Philosophy is practising the art of reason for the art of living, the love of true wisdom.

Life is both simple and profound, lucid and yet mysterious. Man is drawn to find a single, unifying principle but uncovers yet more complexity. In these days of rapid change, choice and interconnectedness it is ever more necessary to examine our lives and apply unchanging principles of living: Who am I? Why am I here? Where am I going?

True philosophy is no ivory tower musing, set above the streets of life.
In ancient times it was the elders at the city gate who reasoned the way its inhabitants should live out their daily lives. They were known as men of wisdom and justice.

There is a history of philosophy but its fruit is learning to think for oneself.
Through the ages the good life is redefined but shows remarkable consistency of thought. There is an ageless, moral wisdom. It is a revival of this thinking, leading to virtuous living that is desperately needed if we are not to descend into anarchy and the obliteration of our culture and civilisation. They will not be the first to move into oblivion.

The starting point is to uncover the cause of careless living. The root of immorality is self-absorption. We find it difficult if not impossible to 'abandon our self-centred desires for the sake of others'. Some say that incivility is the mark of our culture, a lack of respect for others. This is the inevitable consequence of self-centredness and excessive self-esteem. This is fostered by consumerism and the consequent loss of meaning.

1968 was a watershed in thinking and behaviour. The young were encouraged to give full expression to their emotions, self control was abandoned. Psychoanalysis played to the self. Men became victims of society with diminished responsibility. All traditional meaning was eliminated to be replaced by meaning created by each man for himself. The chosen word today is avatar, each man his own self-created god, living in a virtual world of his own making. Respect for ourselves and others evaporates and we descend into 'effortless barbarism'.

We make up for our isolation by frantic networking, which in itself diminishes social bonds and leads to superficiality of relationships. There is no involvement of our bodies in this process as we become fixated by technology. Our characters fail to develop or become corroded by a fixation on self. We lose all sense of destiny. We have no narrative to share with others apart from the trivialities of life. There are no co-herent conversations by which we define ourselves to others.

This takes place as man looses sight of his creation in the image of God. We practice ancestor worship as we idolize fossils, our forerunners in the 'tree of life'.Not being able to say who we are, we cannot answer why we are here nor where we are going.

It was these issues that occupied the early Greeks, so different to the civilisations of former ages and to the surrounding nations. Man was to examine himself and seek to rule his appetites and desires so as to benefit and rule the wider society. Virtue was the central issue and to be eagerly sought. Matters such as love, kindness, wisdom, honesty, faithfulness to mention some. It was these things they discussed in any leisure (known as school)time they had as all were busy men, many of them occupied with the army and the affairs of state. A simple beauty defined their art. They felt they could not improve on nature as they found it. Art forms of the East reflected inhumanity and intricate symbolism. The pattern was all.


These virtues have been recognised in every age whether by default or by observation, and serve as ways to judge between right and wrong. Known as classical studies, they were at the heart of education. It was a rediscovery of the wisdom of the early Greeks that led to the Renaissance and Reformation. Man's mind must be formed by the highest of ethical thoughts. Amazingly, with no formal revelation of the knowledge of God, they expressed thoughts so inclined to the truths stated in the writings of the Hebrews. There was a reverence and awe for such a Being. Is it perhaps true to say this culture was a cradle for Christianity? Their language was certainly the bearer of the new faith.

'Forming Good Habits of the Heart' is said to be the purpose of education or as C S Lewis put it, 'knowing what to approve and disapprove'. Freedom has boundaries, those of respect and self-discipline. This is not the natural state of man, who favours self-serving ambitions and indulgent hedonism.

What are known as the virtues are universal, belonging to all ages and times. How much better to instruct each generation in these values and enable them to discriminate issues for themselves. Virtues are neutral and cannot claim to be the preserve of one party. Some now say that children should be taught philosophy from an early age. They are no strangers to the 'Philosopher's Stone'.

The exercise of philosophy is said to be therapy for the sane and is indeed proving to be of increasing value in counselling. Encouraging others to write their own narrative is often the start of healing. It enables them to be more objective and less of a victim. Andre Compt-Sponville maintains that the 'examined life is the only life worth living'.

Using the mind with discretion is a recurring theme in Scripture, wisdom to be prized above all and, as Solomon found, it pleases God. Strange to say the early Greeks spoke of the Being they thought to be God with reverence and awe. As Proverbs says, 'The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom', not much in evidence today, even amongst so called 'christians' who should lead the way, giving evidence of God's presence with them.

Just as the Greeks used to spend whatever time they could conversing on the virtues, so did the Pietists in the 1600's and to the same end, lucidity as to the reality and meaning of life and encouraging one another in living this out. 'A heartfelt desire to live a God-pleasing life.' Why is such companionship so rare these days?

It was into these things that philosophers longed to look. But to most, the Gospel was foolishness with crucifixion at the centre. In spite of their musings, life has never reached the perfection they desired. Men 'suppress the truth by their wickedness' rooted deeply in them. The Truth is veiled to those whose minds are blinded by 'the god of this age'.

True wisdom is to be found in the renewing of the mind, as Paul talks about, preceded by the 'presenting of our bodies as living sacrifices' and so able to 'prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.' We are energised by the Holy Spirit to become transformed into 'a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ.'

This is not some dry and dull academic exercise but a joyful one, enabling us to celebrate life as God intended us to do, and that life 'more abundantly.' The last conversation Jesus had with His followers, was indeed about the excellent things of life. Love and joy, the culmination of what He came to bring. On our part, as always, obedience. He wanted them to have a lucid happiness, always the goal of philosophy.

The Philosopher's Stone, the Elixir of Life, are to be found only in Him, 'the Way, the Truth and the Life', Christ, 'In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge'.