Welcome to The Door to E. A series-style newsletter for people obsessed with exploring, explaining, and expanding ideas to unlock human potential. Each week, I publish around 3 chosen series that share ideas, experiences, and stories to help you design your life.
This is an overarching “mini book” that acts as a portal to other posts I’ll make around practical philosophy.
Thank you for reading, and please forward this mini-book to anyone who you think needs to walk on the journey.
Dear Friend
I first found myself diving and finding solace in philosophy as a young teenager whose mind was messed up with a lot of different things from academic struggle to just plain old mental barriers that people seem to call mental illness these days.
But as I was going through the motions of failure and adolescent swings I found myself reading a copy of Jonathan Levingston Seagull by Richard Bach… It's not strictly philosophical but that book opened my mind to something great.
Everything is just interpretation.
I’ve since read that book every year for the last 6 years and find something new to hang my brain on because it has a line in it
THE ONLY TRUE LAW IS THAT WHICH LEADS TO FREEDOM.
I knew I had found something fascinating.
I’ve been obsessed with finding my truth and bringing philosophical principles to life ever since.
But I never really put effort into it, until now. This newsletter and this series is my answer to my inner voice.
What is Practical Philosophy?
Now as the name might suggest, it is the practical application of philosophical principles in daily life.
I’m no expert, nor am I an academic in this lovely field… But I’m a seeker and as such I have no desire to be anything less than a student.
Not everything that philosophers think about turns out to be useful but stuff like inquiry, ethics, aesthetics, metacognition and so on are pretty amazing aspects that could turn your perspective and mine on its head.
Why should it matter?
I’ve always believed that if someone hasn’t questioned their beliefs, biases, existence and moral standing all through their lives, they haven’t even gotten close to themselves.
Worse, they haven’t even scratched the surface to what they are capable of.
Because at its core, you get a framework for ethical decision-making and moral reasoning. And since we live in a rapidly changing world that is just hell-bent on speed, it forces you to slow down your thoughts and question your actions… giving you a strong moral compass when things go south.
It lets us connect with the world and in turn, connect with ourselves.
A simple guide to practical philosophy
Get clear on your values - Everything begins with the study of self and that means getting clear about what you value, what biases you have, what behavior you exhibit… you need to know your strengths and weaknesses. Reflect on what matters to you most in life and what virtues you wish to embody.
Study principles - There are different schools of thought in philosophy… you’ve got Confucianism, Taoism, Stoicism, Existentialism, and a lot more. Familiarize yourself with the key principles and find the one that resonates with you the most.
Apply wisdom - Consider how you can integrate philosophical principles into your daily decisions, actions, and interactions with others. The way you work, the way you behave… everything.
Cultivate mindfulness - self-awareness keeps you grounded and present in the moment, which helps you observe your thoughts, emotions, and reactions without judgment and bias.
Embrace virtue ethics - Embody values like honesty, compassion, integrity, and resilience in your character. It will be hard to practice but the more present and deliberate you are, the stronger your transformation. So act in alignment with the virtues.
Seek balance - This is the part I used to struggle with the most (and still do in some ways) but prioritize self-care, set boundaries, and allocate time and energy to activities that nourish your mind, body, and spirit.
Reflect and Adjust - cultivate gratitude, build resilience, foster connections with empathy, and live with intent with every action. Keeping a journal is one if not the most effective way to do it because you get to have a dialogue with yourself and confront your experience to derive insights for learning and growth.
Published articles on Practical Philosophy Friday
Final Words
Honestly, I can get a lot deeper than this and I fully intend to do so in due time. But this is a good starting point.
I’ll add more pieces down the line, maybe talk to some people and get their perspectives too.
Who knows what this may lead to.
But until then
See you on the thought train
S