Philosophy for Life and Other Dangerous Situations: Ancient Philosophy for Modern Problems - Kindle edition by Jules Evans. Religion & Spirituality Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com.
https://cheap-library.com/book/b4d711b182f750db2f3b96df897f81a0
$5.53 (USD)
Publisher: New World Library
Release date: 2013
Format: EPUB
Size: 1.76 MB
Language: English
Pages: 320
Product details
File Size: 2424 KB
Print Length: 322 pages
Publisher: New World Library (October 3, 2013)
Publication Date: October 3, 2013
Language: English
ASIN: B00F8LP88U
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When philosophy rescued him from an emotional crisis, Jules Evans became fascinated by how ideas invented over two thousand years ago can help us today. He interviewed soldiers, psychologists, gangsters, astronauts, and anarchists and discovered the ways that people are using philosophy now to build better lives. Ancient philosophy has inspired modern communities — Socratic cafés, Stoic armies, Epicurean communes — and even whole nations in the quest for the good life.This book is an invitation to a dream school with a rowdy faculty that includes twelve of the greatest philosophers from the ancient world, sharing their lessons on happiness, resilience, and much more. Lively and inspiring, this is philosophy for the street, for the workplace, for the battlefield, for love, for life.
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4.6 out of 5 stars
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Top customer reviews
GirlScoutDad
5.0 out of 5 starsEnduring insights from the ancient ones, still applicable for the eternal dilemmas of human existenceAugust 27, 2014
Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
This book rates high for both an engaging, easy writing style, and serious content of some depth. As the Epicureans (if not the Hedonists) might have noted with approval, it was a pleasure to read. The pantheon of ancient western philosophers have provided a wide range of enduring insights that we contemporary mortals should incorporate into our lives in order to live better and wiser. Some of the many ideas put forth are the following (with, in most cases, a separate chapter for explicating the concept):
-- from Epictetus: the importance of distinguishing between what is and is not under our control in life.
-- from the Stoics: the importance of physical and mental training and discipline.
-- from Epicurus, the importance of savoring the moment, and simplifying one's wants and needs.
-- from Heraclitus, the idea of 'cosmic contemplation', seeing the big picture, taking the long view of things.
-- from Pythagoras, the value of mottos, maxims, and their applicability as a kind of "psychological first aid kit."
-- from the Skeptics, the skill of cultivating a healthy doubt, and avoiding dogma, hero-worship, and over-reaction.
-- from Diogenes, tolerating and celebrating creative anarchy.
-- from Plato, the folly of Utopian schemes.
-- from Plutarch, cultivating heroic (resilient) role models.
-- from Aristotle, the cultivation of character through the practice of virtue; the definition of the good life and the art of flourishing.
-- from Socrates and others, courage and celebration in meeting the end of one's life.
The author has done considerable travel and research to search out many places around the globe and on the web where "ordinary" people are actively discussing philosophical ideas and striving to employ these concepts toward the betterment of self and community. I enjoyed William Irvine's book, "A Guide to the Good Life", on modern applications of the ancient Stoics a great deal; this book is even more satisfying because it discusses many classical schools of philosophy in addition to Stoicism.
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36 people found this helpful
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JKO
5.0 out of 5 starsThousands of years of philosophy made deeply understandableJune 26, 2012
Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
Evans does a wonderful job of explaining many different philosophical ideas from ancient Stoicism to modern Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and shows how they are relevant today. He's clearly at the forefront of the philosophical revival and folds in the latest thinking about cognitive neuroscience, evolutionary psychology, and modern philosophy to show how ancient concepts are still relevant today and how they can improve your understanding of the world and your quality of life.
This is the first book I've ever read twice in a row. As soon as I finished it, I started over and still got a lot out of it the second time through. There are not many books you can say that about! I found myself wishing the book was twice as long because the topics are so fresh and interesting. I was disappointed when I reached a chapter end because each section was so enjoyable to read and then contemplate.
I hope there is a follow-up book coming soon.
