“Philosophy’s power to blunt all the blows of circumstance is beyond belief.” …

“The philosopher: he alone knows how to live for himself. He is the one, in fact, who knows the fundamental thing: how to live.” ~ Seneca from Letters from a Stoic

“Philosophy” and “Philosophers” have such a bad rap these days. Somehow, it got away from its Greek roots and has become, for the most part, a topic reserved for boring, crusty old (and dead) white guys. The classic Greeks and the Romans would have been disappointed.

Did you know the word “philosopher” literally means “lover of wisdom”--where wisdom means “knowledge of life”?! Therefore, a “philosopher” is someone who is IN LOVE with learning how to live. (NOT a Professor at a University droning on about pedantic stuff that has no recognizable practical application. I confess that I must still be getting over my “B” in my Classic Western Philosophy class at UCLA, but isn’t it remarkable how boring they can make Philosophy?!? And, even more frightening, how far from practical... :)

But, alas, back to Seneca. You ask, what is the purpose of Philosophy? He answers: “Shall I tell you what philosophy holds out to humanity? Counsel… You are called in to help the unhappy.”

And how much of your time should you invest in studying Philosophy? Seneca advises: “When some state or other offered Alexander a part of its territory and half of all its property he told them that ‘he hadn’t come to Asia with the intention of accepting whatever they cared to give him, but of letting them keep whatever he chose to leave them.’ Philosophy, likewise, tells all other occupations: ‘It’s not my intention to accept whatever time is leftover from you; you shall have, instead, what I reject.’ Give you whole mind to her.”

So, let’s give all of our heart’s to the pursuit of wisdom and remember Philosophy’s power to blunt the blows of circumstance! :)