Really, who wants to read an essay on philosophy!!?? Though university educated and trained throughout my technical career; I have remained a fan of informal lifelong learning. My interests (what I refer to as personal research) include biology, ecology, the social sciences, history, risk/statistics, and physics /cosmology, among other topics. I nearly majored in biology before retreating to the career safety of an engineering degree. So much to learn and so little time, the library of knowledge is endlessly wide and deep.
Life changes involved with the end of my longstanding full time employment, and evolving family commitments have lent more time for reflection on the nature of relationships, fate, happiness, sorrow, and life changes. And these in turn have led me to explore a sampling of classical Western philosophy, and broader Eastern / Japanese concepts, as way to explain and adapt to changes through the arc of my life. The past two years I have dealt with “separation”, along with injuries (my own – relatively minor), and within my family (certainly major). I have turned to such concepts to understand and navigate through these life changes. I am still early in my learning curve.
Things I think about on a long run, or sitting in a waiting room after surgery, or stuck in traffic; how to pursue purpose in life, how to respond to disappointments, setbacks, or daily frustrations, how to understand and respond the motivations of family / friends / partners / strangers. How to better appreciate the gift of each day. There are dozens of branches within philosophy. In this essay I will touch on my understanding of three, Ethics, Stoicism, and the practice of Mindfulness. Though I am still warming up to the practice of Mindfulness… Philosophy (defined as love of wisdom in ancient Greek) is a systematic study of general and fundamental questions concerning topics like existence, reason, knowledge, value, mind, and language.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philosophy
Aristotle in Watercolor
Ethics
We make ethical decisions every day in our personal and business lives. Ethical schools of thought are also helpful for us to understand the activities and motivations of business and political figures that may affect our lives and livelihoods. Like most good citizens, I am law-abiding regarding the larger issues of murder, assault, mayhem, respecting property ownership, paying taxes, obeying (most) laws, and honesty in business transactions. In other aspects of my life, I have tended to be a rule breaker and a sometime risk taker. Traffic laws can be restricting and occasionally ignored. Truth can generally be told, though an occasional “harmless” lie can help maintain good relations and assist in transactions, complaints, or requests for service. In traditional philosophy, the three most notable schools of ethical thought were Virtue Focused (Aristotle), Utilitarianism (results oriented), and Deontology (The study of duties and obligations).
Aristotle developed the concept of Virtue Ethics, where a virtue is a characteristic disposition to think, feel, and act well in some domain of life. In contrast, a vice is a characteristic disposition to think, feel, and act poorly. Virtues are not everyday habits; they are character traits, in the sense that they are central to someone’s personality and what they are like as a person. Examples are often cited include Truthfulness, Generosity, Temperance, and Patience. Virtue theorists judge actions based on how the moral character of the agent is expressed. According to this view, actions should conform to what an ideal virtuous agent would do by manifesting virtues like generosity and honesty. Utilitarianism argues that actions should increase overall happiness while minimizing suffering. Deontologists judge actions based on whether they follow moral duties, such as abstaining from lying or killing. According to them, what matters is that actions are in tune with those duties and not what consequences they have. Contractualism is a less rigid version of Deontology, a set of rules that can be adopted by competing interests, assuming that we are all reasonable people. Consequentialists judge actions based on their consequences.
I recently finished the book How to Be Perfect: The Correct Answer to Every Moral Question, written by Michael Schur, which addresses the modern aspects of ethics, and how to live an ethical life. https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/How-to-Be-Perfect/Michael-Schur/9781982159320
Through examples and discussion of real-life dilemmas, he describes how in one form or fashion, the aim of these traditional ethical approaches is to improve happiness for the most people and / or minimize costs / harm. As an example, he describes the wearing of masks during COVID, essentially a low-cost agreement (or contract) that had the potential to help the most people. In his view, unreasonable people (often due to strong political positions) acted to limit the benefits of this relatively simple act. He shares many interesting examples about how far we should go, or how much money we should spend to help others (for the greater good). There is also an interesting section in the book about how we all break laws (social rules); when if ever is that permitted for an ethical person? I think about my sometimes-deliberate jaywalking, or necessary peeing during a run through public spaces, what can I say? It also gives me thought and pause on how to manage business transactions, and how generous to be with donations of time and money to help others who are more in need.
I have also (trying) to understand and practice Stoicism.
Stoicism is a Hellenistic philosophy that was founded by Zeno of Citium in Athens in the early 3rd century BC. Stoics believe that the goal of life is to live in accordance with nature, and that this can be achieved by cultivating the virtues of wisdom, justice (to act fairly and without pre-judgement), courage (facing danger or difficult circumstances without fear), and temperance. Stoicism emphasizes the importance of virtue, reason, and self-control. The only things we can control are our thoughts and actions; we should focus on these things rather than dwelling on things we cannot control. Patience as a virtue is also closely associated with Stoicism because it requires us to exercise self-control, to develop a greater sense of empathy and compassion for others. Stoics believe that by adopting these practices, we can live a happier and more fulfilling life.
Key Tenets of Stoicism include:
Dichotomy of Control: Stoics distinguish between things that we can control and things that we cannot. We should focus our efforts on the things that we can control, such as our thoughts and actions, and accept the things that we cannot control. For example, we cannot always control whether we get sick, but we can control how we react to getting sick.
Negative Visualization: Stoics practice negative visualization, which is the practice of imagining that negative events will happen to us. This helps us to prepare for adversity and to develop a more resilient attitude.
