Applications of philosophy
ZILLO Young Reporter Jack Bojtler, takes us on a deep dive into aspects of philosophy.
Applications of philosophy – using stoicism, existentialism and absurdism to maximise life fulfilment and be your truest, best and most authentic self.
In contemporary society, it’s apparent that life oftentimes presents an overwhelming array of challenges; a consequence of multitudinous factors, such as the effects of lockdown due to covid-19, in addition to the detrimental implications of social media. Henceforth, we can frequently find ourselves positioned in situations of immense difficulty: potentially feeling disconnection from others, finding ourselves grappling with individuality, and simultaneously experiencing an inability to be grounded in the present moment.
Such obstacles within life, in conjunction with the propensity of the teenage brain experiencing increased emotional dysregulation, can be exceedingly daunting. However, there are numerous tools we have at our disposal that can reduce the burden that modern life oftentimes has.
Despite these adversities, many adjustments can be applied to our mentality and everyday life, thereby tackling these uncertainties. Personally, the subjects of psychology and philosophy have had the most profound effect in this manner, and though they share a plethora of conceptual overlaps, for instance, the exploration of human condition, each, in their own right, have respectively allowed myself and countless others to greatly increase feelings of fulfilment and positive emotion. In this article, I’ll discuss three philosophical paradigms: existentialism, absurdism and stoicism. Respectively, these schools provide great assistance in improving wellbeing, and each presents a perspective of both great uniqueness and of highly beneficial impact, therefore, aiding us with the aforementioned challenges we may face within our lives. In this article, I’ll provide an overview of their fundamental principles, and some suggestions for the implementation of these to live life to the fullest extent.
Does life have inherent meaning?
This is one of the primary questions that is tackled within philosophy. Collectively, the schools of stoicism, existentialism and absurdism all share the same core belief that there is no inherent meaning in life, thus being of the opinion that there is no predetermined or universal purpose or significance to our existence. However, it is in how the schools believe that we should respond to this assumption that they differentiate from one another: existentialism focusing on crafting our own meaning, stoicism on maximising self-control and our mentality, while absurdism fundamentally focuses on living life in the present with the fullest perception and awareness. All of these work to combat feelings of nihilism and the apparent inherent meaning in life.
Existentialism, Absurdism and their roots within nihilism
The origin of the philosophical ideology of nihilism was as a consequence of the sudden purging of religious belief, approximately in the 18th century. As humanity transitioned into the era of enlightenment with ground-breaking scientific advancements, we subsequently developed a more holistic and comprehensive understanding of the universe, and our place within it. Beforehand, a collective theological belief within humanity that there was inherent meaning in the world was maintained, due to the natural assumption being the existence of a god. Ultimately, this was undermined through these discoveries. This sudden, drastic expansion of knowledge and awareness has proved to be a tremendous catalyst to the development of society regarding secularization, cultural norms and individual autonomy. However, the cloud to this silver lining within society during the contemporary period was the sudden dissipation of hope, community and morality that was provided by widespread religion. Consequently, the belief of nihilism arose: the belief in nothing. From this stance our existence is devoid of inherent meaning, two pathways formed at this metaphorical crossroads: existentialism and absurdism.
Existentialism
From the void of nihilism, the light of existentialism came to be. For existentialists, they maintain belief that the antidote to the meaninglessness of life is to apply our own subjective meaning to it. Essentially, viewing this absence of inherent meaning not as a void, but as a blank slate. Therefore, placing us behind the wheel of our own lives and allowing the reclaiming of meaning in a world seemingly devoid of it. This concept, though empowering, can initially be perceived as daunting, as it thrusts the responsibility solely onto the individual, unburdened by external authorities or higher powers. However, this very challenge underscores the profound freedom that characterizes existentialist thought.
Envision yourself as being the architect of your own destiny, dedicating yourself to crafting your own meaning and direction in life in whatever way you see fit. This is the crux of existentialism. This empowerment grants you the authority to define your purpose, whether through service to others, pursuing your passions and dreams, or anything that resonates with your vision of a fulfilled existence. This is beautifully conveyed by Charles Bukowski, affirming that “If something burns your soul with purpose and desire, it’s your duty to be reduced to ashes by it. Any other form of existence will be yet another dull book in the library of life”, while Dostoevsky directly questions “how could you live and have no story to tell?”
