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Philosophies for Life is all about giving ancient wisdom for modern living. We are dedicated towards giving out life-changing philosophical ideas that will help you improve all the aspects of your life - spirituality, finance, relationships, mental and emotional.
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- Yesterday19 min
199: Montaigne - How to Think Clearly During Difficult Times
In this video we will be talking about 8 Ways To Think Clearly from the philosophy of Michel de Montaigne. Michel de Montaigne was a 16th-century French philosopher.So here are 8 Ways To Think Clearly from the philosophy of Michel de Montaigne- 01. Study yourself 02. Grounding the Intellect in the Physical 03. Don't let fear, anger, or regret influence your decision 04. Psychological Detachment or the Suspension of Judgment05. The Power of "Que Sais-Je?" 06. Rejecting "Borrowed Knowledge" 07. Seek Out Disagreement 08. Step Outside Your BubbleWe hope you enjoyed watching the video and hope this video, from the philosophy of Montaigne, helps you to think clearly.Michel de Montaigne was a 16th-century French philosopher who defined ambition not as a virtue but as an unnatural "disease of the soul" because it makes people sacrifice the life they have right now for a future that might never even happen. In 1571, right on his 38th birthday, he walked into his office and permanently resigned from his position as a judge in the Bordeaux parliament. It was exactly the kind of role Renaissance men spent their whole lives networking, scheming, and stressing out to get. He quit, moved back to his family's estate in the French countryside, and set himself up in a stone tower on the property. He built a massive library there and had 54 quotes from ancient philosophers carved into the wooden beams of his ceiling. From that point on, he spent his time studying the only subject he actually wanted to understand: himself. He observed his own habits, flaws, and everyday routines, and wrote down his thoughts about them and he called these writings Essais—which comes from the French word meaning "to try" or "to attempt" and is of course where we get the English word ‘essay’.
- 2 days ago2 min
198: The Strange Illusion That Expensive Things Feel Better - Epicurus
We spend our lives chasing upgrades—convinced that an expensive steak, a bigger house, or the next luxury purchase will finally make us feel complete. Over 2,000 years ago, the ancient Greek philosopher Epicurus identified why this mindset keeps us trapped in dissatisfaction.Epicurus divided human pleasure into two distinct categories: kinetic pleasure (the temporary relief of fixing a discomfort, like drinking water when thirsty) and katastematic pleasure (the static peace of having no discomfort at all). For the physical body, he called this state aponia—the complete absence of physical pain.According to Epicurean philosophy, aponia is the absolute ceiling of physical happiness. Once your hunger is gone, an expensive steak doesn't remove any more pain than a simple piece of bread; it only changes the flavor. Just like the promise you make to the universe when lying in bed with a terrible headache—wishing only to feel "normal" again—the greatest luxury in life is simply feeling okay.In this video, we break down how to stop treating a pain-free day as a boring baseline and start recognizing that if nothing hurts right now, you have already reached the peak of physical wealth.Key Concepts Covered:Kinetic Pleasure vs. Katastematic PleasureWhat is Aponia (The Absence of Pain)?The Bread vs. Steak ParadoxWhy We Ruin Good Days Looking for MoreHow to Practice Aponia in Daily LifeEpicurus is one of the most important figures in the history of philosophy, as well as of science. He is less known than Plato or Socrates, but, nonetheless, his teachings are precious and timeless. He lived between 341 to 270 BC, and wrote more than 300 works during his lifetime. Most of his work has been lost, but what remains is extremely relevant even today. In science, he was one of the first to describe the natural world as made of atoms and he rightly understood that all the natural phenomena are in fact based on the movement of atoms. Also, he strongly stressed the importance of basing our