Logic and Self-Understanding
- Bob
- Jul 3, 2016
- 2 min read
The ultimate value of life depends upon awareness and the power of contemplation rather than upon mere survival.
- Aristotle
Seems appropriate to launch the first blog with a quote from Aristotle as he is often credited with the earliest study of Logic. The plan for this blog is to pick quotes to ponder and illustrate how they relate to modern life and coaching in particular. There is much to be learned from those that came before us. Too often the wisdom of the past is ignored or just simply never read let alone understood.
Greece and particularly Athens are considered the origin of Western Philosophy. When one studies philosophy, especially the ancients, one becomes acutely aware that many of the fundamental questions of thousands of years ago are still appropriate today. Self-understanding, contemplation, introspection are just as important today as they were 2,000 plus years ago. Plato said “know thyself” Socrates said, “an unexamined life is not worth living.” Even in an ancient age where survival was far less guaranteed than it is today in most places, there was a need to seek self-awareness and self-understanding to achieve a meaningful life.
Self-examination is not to be confused with the often out of control narcissistic behavior of today. The ancients were no strangers to that concept either as the term comes from Narcissus of Greek Mythology. He was an individual who was obsessed with his own reflection and perished as a result. Instead, self reflection, self understanding and self awareness are all important life skills brought out in coaching to help you better understand why you do the things you do and how you interact with the world. Instead of leading to self-absorption, it leads to better relationships in all aspects of life. Aristotle, Plato and Socrates all understood that over 2,000 years. Why that is not in wider practice today is a great mystery indeed. If you chose to read and follow this blog you will get a feel for the wealth of wisdom that is available to us and how best we can fit it into our lives.
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