Over the past 10 days, I've completed the first section of my month-long journey relearning and evaluating my perspective on various philosophers. What I've found most amazing about learning a small fraction of each of these incredibly influential historical figures is that they all share common traits, yet they all seem to have additional, new, or elaborated ideologies on life, human existence, the betterment of ourselves, and overall a vast array of key ingredients they believe contribute the most in creating a purposeful and fulfilling existence.

I covered Aristotle, Plato, Boethius, Epictetus, Seneca, Montaigne, Descartes, Kant, and Marcus Aurelius. Each has already had a profound impact on my view of the world. From the deep stoic philosophy on being balanced, purpose-driven through strong values and a virtuous life, and constantly looking to improve ourselves. To maintaining a humble outlook on life and never allowing ourselves to become self-obsessed or overestimate our contribution to society. Each one had something to offer in all walks of life, to anyone interested in learning a different perspective on what's possible.

Aristotle, born around 384 BCE, was an influential philosopher known for his diverse interests and works, including "Nicochaen Ethics," which explores the concept of eudaimonia, emphasizing virtuous living and personal growth rather than the mere pursuit of happiness, and his profound questioning of existence and the purpose of life, which laid the foundation for understanding human values and objectives.
Plato, born in Athens between 428 and 427 BC, was a wealthy and influential philosopher who had a profound impact on Western society through his philosophical concepts, including his theory of forms, his belief in a balanced education, and his idea of a state run by philosopher kings.

Boethius, born in Rome around 480 AD and adopted into a high-powered aristocratic family, became a successful philosopher and advisor to the ruler before being wrongly accused of treason and sentenced to death. During this time, he wrote "The Consolation of Philosophy," which explores the nature of happiness and the pursuit of true fulfillment through internal dialogue, introspection, and the cultivation of a virtuous and righteous inner self. Ultimately, it teaches us that our own happiness is based on our perspective of the world.

Epictetus, a former slave turned stoic philosopher, rose to prominence through his introspective teachings on self-assessment, valuing the present moment, embracing change, focusing on what is within our control, and finding happiness through virtuous paths. He left a lasting impact on the pursuit of happiness and fulfillment.

Seneca, born in 4 BC in Córdoba, Spain, was a prominent Stoic philosopher and statesman who had a strong influence in the political arena and served in the Roman Senate. He ultimately became an advisor and tutor to Emperor Nero before being implicated in a conspiracy against him and ordered to commit suicide. Seneca's philosophy emphasized self-improvement, living in the present moment, and seeking truth and happiness within oneself. His teachings have had a lasting impact on Stoicism and life in general.

Montaigne, in summary, was a French philosopher born in 1533. He was raised with ancient Greek philosophical values, travelled extensively, wrote about subjective topics, became a mayor, and emphasized living a purposeful and fulfilling life through embracing pleasures and following one's interests.
Descartes, Rene Descartes, was a French philosopher and mathematician known for his passion for physics, mathematics, and philosophy, as well as his belief in the power of the mind to shape our experiences. He emphasized introspection and the control of passions, and questioned the nature of existence and reality while traveling the world to learn and understand himself better. Ultimately, he believed in the ability to manifest and project universal energy to create our own reality.
Kant - Immanuel Kant, a German philosopher born in the 18th century during the Enlightenment period, emphasized individualized moral values, treating others with respect, and maintaining a balance in interactions. He believed in staying true to one's own moral code regardless of societal expectations, and emphasized the importance of organization and time management in finding meaning and purpose in life. His philosophy of Transcendental Idealism greatly influenced the future of the Western world, and he prioritized morals, values, and being a good person for the right reasons while respecting the world, people, and animals. His ideology suggests that projecting joy and happiness into the world is essential for personal fulfillment.

Marcus Aurelius - Marcus Aurelius, the last of the great Roman emperors, was a renowned Stoic philosopher whose philosophy emphasized balance, self-control, and acceptance of life's unpredictability. His book "Meditations" continues to inspire individuals in their pursuit of purpose, fulfillment, and happiness.

Overall, each one of these philosophers shared something with me that has contributed to my train of thought in the never-ending search for improvement and the search for happiness. The Stoic philosophers, I believe, have an incredibly strong ideology in what it means to live life as humans, the constant and consistent approach to being good upstanding people, who don’t allow external insignificance to deter us from focusing on what’s important in life. These aspects drive to arc an incredibly powerful view on the world. They all shared something important, and the lessons from Stoic philosophy is an area in which I will most definitely search deeper into throughout my life.

The two philosophers that surprisingly captured my attention the most were Descartes and Kant. The emphasis on emotional, intellectual, and physical energy we project will contribute to the world that is created in front of our eyes. Being a good person, which returns good results, establishing strong morals and virtues, while always looking to do right by the world, is vital in our search for happiness and understanding ourselves, as well as who we are. Introspection and the understanding of oneself is the most basic key in unlocking the code of life.
Although it has been quite challenging to learn enough about these philosophers each day, to elaborate on my basic understanding and perspective on their philosophies has been hard. Yet it has also been incredibly rewarding, and I thoroughly look forward to the next few weeks in which I will learn about alternative philosophers from all walks of life and throughout history.

Thanks,

Dean