35 people found this helpful
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M.Ely
5.0 out of 5 starsHope he writes another one soon!December 14, 2012
Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
This is my first review ever on Amazon, but I felt compelled to write because I enjoyed this book so much. Evans has really succeeded in presenting ancient philosophy as something accessible and useful to us all. Philosophy has this stuffy, pompous connotation to it, but after reading this book I felt as if a whole different world had opened right before me. As a business major, I consider this the philosophy class I never had. Evans also has a fairly positive attitude about humans and our ability to be resilient and change ourselves, which I found personally uplifting. Overall, an educational, inspiring book that I will refer back to for years to come. Hope he writes another one soon!
22 people found this helpful
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Kansas Mike
4.0 out of 5 starsEternal questions.June 19, 2014
Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase
So often I think we feel like we're going through life on our own. That the issues and troubles we face are unique to us. But that's not really the case. Philosophers have been asking life's questions for millenia, and many of their answers can help us in the modern world today. I enjoyed Jules Evans book. He presents an interesting juxtaposition between the knowledge of the ancients, and the knowledge of the RIght Now. I highly recommend this book for an introduction to greek philosophy, as well as a self-help manual for the modern age.
2 people found this helpful
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oliver
5.0 out of 5 starsvery handy practical guidebook to navigating the deeper parts of the inner worldAugust 23, 2014
Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase
Thank you Mr. Evans for expertly weaving together the essence of great thinkers, historical and modern, along with some of your own insights and life experience. Perhaps beliefs and ideas are most useful when they are treated like clothes .... Tried on for a period of time and then taken off, run through the laundry and then taken out again at an appropriate occasion. Or perhaps a better analogy is that they are like lenses ... Some help see far away, some magnify the unseen microscopic world, and some just help bring what is before us into better focus.
Your writing has provided an excellent framework for exploring some of the most critical themes in life. If philosophy can be seen as a type of a medicine for the soul, then this book has tremendous healing potential. For sure I will keep this as a go to reference source as I continue to reflect upon what you have shared.
2 people found this helpful
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Az Jack 520 in Tucson
5.0 out of 5 starsInteresting ideas with just a little hype.August 4, 2014
Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase
It was tough to decide between a 4 and 5 star rating. The overall material is excellent, but the book contains too many references to the author's website and some of it reads like a sales pitch for his methods. Still, there's definitely some "meat" here and it's far from being one of those self-published books that contains nothing but links to more stuff by the author. He is one of the pioneers in his field, at least in the UK.
One person found this helpful
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homer
5.0 out of 5 starsThinking about StoicsOctober 14, 2017
Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase
Kansas City is a city of thinkers. We bring many speakers in to Truman Library, Linda Hall Library and Unity on the Plaza. We have a great location to bring folks from anywhere in the country. #KC5Stars
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Donald Robertson rated it it was amazing
Shelves: philosophy
Jules has written a superb introduction to practical philosophy. This book is perhaps quite unique, although it’s written in a very accessible style. I think I read it in the space of 2-3 days. It introduces the reader to a range of classical philosophical ways of life, by means of many anecdotes and examples that paint a vivid picture of how modern followers of these philosophies make use of them in coping with adversity and living meaningful and satisfying lives. Jules begins with three chapters discussing some of the most well-known Stoic authors of antiquity: Epictetus, Musonius Rufus and Seneca. The Stoics feature prominently, in fact, which should be no surprise as theirs is widely-regarded as the philosophical school most systematically concerned with the Socratic art of living, or practical philosophy. However, Jules adopts an eclectic (or “pluralistic”) approach, introducing the reader to the possible benefits of the main philosophical traditions of the Hellenistic period, and also raising some potential criticisms along the way. He proceeds to explore the great rival of the Stoic school, Epicureanism. Later chapters also touch upon the other major philosophical movements: the Sceptics and Cynics, and the schools of Plato and Aristotle. The pre-Socratic philosophers Heraclitus and Pythagoras also have chapters dedicated to them, as does the Platonist philosopher Plutarch. Throughout, references to modern therapy and positive psychology, etc., are interwoven with anecdotes about contemporary individuals who have made use of philosophy in their lives.
