become better and wiser?’ We ought to find out not who understands most but who understands best. We work merely to fill the memory, leaving the understanding and the sense of right and wrong empty.” — Alain de Botton, The Consolations of Philosophy.
Some of Alain De Botton’s works tend towards the intersection of self-help and philosophy; The Consolations of Philosophy (2000) but also Status Anxiety, The Architecture of Happiness and Pleasures and Sorrows of Work, his approach is to investigate philosophers’ lives and historical relevance, and discuss how their work could be interpreted as useful in dealing with issues you might have in everyday life.
I came across The Consolations of Philosophy after reading something similar in regards to Jane Austen: a Guide to Dating by Lauren Henderson. It could be argued that any book that helps you to relate to a challenging problem that also gives you an interest in philosophy has some value. This particular book investigates the topics such as unpopularity (with reference to Socrates), poverty (Epicurus), frustration (Seneca), inadequacy (Montaigne), heartbreak (Schopenhauer), and difficulties (Nietzsche — not just the part about syphilis, you’d be glad to know).
While being sentenced to death in Ancient Greece might not seem highly relevant to most of us, it’s a basic introduction to the various philosophers and reflections on what could be practical advice you might obtain through their experiences. While I wouldn’t see this as a necessary go-to-self-help book, I have found it useful for introducing students to some basic ideas and prompting conversation on what else they found out about the philosophers and how their thoughts are relevant today.
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“…But what matters most is what we put last: ‘Has he become better and wiser?’ We ought to find out not who understands most but who understands best. We work merely to fill the memory, leaving the understanding and the sense of right and wrong empty.” — Alain de Botton, The Consolations of Philosophy.
Some of Alain De Botton’s works tend towards the intersection of self-help and philosophy; The Consolations of Philosophy (2000) but also Status Anxiety, The Architecture of Happiness and Pleasures and Sorrows of Work, his approach is to investigate philosophers’ lives and historical relevance, and discuss how their work could be interpreted as useful in dealing with issues you might have in everyday life.
I came across The Consolations of Philosophy after reading something similar in regards to Jane Austen: a Guide to Dating by Lauren Henderson. It could be argued that any book that helps you to relate to a challenging problem that also gives you an interest in philosophy has some value. This particular book investigates the topics such as unpopularity (with reference to Socrates), poverty (Epicurus), frustration (Seneca), inadequacy (Montaigne), heartbreak (Schopenhauer), and difficulties (Nietzsche — not just the part about syphilis, you’d be glad to know).
While being sentenced to death in Ancient Greece might not seem highly relevant to most of us, it’s a basic introduction to the various philosophers and reflections on what could be practical advice you might obtain through their experiences. While I wouldn’t see this as a necessary go-to-self-help book, I have found it useful for introducing students to some basic ideas and prompting conversation on what else they found out about the philosophers and how their thoughts are relevant today.