Philosophy for Seniors
Philosophy is the study of life's fundamental questions. Who are we? What does it mean to do good? Why do we do things at all? Tackling these questions can be difficult, but beneficial for people of all ages. This page first explains the many benefits of practicing philosophy, before providing ways you can interact with philosophy yourself.
Philosophy is practiced through thinking. From reading a book to discussing with a friend, philosophy cannot be done without active and well intentioned thought.
By promoting active thinking in this way, philosophy has been shown to improve brain health. Activities like philosophical thinking increase a person's Cognitive Reserve, changing their brain chemistry and nueral pathways. The result can be delayed cognitive decline with age, and a lowered risk of dementia on the whole.
Philosophy is also the perfect activity to improve one's reasoning and logic. From making claims to providing evidence and explanations, philosophy forces you to think rigourously. The lessons learned can help you communicate effectively on any topic, from family matters to politics.
Perhaps most importantly, philosophy should be practiced because it makes life more meaningful. Questions like the meaning of happiness have seemingly no correct answer. However, the process of philosophizing and trying to answer the question can be helpful in itself. By questioning what seems known, philosophy prevents us from taking the most important parts of life for granted.
How to Get Started with Philosophy
As long as you can read, you can practice philosophy and learn to think with yourself! Here is a list of short texts perfect for getting started with reading philosophy.
What Does it All Mean by Thomas Nagel
A short pamphlet introducing some of the most important questions in all of philosophy. Try to read this text all the way through from the beginning.
The Allegory of the Cave by Plato
A classic dialogue by Plato written in the format of a conversation. This text is very short and focuses on the connection between knowledge and ideas.
The Problems of Philosophy by Bertrand Russell
This is a longer introduction to specific problems in philosophy. It's written very clearly, and chapters can be read independently without reading the whole text.
Meditations 1 and 2 by Descartes
In incredibly clear and well flowing prose, Descartes unpacks the idea of knowledge and provides his theory of what we know can exist.
The Enchiridion by Epictetus
Classic Stoic philosophy on Life and how to live it. An emphasis on letting go of what we cannot control, and taking responsibility for what we can.
Thinking by Hannah Arendt
Originally published in the New Yorker Magazine, this peice by the political philosopher Hannah Arendt bridges thinking from Ancient Philosophy to the present day.
Essay version of the Myth of Sisyphus by Albert Camus
This is a very heavy read that tackles with difficult topics like suicide. However, it is one of the best introductions to existentialism, the philosophy of existence. Moreover, the end of the essay provides one of the most inspiring messages in all of philosophy.
While reading, there is no need to understand every paragraph. However, by the end of each reading always try to identify the broader argument the author has made: this is the most important part of any text.
Apart from reading, the other half of philosophy is talking about philosophy. Discussing difficult ideas with people not only practices argumentative skills, but also makes you better at listening and understanding the ideas of others. Here is a list of discussion topics you can use throughout your day!
What does a meaningful life mean to you?
Do you think that people can completely change who they are?
Which should be more important: our happiness, or helping others be happier?
Is it ever okay to lie? If yes, when?
Are intentions more important than outcomes?
Does fairness equate to justice?
Should people be held responsible for things they didn’t know were harmful?
Do you trust your senses or do you believe they might lead you astray?
Can two people disagree and both be right?
If everyone around you believed a falsehood, how would you know?
Is there a difference between facts and opinions, or where is the line?
If technology could perfectly duplicate your mind, would that duplicate be you?
Are we free to choose, or do genetics, society, or chance determine what we do?
Do you think animals have consciousness in the same way humans do?
Is progress always good?
If you knew you couldn't fail, what would you try to do?
Would a world without suffering be boring or perfect?
What would be different about your life if you found out there was no purpose to the universe?
If everyone in the world were to follow one moral rule, what would it be?
Although it may seem jarring at first, philosophy is actually a topic that anyone can discuss about. The questions of philosophy are universal, you don't have to be a professional philosopher to have a perspective on right/wrong or the meaning of happiness.
Additional Resources and Activities
One of the easiest ways to interact with philosophy is by watching movies! Luckily, there is no shortage of movies that deal with philosophilcal themes.
Arrival (2016)
The Matrix (1999)
The Truman Show (1998)
Groundhog Day (1993)
Blade Runner (1982)
2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
The Seventh Seal (1957)
Access this full discussion activity on the morality of lying! The activity includes a reading passage, discussion instructions, and guidlines for moderating a discusison.
There are countless organizations related to philosophy across the country, and getting involved is often as easy as attending an event. Here are a few example organizations:
The Greator Philadelphia Philosophy Consortium
Alongside reading and discussing, writing is the third pillar of philosophy. Even writing as simple as journaling on a question or reading can be important because it requires the synthesis of information. Writing is formalized thinking. As such, writing is one of the best ways to experience the benefits of practicing philosophy. A trick is to write using pen and paper. Just spill ideas onto the page, and see where your thoughts lead you.
Why Use These Resources?
At OMNIA Philosophy, we are a nonprofit organization working to spread philosophy to seniors who lack the opportunities to engage with the subject. In this, we work with multiple municiple senior centers to host Philosophy presentations and discussion events of all kinds. For the many people we cannot reach through in-person events, we've created this online guide to philosophy so that seniors everywhere can learn the subject that we love!