I was very impressed by the way that Jules covered so much ground in the space of a single book. We’re left with a sense that these philosophers offer us a variety of lifestyles, which are different enough to make for interesting comparisons but similar enough to intersect and complement each other in important ways. Indeed, many philosophers of antiquity were not rigidly devoted to the teachings of a single school but drew upon different traditions in quite an eclectic manner, much as Jules’ book does. Even those identifying themselves as “Stoics” or “Platonists”, etc., used to dip into the texts of opposing schools, which I believe Seneca called “raiding the enemy camp” for ideas. In that sense, Philosophy for Life stands in a long tradition of philosophical texts that inspire readers to learn about and perhaps imitate the philosophical lifestyles and practices of the great philosophers of different orientations, inviting them to make comparisons, generate their own synthesis or perhaps choose between them. Most of the Hellenistic schools considered themselves to be descendants, to varying degrees, of Socrates, the pre-eminent Greek sage. However, the Stoics particularly aimed to preserve the practical example of Socrates’ philosophical lifestyle, by means of various strategies and techniques associated with the “art of living”. These happen to resemble modern psychotherapeutic procedures, particularly those of cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT), as Jules notes, alluding to his own personal story as an example of someone who combined both CBT self-help and classical philosophy to learn methods of emotional self-regulation and personal improvement.
My own orientation is broadly Stoic, a subject I’ve written about in one of the books Jules mentions in Philosophy for Life. So I’m tempted to add some more comments about the Stoic tradition. Jules gives a lot more space to the Stoics than the other philosophies and is broadly sympathetic to their approach, although he also raises some potential criticisms. He gives several examples of individuals who are influenced by Stoicism or provide good examples of Stoic resilience, prominent among which are, quite rightly, modern military personnel such as admiral James Stockdale, a prisoner of war during the Vietnam war whose allegiance to Stoicism helped him endure many years of torture without breaking, Rhonda Curnum the head of the Comprehensive Soldier Fitness programme, and several US marines and Green Berets, including Major Thomas Jarrett who combines Stoicism and REBT in his own resilience training programme. These anecdotes include great examples of modern Stoic attitudes and ways of coping with adversity. I used the story of James Stockdale in my own book and talked at length about the military metaphors in Stoicism. However, it seems this way of portraying Stoicism can also be off-putting to some people and may create a rather “macho” image that’s arguably not the whole story. Toward the end of this book, Jules actually concludes that the whole Socratic tradition, including all the philosophies described here, may be legitimately criticised for “its overemphasis on the self-sufficient rational individual and its lack of compassion and charity” (p. 255). Of the Stoics in particular he says:
We are not, and should not try to be, invincible Stoic supermen, safe in our lonely fortresses of solitude. We need each other. We need to admit this need, and embrace it. (pp. 210-211)
In some ways, this is a fair point, but I think it deserves a response. It’s not entirely clear what the doctrines of Stoicism were in relation to compassion for mankind, or individuals, and they probably differed among parts of the school. However, in their own lives, the famous Stoics of history clearly engaged with society and generally appear to have valued close friendships. For example, Marcus Aurelius spends the entire first chapter of his Meditations praising his friends and family at some length, and recounting their virtues with great admiration and affection. Marcus says that the ideal Stoic Sage is “full of love”, for the universe and mankind, but free from irrational fear and craving (“passion”, in the Stoic technical sense). I doubt any Stoic would literally believe that we “need” each other but rather that we have a natural affinity for other people and therefore benefit from healthy relationships when we exercise wisdom in them. The Stoics frequently refer to the value they place on love for mankind and gentleness even toward their enemies. Seneca wrote:
No school has more goodness and gentleness, none has more love for human beings, nor more attention to the common good. The goal which it assigns to us is to be useful, to help others, and to take care, not only of ourselves, but of everyone in general and of each one in particular.
