Philosophy

This article is an excerpt from my book Philosophy for Business Leaders: Asking Questions, Navigating Uncertainty, and the Quest for Meaning. I once moderated an online session that revolved around discussions about personal finance, investments, and entrepreneurship. During the session, I asked the guest a question that sparked concerns about the importance of ethics in the business world. The guest, wearing a smile, along with many attendees—most of whom were bankers and professionals—agreed that as long as actions are legal and compliant, there is no problem. ...

“Philosophy is impractical” is a common assertion I frequently encounter and occasionally express myself. There’s some truth to it. In modern-day pragmatic terms, philosophy may indeed be useless. Unlike, say, physics or engineering, the results of pursuing philosophy are not immediately noticeable. It does not teach you how to construct a building. That’s why it is often perceived as a useless activity. But where does the value of philosophy lie? Does philosophy have any value at all? ...

A Comedy Club for Educators Nietzsche once exclaimed in “Beyond Good and Evil” how what seemed to be vibrant and lively ideas wither away like the yellow leaves of autumn falling off the trees when written down. I’ll include the full quote later because it’s a bit long. Every time I get excited over an idea, it suddenly becomes insipid and pale shortly before I even start exploring it in writing. So I decide not to pursue it any further. ...

In the Greco-Roman tradition, philosophy wasn’t just theory—it was a practical journey. Pierre Hadot, in “Philosophy as a Way of Life,” describes it as a series of spiritual exercises. These encompass: Learning How to Live “Everywhere and at all times, it is up to you to rejoice piously at what is occurring at the present moment, to conduct yourself with justice towards the people who are present here and now.” - Marcus Aurelius ...

Why we prefer the status quo, even when change is necessary In Anton Chekhov’s The Cherry Orchard, the Ranevsky family is at risk of losing their estate and wealth. Mounting debt, mismanagement, and bad luck have left them in a precarious position. At the center of it all is the family’s cherished orchard tree, a living symbol of their legacy, standing tall through generations. Lopakhin, a self-made merchant, offers a practical solution: cut down the tree, build cabins, and rent them out. With some initial investment, this could potentially generate enough cash flow to pay off their debts and save the estate, preserving their wealth and legacy. ...

A brief introduction to Aristotle’s virtue ethics Virtue theory proclaims that people ought to incorporate certain virtues, defined as excellent traits, as part of their characters by habituating themselves to the practice of such traits as honesty and courage, etc. The opposite of virtue is vice. Proponents of the theory, including the ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle (384–322 BC), suggest that, ideally, we need to do what is virtuous, and refrain from acting viciously. The assumption is that cultivating a good character is conducive to a society that functions in an orderly, harmonious, and cohesive manner. This is made possible insofar as a community acts virtuously with a view towards achieving the greater ‘common’ good. ...

The Temptation of the Shortcut We are searching for the holy grail. The one blueprint that magically solves all our problems. The one prompt that would turn our idea into a fully-fledged, functional, and successful business. The pill that makes all our troubles disappear overnight. That one viral post that propels us into fame, making our lives a lot easier. We’re living at an accelerated rhythm. Speed matters more than the process or the outcome. We expect the results yesterday. There’s a lot going on. New technological advancements are happening at an unparalleled speed. A future riddled with considerable uncertainty. The wins are up for grabs. The frenzy is in the air, and we’re all trying our best to surf these high waves. ...

Socrates and the Cost of Asking Questions ‘The life which is unexamined is not worth living,’ Socrates famously said, according to his student Plato, during his trial defense. Socrates was taken to court, accused of corrupting the youth and disrespecting the gods. These charges were a euphemism for ‘we don’t like this guy, he’s causing a stir, and people, especially the youth, are beginning to question things. We better get rid of him before he does any more damage.’ ...

From Abstraction to Understanding Over the past year I’ve been learning how to code. I didn’t start with a grand plan, but just wanted to explore something new. I took a deep dive into Python and picked up the Django framework that makes it easier to build websites and applications. Coming from a philosophy background, I noticed that my approach to the learning process was anchored in the conceptual foundation I had acquired during years of philosophical training. ...