Incorporating Philosophy into your Life

While Socrates said, “The unexamined life is not worth living,” it is difficult to make the conscious effort to examine your life to make it worth living.

The books Breakfast with Socrates and Driving with Plato by Robert Rowland Smith take you through a persons routine while incorporating philosophy.

For example, Chapter four of Breakfast with Socrates is titled 'Being at Work' and it discusses Marxism.

There are obvious ways to incorporate philosophy, like taking a course in a branch of philosophy that peaks your interest or borrowing philosophy books from your local library. However, every philosophical discovery does not have to play out as an epiphany.

Listening to the previously mentioned podcasts during a morning commute or workout helps make excellent use of idle time.

Most importantly, do what you love or as Heidegger would say, follow your calling.

The term ‘philosophy’ is a broad generalization that includes a multitude of branches and something is bound to peak your interest.

If you are passionate about animal rights, Peter Singer has done amazing work in environmental ethics. His most notable book is Animal Liberation. Another book recommendation that seamlessly blends psychology and philosophy is Philosophy for life and Other Dangerous Situations, by Jules Evans. If you are questioning the future and ethics of technological advancements and artificial intelligence, Ray Kurzweil has pioneered the way in philosophy of technology. 

These examples can continue on endlessly. However, we are fortunate to live in a digital age where an insurmountable amount of information is available at our fingertips.

Philosophy can be applied to almost any situation or decision that you are facing in life. Thankfully, philosophy inherently forces us to think rationally. Studying philosophers that came before you will give you the knowledge and tools you need to tackle anything life throws at you.