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T.K. Coleman is the Education Director of Praxis, where he engages in philosophical dialogue every day with hundreds of young people who are building their own careers and creating unique journeys of self-education. He writes about philosophy extensively on his blog and the Praxis blog, including posts like Productivity begins with Philosophy and Who Needs Philosophy?
(Here’s a great video introducing the concept of Praxis) :
T.K. also hosts several podcasts of his own: http://tkcoleman.com/podcasts/. He’s appeared on the Minimalists and Patterson in Pursuit, and has spoken numerous times at FEE and Voice and Exit.
Today he joins me to talk about the importance of philosophical thinking. Everyone should be a philosopher! That doesn’t necessarily mean that each person should have a philosophy degree. It simply refers to the fact that creative, critical thinking should be a part of any person’s life.
“It is a truth that we do not perceive the world as it is in and of itself; but rather as it is filtered through our perceptual mechanisms.” -T.K.
Here’s what we cover:
What is Philosophy?
Should everybody be a philosopher?
Why is philosophy Important in the “real world” outside of thought experiments?
How are entrepreneurs like philosophers?
Is it better to be positive or to question the negative assumptions that hold you down?
Can a lack of philosophical precision keep us from realizing our potential?
Why do we take negativity at face value, but become skeptics when it comes to positivity?
How much are our self-defeating mindsets weighing us down?
Why do many people scorn the idea of philosophy? Are there merits to their arguments?
What are T.K.’s book recommendations for the young philosopher?
What’s the importance of being wrong and its impact on your critical thinking?
Is there anything wrong with not having a clear answer to every question?
How selfish are you in the learning process and how does that impact conversation?
What is the impact on mainstream compulsory schooling on critical thinking?
Is learning really about “signaling” and “proving”?
How does one develop the ability of selfish learning?
Is life about finding purpose?
How does knowledge of purpose come about?
“Philosophy for me is like love. As long as you do it, I don’t care what you call it.” -T.K.
Book references/ Links:
The Trial and Death of Socrates by Plato
1 John 4:1 (Try the Spirits)
Genesis 32:22-31 (Jacob wrestling with an angel)
Matthew 14: 22-23 (Peter walks on water)
Freedom without Permission by T.K. Coleman and Zachary Slayback
Hebrews 12:1 (Lay aside every weight)
Meditations on First Philosophy by Rene Descartes
Proverbs 18:19 (on offense and being wrong)
Raise a Child, not a Cliche (talk by T.K. at Child Unleashed)