beliefs on empirical evidence and logic. In philosophy, he was part of the hedonist movement and he was most famous for his skilful insights into the concept of happiness, starting his own School of Happiness, also known as Epicurean hedonism or simply Epicureanism. If stoics believed that living justly and virtuously is the highest good and that we should be indifferent to pleasure and pain, Epicureanism believed that we should seek to maximise the pleasures in life. There were some rumours that in his school people lavished themselves in orgies, luxury and decadence, but these rumours were unfounded. Epicurus didn’t have any interest in orgies and expensive meals. His idea of pleasure is far from the classical one. He departed from the classical school of hedonism for which pleasure is the highest good, adding that the pleasure of the mind, not the pleasure of the senses, is the true ‘highest good’. He believed that the greatest happiness comes from reducing suffering, achieving an inner state of peace which he called ataraxia. Ataraxia means being content with simple things in life, like having philosophical conversations about the meaning of life, in your small garden, with your best friends. According to Epicurus, the pleasure from pursuing wisdom is the highest form of pleasure, and the most valuable as it is the one that leads us to true happiness.#Epicurus #Philosophy #Aponia #SimpleLiving #AncientWisdom
- 4 days ago4 min
197: How to Want Less and Live More - Epicurus (Epicureanism)
Do you ever feel like the harder you work, the more trapped you become? You get a raise, upgrade your lifestyle, and suddenly you're locked into a stressful job just to pay the bills.In this video, we explore the ancient philosophy of Epicurus and his concept of autarkeia (self-sufficiency). Far from promoting wild hedonism, Epicurus taught that the secret to a stress-free life is actually learning to want less. We break down his famous three buckets of desire—natural and necessary, natural and unnecessary, and unnatural and unnecessary—and look at how you can use practical wisdom (phronesis) to stop trading your long-term peace of mind for short-term dopamine hits.Discover how to break free from the invisible cage of luxury, simplify your life, and realize that what you already have right in front of you is enough.Epicurus is one of the most important figures in the history of philosophy, as well as of science. He is less known than Plato or Socrates, but, nonetheless, his teachings are precious and timeless. He lived between 341 to 270 BC, and wrote more than 300 works during his lifetime. Most of his work has been lost, but what remains is extremely relevant even today. In science, he was one of the first to describe the natural world as made of atoms and he rightly understood that all the natural phenomena are in fact based on the movement of atoms. Also, he strongly stressed the importance of basing our beliefs on empirical evidence and logic. In philosophy, he was part of the hedonist movement and he was most famous for his skilful insights into the concept of happiness, starting his own School of Happiness, also known as Epicurean hedonism or simply Epicureanism. If stoics believed that living justly and virtuously is the highest good and that we should be indifferent to pleasure and pain, Epicureanism believed that we should seek to maximise the pleasures in life. There were some rumours that in his school people lavished themselves in orgies, luxury and decadence, but these rumours were unfounded. Epicurus didn’t have any interest in orgies and expensive meals. His idea of pleasure is far from the classical one. He departed from the classical school of hedonism for which pleasure is the highest good, adding that the pleasure of the mind, not the pleasure of the senses, is the true ‘highest good’. He believed that the greatest happiness comes from reducing suffering, achieving an inner state of peace which he called ataraxia. Ataraxia means being content with simple things in life, like having philosophical conversations about the meaning of life, in your small garden, with your best friends. According to Epicurus, the pleasure from pursuing wisdom is the highest form of pleasure, and the most valuable as it is the one that leads us to true happiness.
