Welcome to Philosophy Wise

At Philosophy Wise, we aim to create a world where the benefits of philosophy are available to everyone.  Here you will find the tools to implement philosophical wisdom in your life right now. If you are open to new concepts and experiences, you will see how to gradually gain more insight with philosophy. Are you a Stoic who never worries about what is out of your control; a Nietzschean who affirms only actions that make you stronger; a Kantian who acts firmly according to principles; or an Arendtian who believes that thinking for yourself is at the root of morality?

Philosophy Wise introduces you to some of the most radical and important thinkers in the philosophical tradition whose ideas have served to guide humanity throughout history. Acquire valuable insights, different perspectives and a wealth of possibilities to help better understand, assess and make real life decisions. Now that you understand our mission, feel free to explore what we offer!

 

Welcome to Philosophy Wise

At Philosophy Wise, we aim to create a world where the benefits of philosophy are available to everyone.  Here you will find the tools to implement philosophical wisdom in your life right now. If you are open to new concepts and experiences, you will see how to gradually gain more insight with philosophy. Are you a Stoic who never worries about what is out of your control; a Nietzschean who affirms only actions that make you stronger; a Kantian who acts firmly according to principles; or an Arendtian who believes that thinking for yourself is at the root of morality?

Philosophy Wise introduces you to some of the most radical and important thinkers in the philosophical tradition whose ideas have served to guide humanity throughout history. Acquire valuable insights, different perspectives and a wealth of possibilities to help better understand, assess and make real life decisions. Now that you understand our mission, feel free to explore what we offer!

 

About Sharin N. Elkholy, PhD

For much of history, philosophy has served to help us understand the meaning of human existence and provide guidance and tools for better living. In the project of Philosophy Wise, I work to reinvigorate and reignite philosophy’s initial passion by making philosophy accessible, useful and inspirational to everyday living.

I am an Associate Professor of Philosophy at the University of Houston— Downtown, and a certified Philosophical counselor with a focus in philosophy as a way of life. Working with students over the years, I have developed a unique method of introducing key philosophical ideas as tools to address everyday matters and concerns. I found that when students  relate personally to ideas, they are more able to appreciate the insights and wisdom that philosophy has to offer them in their daily lives.

In my book Philosophy Wise and in the accompanying Philosopher’s Deck, both available on this website, I have distilled this practice of teaching philosophy. As an undergraduate, I studied psychology at Antioch College in Yellow Springs, Ohio, and received my PhD in philosophy from The New School for Social Research in New York City. I am also the author of Heidegger and a Metaphysics of Feeling: Angst and the Finitude of Being, “What’s Gender Got to do With It? A Phenomenology of Romantic Love,” and editor of The Philosophy of the Beats.

Click the button below for a complete listing of my publications

About Sharin N. Elkholy, PhD

For much of history, philosophy has served to help us understand the meaning of human existence and provide guidance and tools for better living. In the project of Philosophy Wise, I work to reinvigorate and reignite philosophy’s initial passion by making philosophy accessible, useful and inspirational to everyday living.

I am an Associate Professor of Philosophy at the University of Houston— Downtown, and a certified Philosophical counselor with a focus in philosophy as a way of life. Working with students over the years, I have developed a unique method of introducing key philosophical ideas as tools to address everyday matters and concerns. I found that when students  relate personally to ideas, they are more able to appreciate the insights and wisdom that philosophy has to offer them in their daily lives.

In my book Philosophy Wise and in the accompanying Philosopher’s Deck, both available on this website, I have distilled this practice of teaching philosophy. As an undergraduate, I studied psychology at Antioch College in Yellow Springs, Ohio, and received my PhD in philosophy from The New School for Social Research in New York City. I am also the author of Heidegger and a Metaphysics of Feeling: Angst and the Finitude of Being, “What’s Gender Got to do With It? A Phenomenology of Romantic Love,” and editor of The Philosophy of the Beats.

