Philosophical Consulting

You might wonder how philosophy might be of benefit as a distinct tradition from psychology and therapeutic practices stemming from that academic field. Philosophy is an academic field with all the remoteness and impenetrability of academia. And it is also a way of approaching life that may only be barely connected to the business of academia. The practice of philosophy can be a vehicle for personal growth in a number of ways. Here are a few. 1. Philosophy is a form of perception. It can help us “see familiar things in an unfamiliar aspect” (Bertrand Russell). To take an everyday example, you might think that you know what a table is, but once you start to try to define it, this becomes more and more challenging. Must it have four legs? Must it have any legs at all? Is a table that you can’t set anything on still a table (for example, a museum piece), if its essential function has been eliminated? This way of seeing the world, through the lens of philosophy, can have significant and even liberating implications when applied to concepts that may hold great significance in our lives, like free will, or the separation of mind and body. For most of us, there are quite familiar ways to consider these topics. The perception of philosophy, though, provokes a shift in perspective, challenging these assumptions. 2. Philosophy as insight or aphorism. A person might find themselves confused or bewildered on some of the “big questions” of life, such as the nature of and appropriate response to death; the existence of God; or the meaning of life. For thousands of years, philosophy as a tradition has made the “big questions” the central subject matter of inquiry. So, someone might discover clarity on a subject through investigating the philosophical tradition and its insights, then sitting with, reflecting on and absorbing those insights into their worldview. “Death is nothing to fear. When we exist, death is not; and when death exists, we are not.” (Epictetus) 3. Philosophy is a method of logical reflection. Someone’s thoughts and emotions may work together to reinforce beliefs that turn out to be illogical when formulated clearly. Our expressed beliefs often rely on unexpressed assumptions that may be false or repudiated when brought to light and challenged. Many people struggle for years with unexpressed assumptions that cause them harm. They may assume that other people are worthless, or even that they themselves are worthless. Or, they may assume that they have a moral obligation to worry about certain people or events. The method of logic-based theory and consultation was developed specifically to bring these assumptions to light and to set about dismantling them. 4. Philosophy is a method of logical argument. One way to expand or deepen our understanding of the world is to take on and engage with the points of view of those with whom we disagree. The process of disagreement and rational argument includes understanding the arguments of those who hold different views, as well as considering counterarguments to one’s own view. This might lead to changing, modifying, refining, or clarifying your own view. The value of this activity might be most often seen in politics or law (which approximate this method more or less well, depending on the time and place). But the method can also yield clarity on any topic of philosophy. Of course, these are not exclusive! Any or all of these benefits might show up in philosophical practice. This shows some of the richness of the tradition and how it can contribute to personal growth, quite apart from the classroom setting, grades, or essay writing.