- 1 weeks ago19 min
196: Lao Tzu - Why Discipline Feels Hard (And How to Make It Effortless) (Taoism)
8 Ways to Build Discipline. In this podcast we will be talking about 8 Ways to Build Your Self-Discipline from the philosophy of Lao Tzu. Lao Tzu was an ancient Chinese philosopher who is known to be the founder of Taoism and the writer of Taoism’s most sacred text, the Tao Te Ching.So with that in mind, here are 8 Ways to Build Your Self-Discipline from the philosophy of Lao Tzu - 01. Check Your Motive 02. Discover Your Timing 03. Clear the Clutter 04. Create Empty Space 05. Shape Your Environment 06. Shrink the Target 07. Flow Around Roadblocks 08. Schedule Your RecoveryWe hope you enjoyed listening to this podcast and hope this video, from the philosophy of Lao Tzu, helps you build your self-discipline.Taoism is a Chinese philosophy attributed to Lao Tzu which contributed to the folk religion of the people primarily in the rural areas of China and became the official religion of the country under the Tang Dynasty. Taoism is therefore both a philosophy and a religion. Taoism teaches to embrace wonder and the joy in living gracefully with style. Lao Tzu was an ancient Chinese philosopher and writer who is known to be the founder of Taoism. He is also credited as the writer of Taoism’s most sacred text, the Tao Te Ching and his words can apply to people all over the world.
- 2 weeks ago23 min
195: Voltaire - Take Good Care Of Yourself (No Money Required) (Philosophy Of The Enlightenment)
In this podcast we will be talking about How To Take Care Of Yourself from the philosophy of Voltaire. Voltaire, was an 18th-century French philosopher who viewed self-care as a practical way to protect yourself against a world that is fundamentally chaotic.So here are 7 Ways To Take Care Of Yourself from the philosophy of Voltaire.01. Cultivate Your own Garden02. Look for solid proof03. Drop Your Utopian Expectations04. Use Humor05. Trust Science over Fatalism06. Enjoy the Earthly Pleasures07. Set BoundariesHope you enjoyed this podcast and find these insights on how to take care of yourself from the philosophy of Voltaire helpful.François-Marie Arouet, much better known by his pen name Voltaire, was an 18th-century French philosopher who viewed self-care as a practical way to protect yourself against a world that is fundamentally chaotic.He openly mocked corrupt politicians, attacked religious dogma, and regularly called out the absurdities of polite society. Because of this, he spent decades dodging arrest warrants, getting kicked out of countries, having his books publicly burned, and living in exile. Yet, despite living with a constant target on his back, he lived to be 83 years old, built his massive fortune, drank an ungodly amount of coffee every day, and ultimately became one of the most famous men in history. He managed to do this because he developed a deeply practical philosophy of self-preservation. Voltaire realized that if you want to survive a deeply flawed and unfair world without losing your mind, you can't just cross your fingers and hope for the best. You have to actively build your own resilience, ruthlessly protect your mind from bad ideas, and refuse to let the world's madness dictate your daily life.
- 3 weeks ago21 min
194: 7 Ways To Make Your Life Ridiculously Simple - Diogenes (Cynicism)
7 Ways To Make Your Life Ridiculously Simple - Diogenes (Cynicism)In this podcast we will be talking about How to Simplify Your Life from the philosophy of Diogenes. Diogenes was a 4th-century philosopher and the most famous face of Cynicism.So here are 7 ways to Simplify Your Life from the philosophy of Diogenes.01. Deface the Currency02. Live According to Nature03. Be Self-Sufficient04. Be Shameless05. Build your Resilience06. Act07. Speak TruthHope you enjoyed this podcast and find these insights on how to live on your own terms helpful.Diogenes was a 4th-century philosopher and the most famous face of Cynicism. Today, "cynical" means being negative, but the original Cynics, named after the Greek word for “dog-like”, believing that happiness came from living "according to nature." This meant stripping away rules, status, and the material needs society forces on us today. He practiced this himself, famously living in a ceramic jar, eating simple lentils, and even throwing away his only bowl when he saw a child drinking from their hands. His radical freedom was put to the test when he was captured by pirates and sold at a slave auction. While other captives wept, Diogenes mocked the pirates for not "fattening him up" for a better price. On the auction block, when asked what he could do, he told the crowd: "I know how to govern men. Sell me to someone who needs a master." He pointed to a man named Xeniades and said, "Sell me to him." Xeniades was so intrigued that he bought him and eventually put him in charge of his house and his children’s education. Instead of teaching them to chase status, Diogenes taught them to wear plain clothes, walk barefoot, and value philosophy over wealth. Xeniades was so impressed he said, "A good spirit has entered my house." Diogenes spent the rest of his life proving that even in chains, if you want nothing from the world, the world has no power over you.
