Being Thoughtful is a philosophy of life that many will embrace on reflection of what different paths may entail, and can be cultivated through the development of one’s understanding of the world around them. It can be applied to one’s beliefs and life choices, one’s relationships with others, and one’s actions as a member of wider communities.
To find out more to consider and share with others, the following may be of interest (these are short essays of 500-800 words, unless otherwise indicated):
[A] Why Embrace ‘Being Thoughtful’ as a Philosophy of Life
· ‘Being Thoughtful: a philosophy of life’ (2020): an introductory outline of the ethos. (Question the Powerful – 16 September 2020)
· ‘What Kind of People Are We?’ (2012): distinguishing the different types of people we could be if we embrace or reject thoughtfulness as a guide to life.
· ‘The Reciprocity Test: Pros & Cons’ (2013): using the concept of ‘reciprocity’ to ascertain our dispositions towards being thoughtful.
· ‘The Case for Cooperative Problem-Solving’ (2012): why cooperative problem-solving is central to living thoughtfully.
· ‘Cooperative Problem-Solving: the key to a reciprocal society’ (2012): what are the key elements to cooperative problem-solving.
· ‘The General Theory of Responsibility: an introduction’ (2020): a guide to resources explaining what a thoughtful conception of responsibility involves.
· ‘Left, Right or Optimal?’ (2017): why being thoughtful is concerned with the optimal choice rather than conventional labels and pre-conceived expectations.
· ‘The Cooperative Gestalt’ (2013): explaining how the ‘cooperative gestalt’ is the mindset with which one perceives the world in a thoughtful manner.
· ‘Learning More about Cooperative Gestalt’ (2013): a guide to more materials explicating the cooperative gestalt.
· What Should Citizens Believe? (2018): a collection of texts that explore rationality and how to deliberate over what to believe.
[B] How to Advance Thoughtfulness in Practice
· ‘The Path of Thoughtfulness’ (2020): what is to be done to stay thoughtful in the face of threats and obstacles.
· ‘Four Threats of the Counter-Enlightenment’ (2018): why counter-enlightenment trends need to be tackled.
· ‘In Defence of Cooperative Communities: 7 points to note’ (2018): how are cooperative communities sustained by thoughtful minds to be defended.
· ‘Guide to Synetopia’ (2016): a guide to essays on aspects of the concept of ‘synetopia’ and their relevance to practical reforms.
· Political Literacy & Civic Thoughtfulness (2016): a pamphlet on how to cultivate civic thoughtfulness in society.
· ‘Six Degrees of Cooperation’ (2014): where should thoughtful cooperation be more extensively developed.
· ‘Politics & the Cooperative Gestalt’ (2015): what is the relevance of the cooperative gestalt to political action.
· ‘The Cooperators’ Dilemma’ (2018): understanding the difficulties faced by those challenged by others’ non-cooperation.
· Time to Save Democracy (2018): a book length work on why and how democracy should be strengthened in line with the philosophy of thoughtfulness.
[C] What Key Ideas have influenced the Philosophy of Thoughtfulness
· ‘Find out more about Communitarianism’ (2013): the theory and practice set out in the book, Communitarianism, provide the basis for the philosophy of ‘Being Thoughtful’, and this resource guide gives more information about it and other short, relevant articles.
· The Evolution of Communitarian Ideas: history, theory & practice (2019): a book that provides a comprehensive exposition of how communitarian ideas have developed over time.
· ‘Democritus: an agreeable hypothesis about everything’ (2018): on the ideas of the ancient Greek philosopher, Democritus.
· ‘Question the Powerful: quincentenary of the 1514 watershed’ (2014): on the ideas of a number of Renaissance thinkers.
· ‘Our Bacon Needs Saving’ (2011): on the ideas of Francis Bacon, their influence since the 17th century, and the opposition to them.
· ‘Who’s Against the Enlightenment’ (2007): on the importance of the ideas of the Enlightenment and the attempts to discredit them.
· ‘Cooperation: A New Order of Life’ (2017): a review of Stephen Yeo’s book on George Holyoake and his vision for thoughtful cooperation.
· ‘Mill, Dewey & Me’ (2009): on why J. S. Mill’s and John Dewey’s ideas are important in the development of the philosophy of thoughtfulness.
· Against Power Inequalities – a history of the progressive struggle (2015): a book on the intellectual and political battles to tackle one of the most serious threats against thoughtful cooperation – power inequalities.
