“Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around
once in a while, you could miss it.” – Ferris Bueller

Why study Philosophy?  Because you want to!

We should really clarify the question by first asking what we mean by “Philosophy”.  The definition of Philosophy is… something you can decide for yourself.  Look it up (or make it up) if you like.  It’s usually something to do with thought, theories, logic, wisdom, etc…

By their very nature definitions are academic.  I find it amusing how “academic” has become slang for “pointless”.  Most people think of the study of philosophy as investigating who said what, when, in what language, and what colour shoes they were wearing at the time?

A fact is nothing but a common consensus.  Does it matter if the telephone was invented by Alexander Graham Bell or Antonio Meucci?  Neither of them answers my calls!

The same is true of philosophy.  Theories, concepts and ideas are judged on whether or not they are useful to me.  How does the idea of Plato’s cave impact my life?  Can it make me happier, more resilient and wiser?  What if the idea was stolen from Socrates?  Would this change the implications?  Would spending many fruitless years investigating its origins affect my life?

“This is your life and it’s ending one minute at a time”
– The Fight Club Narrator

The problem with philosophy is that many people do not consider it useful.  What is the benefit to mankind?  Maths is useful, as is the study of medicine.  People will study business because they desire money, but few consider why they desire it or what they’ll do with it should they ever acquire any!

Will having money make you happy?  Evidence of many lotto winners, actors and musicians who turned to drugs and suicide suggest not.  You say you’ll be different, but how do you know?  How do you know anything?

Now we’re getting more philosophical!  The study of philosophy is widely regarded as being the fruitless searching for answers to questions that cannot be answered.  You know, the big questions, grand subjects – Life, the Universe and Everything…

Perhaps we need to own 42 hats?  Is that philosophy or fashion?  Again, we have a problem with the categorisation of subjects.  There is far too much information for our short lifetime.  The internet alone is proof of that!

To experience the universe in manner that makes sense (and to find our way around libraries) we must categorise knowledge, questions, opinions…  Is this philosophy, science, business or poetry?  Fact or fiction?

Many subjects, once regarded as philosophy are now classified under different subjects.  Astronomy, Physics, Chemistry, Psychology, Management, Alternative Therapies, Economics, NLP – once the subject becomes considered useful it is no longer classified philosophy!  Does this mean philosophy is not useful? Certainly not! It is the cutting edge of knowledge and investigation, what incredible new subjects will emerge from the minds of modern philosophers?

All these fantastic subjects yet philosophy is still the one ring to rule them all.  It surrounds us, and penetrates us… It binds the galaxy together…  Luminous beings are we, not this crude matter.

Philosophy forms the foundations of all enquiry and knowledge.  How can we know anything?  What is knowledge?  Why do we think?  What can we be sure of?  What could we be missing out on?

To study Philosophy is to think.  To peel back the layers of our lives.  To question.  What do we want?  How can we get it?  Why do we want it in the first place?  What makes us happy?  What makes us sad?  How can I get more out of life?

Philosophy is the exploration of existence!

Why did these great explorers wander the earth?  What was the purpose of the voyage to the moon?  Because by studying your limitations, you learn about yourself.  When a scientist conducts an experiment they discover new information about both the universe and the equipment.  Do you want to learn about your universe and your self?

What use is understanding people?  Could it make a difference to your career or your business?  How about dating and relationships?  Could understanding your world make a difference in your life, your wealth and your happiness?

What if you knew exactly how to achieve happiness?  If you had the means to achieve contentment or excitement quickly and simply, whenever you want, simply by taking a pill or thinking the right thoughts?  Would that be valuable?

Have you ever wondered how you know what you know?  Why you believe what you believe?  Which thoughts are your own and which have been programmed into you?  Is it all just bricks in the wall?  Can you free yourself from those indoctrinated beliefs?

Could you learn to master your emotions?  To learn why disharmony occurs and how to prevent it, to build a fortress for your happiness? To understand and master creativity?  To remove the limits of your imagination?  To learn how to stop thinking without falling asleep?

Could you improve your productivity?  Become more efficient?  Achieve anything you aspire to?  If you can fill the unforgiving minute, with sixty seconds worth of distance run, yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it!

Would you like to take a journey, explore a little?  To discover what is really inside you.  What you are truly capable of.  Perhaps you are destined for greatness!  I think so.  I really do.  You must be interested you wouldn’t be reading this…

Let’s take a few steps together.  Discover how our minds work and how we can control them.  There is an old cliché:  Prior Planning Prevents Poor Performance.  To succeed in any venture you must give it some thought.

Have you given any thought to your life?

Do you want to?