Philosophical discussions

Few activities hold more meaning for me than the practice of philosophy.

Born into this world – and one day departing from it – we live a life full of change: shaped by losses and new beginnings, by vulnerability and longing, by the effort to understand and simultaneously to create. We are finite beings in a seemingly infinite reality, and we must also reflect on this relationship while navigating dozens of simpler, everyday situations.

Then there are the big questions: What is the meaning of our existence? How can a person live with dignity? What responsibility do we bear – for ourselves, for one another, for our world? Philosophy is my academic discipline, but it is also an attitude for me – in a practical sense, it is the shared pursuit of truth, consisting of conversations held in trust, where everything may be said. It is a discipline over 2,500 years old and draws on a wealth of content that has no parallel. It is the mother of the sciences and the supreme discipline when it comes to personal and intellectual growth.

I engange in philosophical conversations in my study or during shared walks along pleasant routes, and also wherever a good conversation can be had.

Philosophy is the most comprehensive and at the same time the only neutral path to personal and professional development, and I recommend it to everyone, including those who are suffering emotionally. However, for those experiencing severe emotional distress, I recommend seeking psychotherapeutic treatment, as that is what psychotherapy is for. I explored the boundaries between the young discipline of psychotherapy and philosophy in the essay “Boundaries! The distinction between Philosophy and Psychotherapy.”

Have you ever spoken with a philosopher?