Looking for Wisdom

Reading systematically is no way to read philosophy

There’s a lot to be said for reading at a gallop.

How to keep on moving and flourishing in a changing world

Alcmaeon was one of the earliest thinkers to systematically address questions of health and illness.

What we can learn about love from the indigenous Enxet people of Paraguay.

The troubling, fascinating treatise on ancient strategy, loved by business leaders and politicians.

The philosopher who could argue one thing one day, and the opposite the next

One of the Greek world’s earliest scientists, on the gunky nature of everything.

One of history’s most overlooked women philosophers

The wandering Greek philosopher and poet who reimagined the nature of the gods.

What is wisdom, why does it matter, and how do we cultivate it?

One of China’s earliest women philosophers, on weaving and politics

The philosopher who argued nothing ever changes

The beginnings of Indian philosophy

The philosopher Anaximander was born in the trading port of Miletus in 610 BCE, and is said to have become a student of the philosopher…

This story from a 12th century Persian text is about music, harmony, philosophy, and the beef between Plato and Aristotle.

The philosopher Gārgī Vācaknavī is said to have lived in India around 700 BCE. Her skill in debate was legendary.

What Philosopher John Gray and the philosophers of medieval China say about the virtues of cats.

Guan Zhong was one of China’s earliest named philosophers. A sharp political operator, he is associated with the philosophy of legalism.

Philosophy is the search for wiser ways of thinking, acting and living. But what does it mean to look for wisdom?

Pythagoras was the first philosopher to talk about ‘philosophia’, or ‘the love of wisdom.’

Heraclitus’s philosophy was based on the idea that the world is in continual flux. He is famous for his comment that ‘everything flows.’

One of history’s earliest named philosophers was from Africa. He lived 4500 years ago in Egypt, and his name was Ptahhotep.

The woman who taught Socrates the art of debate.