Click the button below for a complete listing of my publications

A Closer Look

Some people think about philosophy as something complex. Philosophy can be an intimidating subject, and it can be difficult to know where to start. But we believe that learning about philosophy can unlock useful ways of understanding nearly everything. Philosophy Wise re-invigorates philosophy’s initial impulse to help people live with more purpose. It introduces 20 of the world’s greatest thinkers as guides who show you how to gain clarity and wisdom by using the lens of philosophy to better understand yourself, others and the world.

A Closer Look

Some people think about philosophy as something complex. Philosophy can be an intimidating subject, and it can be difficult to know where to start. But we believe that learning about philosophy can unlock useful ways of understanding nearly everything. Philosophy Wise re-invigorates philosophy’s initial impulse to help people live with more purpose. It introduces 20 of the world’s greatest thinkers as guides who show you how to gain clarity and wisdom by using the lens of philosophy to better understand yourself, others and the world.

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The Philosopher’s Deck Journal

The Philosopher’s Deck Journal contains a set of five questions to guide your reflections on each of the 22 thinkers found in The Philosopher’s Deck. It provides a place where you can write down your thoughts and feelings as you converse with each thinker to help empower you to live more mindfully and purposefully. Applying and reflecting on the wisdom of these thinkers allows you to broaden your horizon of possibilities and vision of how to live a more meaningful and fulfilling life.

The Philosophy Wise Journal

The Philosophy Wise Journal is a tool to help guide your journey to living a more philosophical life.  To philosophize is to engage in introspection, reflection, and questioning. It is to practice the life of the mind—where awareness, self-consciousness, and clarity are seated.   

 Use this journal to reflect on the questions found at the end of each chapter in Philosophy Wise. Writing down your thoughts and feelings as you enter into dialogue with each philosopher will enrich your understanding of each thinker’s perspective on how to live a good and fulfilling life, while deepening your understanding of what matters most to you. 

The Philosopher’s Deck

The Philosopher’s Deck brings together the wisdom of philosophy and the practice of using images to contemplate and evaluate life situations. For centuries people have been using cards to meditate on archetypes that have resonated throughout human experience. The most popular set of cards is the traditional Tarot deck. The Philosopher’s Deck follows the framework of the Tarot’s 22 major Arcana cards but is geared more toward helping you arrive at wisdom and clarity through reflection on a set of timeless philosophical ideas and principles. The Philosopher’s Deck depicts 22 of the world greatest thinkers and their key ideas and concepts to spark insight and bring about clarity through wisdom. Each philosopher has carefully been chosen to relate the meaning of their life and work to the meaning of the corresponding card.  Socrates depicts the idea of Self-Examination; Buddha the idea of Impermanence, Rumi the idea of Love, Sartre the idea of Action; Nietzsche the idea of Self-creation; and Arendt the idea of Judgement.  See the Table of Contents for a full list of the themes covered in the Deck and use the cards to arrive at deeper levels of understanding. 

Philosophy Wise, The Book

Philosophy Wise re-invigorates philosophy’s initial impulse to help people live more meaningful lives. Written for philosophers and non-philosopher’s alike, it shows you how to gain clarity and wisdom by using the lens of philosophy to approach your everyday concerns. 20 of the world’s greatest thinkers are presented as guides, each offering you their vision of how to live a more purposeful and satisfying life. Experiment and choose from a kaleidoscope of timeless ideas to gain a deeper understanding of what matters most to you.

Table of Contents:
Socrates: Self-Examination, Lao Tzu: Receptivity, Buddha: Impermanence, Confucius: Tradition, Aristotle: Character, Epictetus: Acceptance, Augustine: Happiness, Rumi: Love, Rene, Descartes: Reason, Immanuel Kant: Integrity, Soren Kierkegaard: Leap of Faith, Friedrich Nietzsche: Self-Creation, W.E.B. Du Bois: Education, Simone Weil: Attention, Hannah Arendt: Thinking, Jean Paul Sartre: Action, Simone de Beauvoir: Ethical Freedom, Albert Camus: The Absurd, Frantz Fanon: Resistance, Gloria Anzaldúa: la Mestiza