The scholar Pierre Hadot notes that the Christian doctrine of “loving one’s neighbour as oneself” was prefigured in Stoicism, centuries before the supposed birth of Christ. Indeed, arguably Stoicism is a philosophy of love. Love of wisdom, as the name “philosophy” literally states, the wisdom to know the difference between good, bad, and indifferent things. It is also therefore, by implication, the love of both human nature and the nature of the universe, through understanding which we grasp what is good and beneficial for ourselves and for mankind in general. I’m not suggesting that Green Berets, etc., don’t value brotherly love but that the military analogies so common in Stoic literature often emphasise resilience in the sense of mental “toughness” and perhaps sometimes obscure the gentle and compassionate side of Stoicism, which it shares to a large extent with the Christian tradition. This is a difficulty with Stoic texts in general, though, and Jules frequently helps to redress misconceptions about Stoicism by pointing out, for instance, that the Stoics developed a sophisticated grasp of the psychology of emotion rather than simply being the utterly dispassionate “cold fish” they’re often portrayed as being. Indeed, the Stoics repeatedly extol positive, rational and healthy emotions such as courage, generosity, compassion, love, friendship, and even joy, insofar as these do not interfere with one’s exercise of practical wisdom. On the other hand, it’s true that the Stoics did sometimes make remarks that appear to paint a more solitary and austere picture of their philosophical practices. It’s therefore important that contrasting ways of life such as those of the Epicureans and Aristotelians are there for comparison.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It’s certainly one I will recommend to others and I’ve already found myself referring other people to it as an introduction to both Stoicism and practical philosophy, the Socratic art of living, in general. As noted above, the style of the book is quite different from most others on ancient philosophy, although it might be compared to ancient biographical accounts of philosophers, but written in very modern prose and well-suited to today’s readers, whether or not they have any experience of philosophy. It will be particularly good as the “first book” to read for people interested in finding out more about classical philosophy and how it relates to modern approaches to therapy, wellbeing and personal improvement. Jules has achieved a lot and I’m sure a great many people will benefit from reading his work, which will inspire them to philosophise in their daily lives and to find out more about the Socratic philosophical tradition.
Table of Contents
Preface: Welcome to the School of Athens
1. Morning roll call: Socrates and the art of street philosophy
Morning Session: The Warriors of Virtue
2. Epictetus and the art of maintaining control
3. Musonius Rufus and the art of fieldwork
4. Seneca and the art of managing expectations
Lunch: Philosophy Buffet
5. Lunchtime lesson: Epicurus and the art of savouring the moment
Early Afternoon Session: Mystics & Sceptics
6. Heraclitus and the art of cosmic contemplation
7. Pythagoras and the art of memorisation and incantation
8. Sceptics and the art of cultivating doubt
Late Afternoon Session: Politics
9. Diogenes and the art of anarchy
10. Plato and the art of justice
11. Plutarch and the art of heroism
12. Aristotle and the art of flourishing
Graduation: Socrates and the art of departure
Extra-Curricular Appendix
Appendix One: Is Socrates over-optimistic about human reason?
Appendix Two: The Socratic tradition and non-Western philosophical traditions
Appendix Three: Socrates and Dionysus(less)
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Nicolay Hvidsten rated it it was amazing
Shelves: non-fiction, headspace, philosophy, re-read, favourites
I'm not sure whether it is the particular order in which I read the following books that caused the profound cumulative effect they had on me, or if they can be read in any order and still have the same effect, or indeed if they possibly can have the same effect on another person, but for the mere chance that they might, I'm listing them here:
The Tao of Pooh - by Benjamin Hoff
The Antidote - by Oliver Burkeman
The Power of Now - by Eckhart Tolle
Awaken the Giant Within - by Anthony Robbins
Deep Work - by Cal Newport
Philosophy for Life - by Jules Evans
(Honorable mentions to The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand, Meditations by Marcus Aurelius, We Learn Nothing by Tim Kreider, Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl, The Six Pillars of Self-Esteem by Nathaniel Branden, and Zen Shorts by Jon Muth)
These books changed the way I view the world, as well as how I respond to its circumstances, and in my opinion this is the highest achievement a book can ever aspire to. Fiction books have certainly provided moments of introspection and even near ecstacy (caused by, but not limited to, Jonathan Strange & Mr Norell by Susanna Clarke, The Gone-Away World by Nick Harkaway, East of Eden by Steinbeck, Lord of the Flies by Golding, and For Whom the Bell Tolls by Hemingway), but they have never profoundly changed the way I view the world in the way that these books of non-fiction have.
What also strikes me about these books are the astounding similaritiesbetween the ideas taught by each of them. I think it's amazing how similar, for instance, the stoic tradition is to zen Buddhism, whether concerning the idea of a logos (i.e. a cosmic intelligence that we are all part of), or that it is your reaction to external events rather than the events themselves that cause you distress.
These ideas are expounded upon and investigated in all the books I listed, and each provided perspective adds to the overall debate.