An introspective method I found to be the primary aid in discovering what this was for me, was through periods of reflection. This entailed the contemplation of moments in my life when I felt a sense of fulfilment, purpose and gratitude, using journaling and meditation regularly to reinforce this. For me, I’ve found that through supporting others, regardless of the extent of the act, had given me more fulfilment in my life than almost anything. This understanding has been the primary antidote to times in my life where I’ve felt as though I’ve been consumed by nihilism and despair, still allowing me now to pick myself up when I feel knocked down. Essentially, the key lies in consistently engaging in activities that evoke genuine joy—those instances when an authentic smile effortlessly graces your face. This, in essence, encapsulates existentialism: the liberation to carve your own path, unearth your own meaning, and, in doing so, embrace life to its fullest extent.
In the video shown below, German educational YouTube channel Kurzgegsat outlines their philosophy of optimistic nihilism, essentially being one of existentialism. It’s a fantastically succinct yet eye-opening video that is a great help in digesting and exploring the idea of meaning. Should you find interest in videos covering hypothetical scientific questions, biology, physics, and humanity, presented in an engaging format, I strongly recommend exploring their channel!
Absurdism
Even though some regard absurdism as a sub-school of existentialism, the two do share some distinct differences. Typically, the father of the philosophy of absurdism is regarded to be Albert Camus, a Nobel-prize winning author who articulates his philosophical ideology of the absurd through works of fiction and non-fiction. Camus uses the characters and plot of his fictional literature as literary devices, using allegorical techniques to convey his unique perspective on the nature of our existence, the human condition, and how we should act in accordance to it. In particular, Camus is well-renowned for his non-fiction, book length essay on ‘the myth of Sisyphus’ a Greek mythological story, which lies at the heart of this work of literature.
The myth surrounds the condemnation of an individual by the name of Sisyphus, so crafty and with such a great wit that he was able to outwit the gods on several occasions. Regardless, he was eventually punished by them to what one might regard as one of the most monotonous and soul-numbing fates conceivable. Sisyphus was doomed to push a boulder up a hill, only to watch it fall down at the top of the hill, repeating the task for an eternity. Camus likens our absurd existence to that of Sisyphus’; finding ourselves in a seemingly perpetual cycle of monotony, in a situation in which we cannot seem to find any meaning or purpose. Despite the fact that one may look at the predicament of Sisyphus with a sense of pity and sorrow, Camus argues that “one must imagine Sisyphus happy”. He implores that, while the nature of our existence is seemingly meaningless, we are able to gain a great deal of happiness and freedom via an awareness of pure existence – living fully in the present moment and embracing the absurdity of life.
Stoicism
Juxtaposing the somewhat modern philosophies of existentialism and absurdism, is the ancient Greek philosophy of stoicism, synonymous with Marcus Aurelius (Roman emperor from 161-180AD). In essence, the primary focus of stoicism lies with the development of the self. It lays emphasis on emotional regulation, focusing on what can be controlled, and, similarly to absurdism and existentialism, maximising the fulfilment of your life. A fundamental aspect of this within stoicism is the idea of ‘memento mori’, which translated means ‘remember death’. It tells us to live every day like it’s our last and make the most out of the finite time we have. It can be a tremendous source of motivation in ensuring that we are able to achieve our daily goals, and is an especially effective antidote to procrastination, despite how daunting it may be.
A practice that is commonly used to enforce this is the process of negative visualisation. Although this practice may seem highly pessimistic, as it fundamentally entails the visualisation of extremely dire and negative hypothetical situations, it can be a huge aid in creating mental fortitude and resilience. By undergoing a process of actively bringing such hypothetical scenarios to light, we allow ourselves to be far more prepared in instances when we find ourselves in dire circumstances.
If you have an interest or a general knowledge of psychology, you may be able to draw some parallels between stoicism and certain psychological concepts and modern day practices. For one, there is a theory within psychology known as the ‘locus of control’ which is an explanatory theory for conformity. The theory states that all individual’s sense of control within their lives lies along a continuum; on one side, internal, on the other, external. Individuals with a more external locus of control feel as though the events in their lives are dictated by external forces and less by their own actions and choices, for instance, fate. Contrasting to this, an individual with a more internal locus of control will feel the opposite; feeling a greater sense of control in their lives, and that they are a direct cause of their actions and decisions as opposed to external forces or circumstances. It has been found that individuals with a more internal locus of control are less likely to be affected by social influence, e.g. conformity and obedience. Directly linking to this psychological theory is the philosophy of stoicism. Through practices of stoicism, we enable ourselves to increase the degree to which our locus of control is internal, causing us to have more faith in our beliefs, thoughts and ideas, and ultimately, be our own individuals and live our own lives.
