A sophist states, to the effect that, falsehood is that which is not, and because that which is not does not exist, falsehood doesn’t exist. Socrates refutes that argument in this fascinating exercise in ontology, a discourse on the definition of being, not being, same, other, rest, motion, truth and falsehood. What it highlights for me is the circularity or futility, for lack of a better word, of using language […]
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“Gorgias” by Plato
In this dialogue, Socrates argues that, just as the aim of a good man should not be to gratify his desires but to improve himself and strive toward goodness, so the prime object of the truly good statesman should not consist in gratifying the desires of the citizens, but in “transforming those desires and not allowing them to have their way, and using the powers which they had, whether of persuasion […]
Read more“Thirty-Six Stratagems” by Anonymous
[Original Chinese Title: 三十六計 | 三十六计] Machiavelli’s “The Prince” pales in comparison with this Chinese classic on cunning and duplicitous maneuverings in war and politics. “Thirty-Six Stratagems” was grounded in ancient Chinese philosophy and tested through many thousand years of political intrigue and warfare in Chinese history, and therefore has more depth and breadth, in my opinion, than Machiavelli’s work, which was based mostly on his own interpretations of cause […]
Read more“The Art of War” by Sun Wu
[Original Chinese Title: 孫子兵法 | 孙子兵法] An absolutely brilliant treatise on military philosophy, strategy and tactics! I find the principles herein applicable to all areas of life, as many things are often likened to war, e.g., war against disease, business as war, etc. This book is a must-read for leaders of all levels, from heads of states to project managers, to achieve personal and organizational excellence in a competitive environment. […]
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“Consolation of Philosophy” by Boethius
[Original Latin Title: Consolatio Philosophiae] Boethius was a Christian philosopher of ancient Rome, but “Consolation of Philosophy” is not a treatise on Christianity. For it doesn’t address the question of sacrifice and remission of sins, let alone the love of God. But instead, like Plato’s Republic, it attempts to reshape the readers’ understanding of the nature of evil and justice, by way of answering the question, “Why do good people […]
Read more“Purity of Heart Is To Will One Thing” by Søren Kierkegaard
A great book for Christian self-examination, dedicated by the author and recommended by this reviewer to “that solitary individual” who desires to commit himself to One Thing and guard himself against double-mindedness, mixed and hidden motives. hypocrisy and mediocrity. Like Socrates, his role model, Kierkegaard excels, not so much in establishing the true religious or philosophical belief, as in distinguishing falsehood from truth, thereby prompting the reader to reflect and […]
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“The Sickness Unto Death” by Søren Kierkegaard
What is Despair? “Just as a physician might say there isn’t a single human being who enjoys perfect health, so someone with a proper knowledge of man might say there is not a single human being who does not despair at least a little, in whose innermost being there does not dwell an uneasiness, an unquiet, a discordance, an anxiety in the face of an unknown something, or a something […]
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