I read the book, Out of the Box, Ron Leifer's autobiography, to learn more about Leifer’s association with Thomas Szasz. I wanted to find out, what if anything, Leifer learned while studying under Szasz during medical school. I found out that while Leifer accepted Szasz’s assertion that mental illness is a metaphor for problems in … Continue reading Out of the Box – Book Review
The book, The Happiness Project, is written by a student of Thomas Szasz, Ron Leifer. I was disappointed in this book. I was interested in the work of Ron Leifer because he studied under Thomas Szasz. I thought that perhaps Ron could offer some insights into the human condition. What I found were some poorly … Continue reading The Happiness Project – Book Review
The book, Existential Therapy: Distinctive Features by Emmy van Deurzen is a good reminder to view each person as a free individual, responsible for their life. But, on another level, it is a book about how to push a particular set of belief on another person. Van Deurzen describes the existential therapy approach as: The life … Continue reading Existential Therapy: Distinctive Features
Existentialism (as I see it) is the idea that we can explain human behavior according to reasons (choices), not causes. To this end, I have been interested to read how existentialism is used as a practical tool to help people understand themselves and their lives. I picked up the book, Existential Perspectives On Coaching, edited … Continue reading Existential Perspectives On Coaching
The book, Stepping out of Plato's Cave: Philosophical Counseling, Philosophical Practice, and Self-Transformation, was an interesting read about how one philosophical counselor who uses philosophy to help his clients understand and improve their lives. The author Ran Lahav, uses Plato’s Cave allegory to try to help people understand how they may be enslaving themselves inside … Continue reading Stepping out of Plato’s Cave: Philosophical Counseling, Philosophical Practice, and Self-Transformation
The book, Plato, Not Prozac!: Applying Eternal Wisdom to Everyday Problems, by Lou Marinoff, is one part sales pitch, and one part advice about how to live a life in accordance with the author’s personal values. Marinoff begins the book by arguing that problems in living are better solved by thinking philosophically rather than thinking … Continue reading Plato, Not Prozac!: Applying Eternal Wisdom to Everyday Problems
In his book, The Meaning of Mind: Language, Morality and Neuroscience, Thomas Szasz explains his concept of the mind. Szasz's writes: "My aim of this book is to present a systematic exploration and exposition of the thesis that minding is the ability to pay attention and adapt to one's environment by using language to communicate … Continue reading The Meaning of Mind: Language, Morality, and Neuroscience
Aaron Olson 