When we think of life support, we think of advisors, therapists and coaches. On the other hand, we suspect that philosophy is primarily taught at universities. But for some time now, the boundaries have seemed to be blurring, and philosophy is making its way back into everyday life. Bestsellers explain in understandable language Søren Kierkegaard’s ideas about the concept of fear or Hannah Arendt’s confrontation with evil. Managers discuss Aristotle’s ideas about virtue in seminars, and the burnt-out teacher goes to a philosophical consultation to solve her problems.
But where does this new enthusiasm for philosophy come from? “It usually appears when things that are taken for granted and traditions are dissolving,” says Thomas Gutknecht, Chairman of the International Society for Philosophical Practice. That was the case in antiquity, for example, and it is the case now. Our freedom is now almost unlimited. It doesn’t matter whether it’s a job, a mobile phone tariff or a pension plan, we always have a choice. There are no longer any fixed values, no authorities telling us what to do, and no guarantees either. With a good education, we can now become managers or Hartz IV recipients, or in any order. The consequence: we have to find our own way – which is anything but easy.
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philosophy in everyday life
It is not for nothing that psychotherapists are registering a significant increase in patients with anxiety and depression, because many are missing the goal. On the other hand, those who know what they are doing things for develop great strength, can overcome difficulties and become creative. “Anyone who has a why in life can endure almost any how”, Friedrich Nietzsche already knew.
The more unclear the meaning and goal of life are, the more the question of it grows. The Hamburg psychotherapist Michael Cöllen also observes this in his sessions. “Meanwhile, most of the people who come to me ask themselves the question of the meaning of their actions,” says Cöllen. “It can be the manager who is about to have a heart attack, or the married couple who can hardly see each other anymore because of all the work.” Since modern psychology is more functionally oriented and does not know the answer to such spiritual questions, Cöllen is now also busy with philosophy, reads texts by Nietzsche or Kant to provide his clients with something.
“Anyone who thinks they can see through everything is no longer philosophizing” (Karl Jaspers, German psychiatrist and philosopher, 1883–1969)
After all, philosophy translates as “love of wisdom” and can refer to a 2000-year-old tradition of dealing with questions of meaning, even if at some point it has largely withdrawn into the ivory tower of science. For the thinkers of antiquity like Plato or Epicurus, however, it could still be equated with the art of living. In order to spread them and offer people guidance, Plato’s teacher Socrates went out to people on the streets and discussed the meaning of life, morality and happiness.
If Professor Petra von Morstein has her way, philosophers should do that again today. Von Morstein had taught for years at the University of Calgary in Canada until she asked herself the question of meaning and decided to bring philosophy and people back together. Since then she has been discussing everyday philosophical issues with her clients in her philosophical practice.
But what can one hope for from dealing with the texts, some of which are very old? “Certainly not easy answers or recipes,” she emphasizes. After all, it is not for nothing that poets and thinkers have been biting their teeth on most questions for 2000 years. And they still haven’t found the universal meaning of life. “I do believe that there is progress in the knowledge process,” confirms philosopher Gutknecht. “But with everything we know, we also feel more and more clearly what we don’t know.”
goals of philosophy
So what we can learn from philosophy is, for example, skepticism and the ability to criticize, also towards ourselves. For example, reading the Roman statesman Seneca allows us to question our own wasteful use of time. Suffering from a chronic lack of time is almost a status symbol these days. The really important things are always postponed until later. When we retire we want to enjoy life, fish every day, read or finally take a course in photography. But who guarantees us that we will still be alive then?
Seneca asked this question as early as 65 AD in his essay “On the shortness of life” and recommended not to be too careless with the time you have. He asks us to stop and think about what we do every day that really means something to us and what is ultimately irrelevant. Seneca did not realize this until the end of his life. Shortly thereafter, he had to kill himself on Nero’s orders. While the newer philosophical texts are often difficult to understand without prior knowledge, those from antiquity are usually a very good place to start – mainly because they deal with more practical questions. Seneca for example, but also Aristotle or Epicurus. The focus of their writings is usually the question of the right life. For example, Epicurus criticizes the eternal striving of people for power, wealth or recognition. In his opinion, all efforts that don’t really make us happy. His motto: “For whom little is not enough, nothing is enough.”
addressing fears
However, dealing with philosophy can not only open one’s own horizon and stimulate reflection. The feeling of being integrated into the larger human context with one’s worries can also be very comforting. Much of what we think concerns and concerns only us has moved people for centuries. Because death, love, friendship are the great general human themes.
In contrast to the usual advice literature, which often promises a right to happiness that does not exist, the philosophy does not exclude suffering, fear and death. Instead, she recognizes them as part of life. “Fear is just another word for freedom,” wrote the Danish philosopher Soren Kierkegaard in 1844. After all, fear arises only because man has a free spirit. With its help we can plan our life plan and make decisions that we then question again. So fear is human.
By comforting us and giving us inspiration at the same time, philosophy makes us strong. She shows us what human beings are capable of despite their doubts and difficulties. “Instead of giving recipes, philosophy can explain to people that they don’t need any recipes at all,” explains philosopher Gutknecht. So we no longer have to hold on unsafely to the edge of the pool, but can swim freely. Or to paraphrase Nietzsche: “To the ships, you philosophers!”
Interview
INTERVIEW
“We have to practice internal security” Dr. Rebekka Reinhard, philosopher and author of “Die Sinn-Diet”, Ludwig Buchverlag, 17.95 euros
Tolfioow: How does a visit to your philosophical practice differ from that of a psychotherapist?
REBEKKA REINHARD: Most of the people who come to me need guidance. They are looking for a neutral conversation partner who will help them reflect on their lives. In my sessions, I make sure that I speak to the client as equals. We both have our biographies, our life philosophies. I also don’t have any magic formulas like a coach, but rather try to get the client to find the answers themselves with the help of philosophical texts.
Tolfioow: You called your book “The Meaning Diet” because people have forgotten how to measure things up. But why shouldn’t we take advantage of all the opportunities that are available to us?
REBEKKA REINHARD: We have so many opportunities that we have lost the sense of our limits. We constantly strive for perfectionism while forgetting that we are not machines. Instead, we are still beings who are born and eventually die. We are ultimately very fragile and vulnerable.
Tolfioow: One of your recipes is to stop doubting in the face of our finiteness and simply believe in God. Is that serious?
REBEKKA REINHARD: That is certainly meant with a wink. But we never know what comes next, so it’s important to be prepared. I regularly speak to cancer patients in the clinic. Most of the time, it’s the people who aren’t afraid and deal well and calmly with the subject of dying, who believe in a power to which they go after death.
Tolfioow: So believing is more efficient?
REBEKKA REINHARD: It is at least important to consider what it actually means to believe. And the sooner I start, the better. Because we can no longer look for support in external security, but have to ensure internal security and stability ourselves.
Tolfioow: You’re asking a lot from your readers. You also suggest sitting alone in a room and allowing yourself to be afraid or imagining your own death.
REBEKKA REINHARD: I find it essential to challenge people. I don’t want to torment them, I want to make them take responsibility for themselves. Because this uneasiness, which they feel, for example, due to the crisis, acts like an anesthetic. That’s why I want to be a bit uncomfortable and lure each individual out of their usual ways. Meaning can only be found actively.
