What is a philosophy of life? Do you have one? If not, should you have one? If so, how do you know if it’s a good one? In this Olio, we will explore the notion that if you have an idea about how the world works and a sense of how to properly behave towards others, then congratulations! You have a philosophy of life! However, many of us aren’t fully cognizant of it, since we inherit philosophies of life from our parents and caregivers by default and don’t reflect on whether their philosophy of life is a good one.  

With a special emphasis on Stoicism and existentialism, we will discuss the importance of reflecting on and challenging one’s philosophy of life, appreciating the sheer variety of philosophical views on life, and how entering into conversation with other perspectives can help to better understand others who have chosen differently.

This discussion is led by Massimo Pigliucci and Skye C. Cleary, philosophers and editors of the recent book How to Live a Good Life: A Guide to Choosing Your Personal Philosophy.