Practical Philosophy and Freedom

Week 1 — Exploring Freedom

What is freedom? Why is philosophy helpful when considering the different aspects of freedom?

Week 2 — Approaching Freedom

“All the world’s a stage…” We consider the importance of going backstage to be refreshed for the next role.

Week 3 — Freedom and Meditation

Does stillness facilitate freedom? How can we cultivate stillness?

Week 4 — Freedom of Speech

What are the levels of speech? Why is speech so important?

Week 5 — Emotional Freedom

We consider emotional energy and its relationship to freedom. What are the emotional attitudes and feelings behind our actions? Do we have the ability to choose the mental and emotional approach that we bring into our actions?

Week 6 — Freedom and Stoicism

Epictetus and inner freedom

Week 7 — The Journey to Freedom

Myths are messages of a metaphysical kind. One recurring theme conveyed in myth is that of the hero’s journey out of a state of forgetting or captivity back to their true state of freedom. We consider how these stories are an outer depiction of an inner journey.

Week 8 — Valuing Freedom

The illusion of being bound. What is Ubuntu? And how can we implement its essence in our lives?

Week 9 — Freedom and Lawful Living

What are the principles of lawful living? Marsilio Ficino has an interesting take on patience.

Week 10 — Spiritual Freedom

What is spiritual freedom? We look at some ways one can access freedom in the spiritual realm.