Philosophies for Living Well

Why this book?

• Introduces the most important philosophical and religious traditions about the good life.
• Shows how the concept of happiness has been understood in different cultures and periods.
• Allows the reader to find their own suitable approach among different viewpoints.
• Examines the link between philosophy, ethics, and everyday life decisions.

About the book

"Philosophies for Living Well" is a collection of essays about the different paths to achieving a good life. The book's authors, Massimo Pigliucci, Skye C. Cleary, and Daniel A. Kaufman, strive in this work to present a broad picture of humanity's answers to the fundamental question, "How should one live?"

The book's structure is based on introducing various intellectual traditions; from ancient Eastern practices like Buddhism, Confucianism, and Daoism to ancient Greek philosophies such as Aristotelianism, Epicureanism, and Stoicism. Religious traditions like Hinduism, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, as well as contemporary approaches such as Existentialism, Pragmatism, Effective Altruism, and Secular Humanism, are also examined in the book.

Each chapter is written by a specialist in the relevant field, and sources for further reading are suggested at the end of the chapters. This feature makes the book a suitable guide for those who wish to become acquainted with diverse perspectives on the meaning of life, ethics, and personal choices.

This book is beneficial for philosophy students, those interested in ethics and the meaning of life, and readers seeking to build a personal philosophy for living.

From the table of contents

1. 1Philosophies of Life
2. 2Buddhism
3. 3Confucianism
4. 4Daoism
5. 5Aristotelianism
6. 6Stoicism
7. 7Epicureanism
8. 8Hinduism
9. 9Judaism
10. 10Christianity
11. 11Progressive Islam
12. 12Ethical Culture
13. 13Existentialism
14. 14Pragmatism
15. 15Effective Altruism
16. 16Secular Humanism