Virtue theory proclaims that people ought to incorporate certain virtues, defined as excellent traits, as part of their characters by habituating themselves to the practice of such traits as honesty and courage, etc. The opposite of virtues are vices.
Proponents of the theory, including the ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle (384–322 BC), suggest that, ideally, we need to do what is virtuous, and refrain from acting viciously. The assumption is that cultivating a good character is conducive to a society that functions in an orderly, harmonious, and cohesive manner. …
Philosophy Courses in the Marketplace
My name is Mahmoud Rasmi. I quit my academic job to take philosophy back to the marketplace. I finished my Ph.D. in Philosophy at the University of Salamanca Spain. Between 2013 and 2020, I taught philosophy and cultural studies at the American University of Beirut and the Lebanese American University. Now, I have decided to venture into the virtual world in order to give affordable classes online to people who are interested in studying philosophy in a non-academic setting.
Sample Class:
I have found inspiration in classical and contemporary writings. Some of these include Seneca’s Letters from a Stoic…
Because I can’t get fired without getting hired first
It all started here. I posted a tweet about my New Year’s resolution stating that I will be finding a job using the below resume.
But I was told the document ‘wouldn’t even get me hired’.
So here’s my online resume, expressing my interest in a suitable position. One that does not end up with the firing of the employee if they get riled up over something important, like getting the job done.
Here’s a little about me.
- I quit my academic job and started teaching philosophy online. It’s going well thus far.
- In addition, I would like…
Why often your resume is not enough
In the digital age, all it takes you is an internet connection and a laptop, tablet, or mobile phone to create an opportunity for yourself. In a previous article, I explained how I changed the way I did things from adopting a ‘why’ attitude to a ‘why not’ approach.
In this article, I want to explore the options we usually have at hand, but don’t utilize to our benefit whether be it in searching for a job, looking for freelancing gigs, or starting an online business.
I am not an HR consultant, nor am I familiar with the innards of…
How Changing Your Attitude Can Help Create More Opportunities and Build More Bridges
Two years ago I had a fuzzy idea for a small project that I was hoping to pursue. The gist of it was that I wanted to start an anti-consulting business to encourage start-ups to ask and address the ‘right questions.’
Yea yea, what was I thinking. But that’s the point of this article, I learned something from this pursuit, and it made me adopt a different attitude to how I now do things. I think this might also apply broadly to life in general.
Coming from a philosophy background myself, the rationale was that asking the ‘right questions’ is…
What Socrates, Stand-up Comedians, and Rappers Have in Common
Excerpt from my book Sardonically Speaking. A book about philosophy in the marketplace, and the importance of taking oneself less seriously.
Introduction
This is a short book that will get you to think about the importance of not taking things all too seriously, the need to be laid-back in your quest for the “good” life, and why it is essential that we occasionally challenge and laugh at ourselves. The chapters are organized in several interrelated but stand-alone essays, making it easier for you to jump back and forth between them at your convenience.
The main premise of my project is…
Express entry program — Federal Skilled Worker
This is a very broad overview of the Express Entry program meant to guide you through the initial steps to kick-start your immigration process.
IF you want to emigrate to Canada, there are several programs that you can apply for. Here’s a link you can check out to see which program might be suitable for you given your situation (age, marital status), credentials, and experience.
Note that the entire process can be carried out ONLINE, via the Canadian Immigration Office’s OFFICIAL website (IRCC).
In this article, I’ll only talk about the FEDERAL SKILLED WORKER program (Quebec NOT included). I know…
Education in times of (post)-Corona
Since the beginning of the 2019/20 academic year, I was toying with the idea of creating an online pre-recorded philosophy course to share on platforms like Udemy.
While perhaps appealing in monetary terms if the course was successful, I was hesitant about the feasibility of creating one such course and making it interesting for the public.
My skepticism was motivated by the nature of the subject matter: philosophy. Math, physics, history, economics, and many other fields make it fairly easy for professors to design an informative course to the benefit of students. …
How I transformed my anger into creative energy
Up until several months back, I was very angry. There were many reasons why I was irate. I was close to land a full-time academic position twice but finished the race as the runnerup. I was furious about office politics, how one had to be an ass-kisser to make it in academia. I was also annoyed by the rampant corruption and nepotism I came across at the institutions where I taught.
Anyone who knew me would have sensed my frustration, resentment, and exasperation. …
A reflection on Platonic Ideas from a contemporary prism
You most probably have heard about Plato’s theory of forms at one point in your life. If you haven’t, don’t you worry, this article is going to tackle this seemingly bizarre concept in a new light, hopefully.
But before I continue, I have to insert a disclaimer here. I don’t pretend to write a scholarly article to flesh out the arguments made herein in an academic manner. I am more interested in reflecting on Platonic Ideas from a contemporary prism in a way that perhaps makes it relevant to contemporary issues.