- Oct 7, 202620 min
193: Seneca - Stop Wasting Your Time On Things That Just Don’t Matter (Stoicism)
In this podcast we will be talking about 6 Ways To Stop Wasting Your Time from the writings of Seneca. Seneca was an ancient Roman philosopher, writer, and statesman. He was one of the most influential teachers of Stoicism.So here are 6 Ways To Stop Wasting Your Time from the philosophy of Seneca - 01. Guard your Time Like your money02. Stop Trying to Impress People03. Stop Waiting for the Future04. Stop Waiting for the Future05. Stop Overthinking the Past06. Stop Existing, start livingHope you enjoyed listening to this podcast and find these insights from Seneca on how to stop wasting your time helpful. Seneca was a prominent Roman philosopher and playwright who published several essential works about Stoicism. He counseled Emperor Nero, and thought that anger is a temporary madness, and that even when justified, we should never act on the basis of it because it affects our sanity. Seneca wrote a book specifically on anger called “De Ira” which defines and explains anger within the context of Stoic philosophy, and offers advice on how to prevent and control anger and that’s why in this video we are going to look at 10 ways we can control our anger from the teachings of Seneca. Stoicism is a school of Hellenistic philosophy founded by Zeno of Citium in Athens in the early 3rd century BC. Even though it is over 2000 years old, more and more people are discovering how Stoicism is not only relevant to modern times, but can be applied in very simple, yet strong ways.
- Sep 30, 202621 min
191: How To Live A Radically Rich Life (For Free) - Epicurus (Epicureanism)
In this podcast, we will be talking about 8 Free Everyday Habits That Make Life Radically Rich from the philosophy of Epicurus. His philosophy is often referenced as Epicurean hedonism or simply Epicureanism. So here are 8 Free Everyday Habits That Make Life Radically Rich from the philosophy of Epicurus - 01. Natural Necessities02. Simple, Satisfying Food03. Freedom from Bodily Pain 04. Daily friendships05. A Safe Retreat06. An Unnoticed Life07. Good Memories08. PhilosophyI hope you enjoyed listening to this podcast and hope these 8 Free Everyday Habits That Make Life Radically Rich from the philosophy of Epicurus will add value to your life. Epicurus is one of the most important figures in the history of philosophy, as well as of science. He is less known than Plato or Socrates, but, nonetheless, his teachings are precious and timeless. He lived between 341 to 270 BC, and wrote more than 300 works during his lifetime. Most of his work has been lost, but what remains is extremely relevant even today. In science, he was one of the first to describe the natural world as made of atoms and he rightly understood that all the natural phenomena are in fact based on the movement of atoms. Also, he strongly stressed the importance of basing our beliefs on empirical evidence and logic. In philosophy, he was part of the hedonist movement and he was most famous for his skilful insights into the concept of happiness, starting his own School of Happiness, also known as Epicurean hedonism or simply Epicureanism. If stoics believed that living justly and virtuously is the highest good and that we should be indifferent to pleasure and pain, Epicureanism believed that we should seek to maximise the pleasures in life. There were some rumours that in his school people lavished themselves in orgies, luxury and decadence, but these rumours were unfounded. Epicurus didn’t have any interest in orgies and expensive meals. His idea of pleasure is far from the classical one. He departed from the classical school of hedonism for which pleasure is the highest good, adding that the pleasure of the mind, not the pleasure of the senses, is the true ‘highest good’. He believed that the greatest happiness comes from reducing suffering, achieving an inner state of peace which he called ataraxia. Ataraxia means being content with simple things in life, like having philosophical conversations about the meaning of life, in your small garden, with your best friends. According to Epicurus, the pleasure from pursuing wisdom is the highest form of pleasure, and the most valuable as it is the one that leads us to true happiness.
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