What makes Philosophy for Life such an influential book in my particular case is that Evans summarises the similarities between all the various Greek schools of philosophy (stoicism, skepticism, cynicism, epecuritanism et. al.) which is what allowed me to realise the corresponding parallels in the philosophical works that I personally have read (like for instance the similarity between Tolle's insistence of being present and not create a victim mentality and the stoic tradition, or how Anthony Robbins declares that you must "question your beliefs" which is perfectly in tune with the Socratic method of questioning what you think you know, and realise that you harbour false beliefs which impact how you view the world).
All in all this book might be a perfect introduction to Greek philosophy (as well as a tool to practically implement whichever philosophy appeals to you) - it certainly gave me a solid introduction to cynicism and epecuritanism which I had never encountered before - but, most importantly in my particular case, it can also solidify your previous encounters with philosophical ideas (gleamed perhaps from Buddhism, as in my case) and show you the common ground these all build upon.
You might not necessarily need to read all the books I listed initially to gleam this insight (you might already be aware of it for all I know), but I genuinely think that if you should only pick one of them, make it this one.(less)
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Jul 09, 2017Marius rated it it was amazing · review of another edition
Shelves: bibliothèque-personnelle
Importantă carte de popularizare a filosofiei antice - în principal grecești. Am citit-o prima oară pe Kindle în engleză. Credeam în mod eronat că e o lucrare self-help de duzină așa cum le place vesticilor și nu merita să-i fac loc în bibliotecă.
Este scrisă într-un limbaj accesibil, fără nici un jargon filosofic. Autorul nu vorbește despre filosofie ca de la catedră ci caută să vadă cum poate fi aplicată vieții de zi cu zi. El însuși a folosit filosofia pentru a controla anxietatea și depresia. Prezintă oameni simpli care își conduc viața pe baza uneia sau alteia dintre filosofiile prezentate: stoicismul, epicurismul, cinismul, platonismul ș.a.
Presupun că acestea sunt motivele pentru care cartea a avut succes: a coborât filosofia din școli și universități (unde se dogmatizase) înapoi în mijlocul oamenilor obișnuiți. A făcut-o accesibilă și prietenoasă. A refăcut-o practică. Acest fenomen este un trend pe care trebuie să-l aplaud (alt promotor al filosofiei în rândul oamenilor obișnuiți fiind Alain de Botton )
Este deci o carte pentru tineri și neinițiați scrisă de un tânăr. Pentru „jupâni” în materie recomand Exercitii spirituale si filosofie antica de Pierre Hadot. Demersul său este similar: coborârea Filosofiei din mediul academic unde s-a osificat și folosirea ei ca în antichitate. Atunci filosofia era mai mult practică, scopul ei fiind acela de a ne îmbunătăți viața și de a ne pregăti pentru moarte. (less)
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Sep 12, 2013Blair rated it liked it
Jules Evans enters Alain De Botton territory here as he gives a populist take on Ancient Greek philosophers and how their ideas can be used as therapy. I thought he was going to focus mainly on the Stoics, but he covers a fair bit of ground. It might have been better just to stick to the Stoics, though. He finds links with Cognitive Behaviour Therapy and interviews a lot of people who have applied the ideas of the philosophers in their own lives. What I do like is his level-headed critical approach to things like positive psychology which he admires in theory but is quite willing to point out the flaws with. Ultimately it's a little superficial, which is why I'm on to the philosophers themselves now... (less)
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Jul 16, 2017Peter Mcloughlin rated it it was amazing · review of another edition
Shelves: 00000good-things, 10000-bce-to-500-ce, 1960-to-1989, 1990-to-present,american-history, biology, biography, classical-world, education, european-history
Practical Philosophy. This book uses ancient Greek and Hellenistic Philosophy to live a better life and indeed help one define the good life. It focuses on Stoicism and its relationship with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and how to use the common sense maxim that there is little under our total control in life save our appraisal and evaluation of the situation. We can control our attitude to the slings and arrows of life and change how we react to them and respond rationally and hopefully with some equanimity. This book also explores other philosophies of the Ancient Mediterranean including Epicureanism, Aristotelean Philosophy, The Cynics like Diogenes, Plutarch( and modeling heroes), and Socratic questioning. Excellent practical philosophy very useful. (less)
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