In conjunction with this, many regard stoicism to actually be a precursor to cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), a therapeutic practice that is used to aid support individuals dealing with mental health difficulties by understanding and becoming aware of the interactions between their thoughts, feelings and behaviour. The practice is highly effective, even without additional treatments, with an 81% success rate for individuals dealing with depression (March et al. - 2007), and is extremely beneficial for many other mental health conditions. There are a whole host of parallels between stoicism and CBT; both allow an improvement in emotional regulation, have a focus on introspection and reflection, and encourage individuals to greatly improve their mental fortitude and resilience. A metaphor I like to apply to these two practices and the cognitive benefits they have is to picture yourself walking a dog (your emotions and thoughts). Some people may find that they have a dog that drags them along and pulls on their lead; it’s more like the dog is controlling you. However, in buying an item like a harness or a halter (CBT/Stoicism etc.) for the dog, you are able to be in control of the dog, rather than the opposite. these practices, through emphasis on virtue, morality, self-control, in conjunction with absurdism and existentialism, encourage us to ultimately be the best versions of ourselves we can be, regardless of the hands we are dealt in life and whatever is thrown at us.
Application & Summary
Overall, the holistic application of these philosophies can be an outstanding aid in navigating through the labyrinth that is our lives in the 21st century. Although technology and society as a whole has evolved so exponentially that our brains are not yet developed enough to combat the constant overstimulation we face on a daily basis, using resources such as these can be crucial in creating a sense of equilibrium and inner harmony. Finding time to pause and reflect in a world where we find ourselves in a state of constant activity is a truly profound and rewarding activity, despite how trivial it may sound. To finalise, here are some of the primary applicable lessons and core values of these ideologies that may prove to be of great value in such instances, along with a reading recommendation to accompany each of these.
Existentialism:
Reading recommendation: Existentialism is a Humanism – Jean-Paul Sartre
Define your own purpose: take charge of your life by defining your own purpose and meaning, acknowledging the freedom to shape your destiny.
Embrace responsibility: Accept the responsibility of creating your own values and making choices that align with your authentic self.
Pursue your passions: develop an awareness of what this might be and subsequently embrace and purse it.
Seek authenticity: Strive for authenticity by aligning your actions with your values, allowing for genuine self-expression and fulfilment.
Celebrate individuality: Embrace the uniqueness of your existence and celebrate the diversity of perspectives and experiences that life offers.
Absurdism
Reading recommendation: Albert Camus – The Myth of Sisyphus
Embrace life’s absurdity: Acknowledge the inherent absurdity of life and find joy in the face of meaninglessness, adopting an attitude of defiance.
Live authentically: Embrace the challenge of creating your own meaning in an indifferent universe, living authentically regardless of the lack of inherent purpose.
Find joy in the absurd: Discover happiness in the midst of life's absurdities, recognizing that joy can be derived from the sheer act of living.
Rise above despair: Face the absurdity of life with courage and resilience, resisting despair and finding strength in the absurdity itself.
Live fully in the present: practice living in the present moment, appreciating the absurd beauty that exists in the ordinary.
Stoicism
Reading recommendation: Meditations – Marcus Aurelius
Practice equanimity: Cultivate inner peace by practicing equanimity, accepting what you cannot control and focusing on your response to external events.
Memento mori: Use the knowledge of the fact that the time we have is finite to motivate yourself to live each day fully and with purpose.
Build resilience: Develop mental fortitude through practices like negative visualisation, preparing yourself to navigate challenges with grace.
Cultivate virtue: Strive for moral excellence and virtuous living, emphasising qualities like wisdom, courage, justice, and temperance.
Develop an internal locus of control: Internalise your locus of control, recognising that you have the power to shape your thoughts, feelings, and actions independent of external circumstances.
If you have reached this point, thanks for reading this article! Remember that you don’t have to take everything here as gospel; separate the wheat from the chaff. Should there be any concepts within these philosophies that do not align with your views, it is entirely acceptable. Similarly, feel free to integrate anything that contrasts with these concepts into your own life. While some of the aforementioned topics may evoke stress and existential concerns, understanding that our existence is impermanent provides a compelling reason to strive for personal achievement, live life to its fullest, and embody the best, truest, and most authentic version of yourself. Thank you again for taking the time to read this and I hope you enjoyed!
Written by Jack Bojtler