Acceptance: Stoics believe that acceptance is the key to happiness. We should accept the world as it is, and not try to control what we cannot control.
Stoicism can offer other benefits in daily life, including:
- Reduced stress and anxiety: Stoicism can help us to develop a more resilient attitude, which can help us to cope with stress and anxiety.
- Improved decision-making: Stoicism can help us to make more rational decisions by focusing on the facts and avoiding emotional biases.
One of my favorite quotes is from Ben Franklin: “It has been my experience, madam, that optimists only expect the best to happen and are, therefore, constantly disappointed. I, however, always prepare myself for the worst and am, therefore, pleasantly surprised!”
Am I an optimist or a pessimist? Or am I a realist? Perhaps I am a realist. Optimists are people who believe that everything will be alright in the end. They believe that there is always hope for the future, even if things are not going well in the present. A pessimist believes that things will always get worse and never better. A realistic person is someone who believes that the world has a certain way of working and is willing to accept it. Realists are the people who believe that the world is not perfect and that there will be problems. They are not idealistic and have few unrealistic expectations. Realism is an aspect of Stoicism. Stoics believe that we should accept the world as it is, accepting both the good and the bad, and to be grateful for what we have. Realists are more likely to accept the things they cannot change and focus on the things they can. Friends of mine know that I like to reserve my anger and frustration boiling over for two times per year. I am attracted to stoicism because it is a way of living that I aspire to. This additional information and applications may help as a reference and guide. https://dailystoic.com/what-is-stoicism-a-definition-3-stoic-exercises-to-get-you-started/
And finally, Mindfulness.
What exactly is Mindfulness? It is the cognitive skill, usually developed through meditation, of sustaining an improved awareness of the contents of one’s own mind in the present moment, while acknowledging one’s thoughts, feelings and sensations. The goal of any mindfulness technique is to achieve a state of alert, focused relaxation. That is accomplished by deliberately paying attention to emotions, thoughts, and sensations (free of judgment) to enable the mind to refocus on the present moment. the quality or state of being conscious or aware of something.
The concept of mindfulness has a long history, tracing its roots back to ancient Eastern traditions such as Hinduism and Buddhism. The word “mindfulness” is a translation of the Pali word “sati,” which refers to the practice of paying attention to the present moment without judgment. It was taught as a tool for cultivating wisdom, compassion, and a foundation for insight into the true nature of reality. The concepts began to gain traction in the West in the mid-20th century. Today, mindfulness is practiced in a variety of settings. It is used to treat a variety of mental and physical health conditions, and it has also been shown to improve overall well-being. Benefits are well-documented and include:
- Reduced stress and anxiety: To become more aware of stress triggers and to develop coping mechanisms for dealing with them.
- Greater self-awareness and improved emotional regulation: Helping you become more aware of your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, which can lead to greater self-understanding. Becoming more aware of your emotions and to respond to them in a more healthy and productive way.
- Increased focus and concentration: Mindfulness can help you to improve your focus and concentration by training your mind to stay present in the moment.
- Improved physical health: Mindfulness can help you to become more aware of your body’s sensations, which can lead to healthier habits, such as eating better and exercising more regularly.
As practices, mindfulness and stoicism are complementary. Both are concerned with living in the present moment, accepting what we cannot control, and cultivating virtue. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mindfulness
The book “Why Buddhism” by Robert Wright provides a thorough summary of the practice of mindfulness, written from the perspective of an expert in neuroscience and psychology, and as a novice, sometimes skeptical learner. https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Why-Buddhism-is-True/Robert-Wright/9781439195468 I enjoyed reading his firsthand perspectives, written in a common yet technically informed voice.
Though drawn to explore these ideas and practices, I do not actually meditate. Though I think about things and ponder a lot. Does this count? Meditation is touted as a simple and rewarding way to cultivate inner peace, reduce stress, and enhance overall well-being. I found a simple step-by-step guide on how to get started:
- Choose a Comfortable Time and Place: Find a quiet and comfortable space where you will not be disturbed. It can be your bedroom, a park, or even a quiet corner of your office.
- Find a Comfortable Position: You can sit on a chair, cushion, or even the floor. Make sure your spine is straight but not rigid, and your shoulders are relaxed. You can place your hands on your lap, palms facing up, or rest them gently on your knees. Close Your Eyes or Gently Look Down: Closing your eyes can help to reduce distractions and focus your attention inward. If you prefer to keep your eyes open, maintain a soft gaze downward, avoiding any visual stimuli.
- Bring Your Attention to Your Breath: Begin by observing your natural breath, without trying to control or change it. Notice the rise and fall of your chest or the sensation of air entering and leaving your nostrils.
- Acknowledge and Accept Wandering Thoughts: Your mind will naturally wander during meditation. This is perfectly normal. When you notice your thoughts have drifted, gently bring your attention back to your breath without judgment.
- Be Patient and Kind to Yourself: Meditation is a practice, not a competition. Don’t be discouraged if your mind wanders frequently. Simply acknowledge it and return to your breath with patience and kindness.
- Start with Short Sessions and Gradually Increase Duration: As you become more comfortable with meditation, you can gradually increase the duration of your practice. Start with a few minutes and gradually work your way up to longer sessions. Be Consistent and Regular: The key to reaping the benefits of meditation is consistency. Aim to meditate for at least a few minutes each day, even if it is just for a quick breath awareness practice.
I am planning to try this out for 14 days, long enough to sustain a new habit and self -measure my progress. I will report back on my experience and outcomes. Wish me well.