philosophy

But philosophy in this broad sense, can be more than self-actualization, it can be therapy. A good example here might be Friedrich Nietzsche (1844-1900). Only 25 years old, he became a professor at the University of Basel in Switzerland. At the age of 35 he had to resign because of severe headaches. After this he traveled around in Europe, he must have been quite lonely, and when we look at some of the stuff he has written, we may get the impression that he felt that life was without meaning.

This is a feeling that many modern or postmodern people may have. People feel that life is without a grand meaning, and most of all suffering seems to be meaningless. But Nietzsche showed that he was a great existentialist. To survive in difficult times, he created a philosophy that functioned as therapy. "Everything that doesn't kill me, makes me stronger" he wrote. And likewise: "We may handle any how, if we only have a why."

According to Nietzsche, the central task is to create a perspective that makes life more sustainable. We must, if we follow Nietzsche, develop mental strategies to cope with life. We are thinking beings whether we like it or not, and thinking may be used as an instrument to develop perspectives and mental schemes that makes life a joy, even in difficult situations. One does not have to accept all of Nietzsche's opinions to see that his creative philosophical activity and the attempt to create meaning helped him a lot during his difficult years.

Thoughts inspired by Nietzsche may be combined with insights from modern psychological therapy. According to cognitive therapy, many of the problems associated with mental illness are based on the fact that one thinks incorrectly or inadequately. When someone starts to think in a new way and creates a philosophy, this perspective may be of great help.

My idea is that philosophy may be a path to mental health, both because the thinking in itself gives pleasure, but also because one may get a more clear perspective on everything happening in this world. To understand why, makes it easier to cope with any how. This is something many people outside the academic philosophical discussions are engaged in, but reading texts from the philosophical tradition doesn't hurt!

When we use our creativity something more than self-realization and therapy takes place. Creative philosophers make something new. The mental and inner life changes, and when we develop as mental beings this may result in action. Both reading and thinking opens a new world, by giving insight into what others have thought as well as through the challenge of engaging in personal reflections and attempts at understanding reality. Philosophy in this sense is an important and joyful part of life!

Reading and reflecting upon texts by Plato, Aristotle, Kierkegaard, Nietzsche, Russell or Wittgenstein may be stimulating, a kind of therapy and develop one's mental world. My vision is that philosophy can have an impact on society in general, and that activity the history of philosophy represents can be a fruitful part of many peoples lives.