Philosophy isn’t about sitting around and discussing the ideas of ancient Greek thinkers like Socrates and Plato. It’s about learning to stretch your mind in new ways. Being able to think philosophically is one of the most valuable skills an entrepreneur can possess.

Traditionally, when students of philosophy study these ideas, they are encouraged to look for truth. This is a noble goal and we do not discourage you from it. We want you to work hard at developing your ability to follow the evidence where it leads and we’ll be challenging you to do that very thing. There is another value to philosophy, however, beyond seeking after truth: seeking after tools. Sometimes, a particular way of looking at things may have practical value even if it isn’t true. So don’t limit yourself to thinking solely in terms of “is this idea true?” or “are these arguments good?” Also, try to think in terms of “how can I use this concept to help me create the results that matter most to me?”

Think of philosophy as an activity, not merely a field of study. Think of philosophy as the mental version of going to the gym. The way to burn fat and build muscle is by engaging in certain kinds of activities, not merely learning lots of facts about health and nutrition. In a similar way, you grow philosophically not just by reading, but by asking yourself tough questions.

Philosophy can be seen as a discipline that helps you arrive at truth. It can also be seen as a unique set of brain games designed to increase mental agility and intellectual acumen. It can also be seen as a conceptual toolbox with various ideas that may be useful in some contexts and useless in other contexts. It can also be seen as an adventure in which you playfully explore the different sorts of possibilities that arise when you use new conceptual models to represent your understanding of the world. Try to avoid being boxed in by one particular viewpoint regarding what philosophy is for. By seeing philosophy as a multifaceted enterprise, you have more ways to gain value from it.

Philosophy will help you do the following things:

1. Improve your ability to communicate your opinions and beliefs
2. Improve your ability to identify unconsciously held beliefs and assumptions
3. Improve your ability to entertain alternative possibilities to the perceptions of reality that seem obvious to you
4. Improve your ability to empathize with viewpoints that differ from your own
5. Improve your ability to construct and criticize arguments
6. Improve your ability to find utility in non-obvious sources
7. Improve your ability to make interesting/insightful connections between seemingly unrelated ideas
8. Improve your ability to function and maintain composure in the absence of easy, quick, obvious, or uncontroversial answers
9. Improve your ability to ask thoughtful questions.

Listen to What is Philosophy?

Read Why Philosophers Make Formidable Entrepreneurs

Read Why Future Business Leaders Need Philosophy

Read The Work Required To Have An Opinion

Watch Daniel H. Cohen: For Argument’s Sake

Read Give It Five Minutes

• Pick one of the pieces of content from above and publish a blog post sharing what you learned and how you intend to apply that lesson in your life.

1. Out of all the definitions of philosophy provided, what was your favorite definition and why?
2. In your own words, what is philosophy?
3. How can philosophy help you make better decisions?
4. How can philosophy help make you more persuasive?
5. What is an argument? Are arguments good, bad, or neutral?
6. What’s the value of thinking before you speak?