Making Philosophy Wise Again

How can practices we’ve adopted from the east, like mindfulness, be more than just a balm for the burns of capitalism?

Engaging with the Indian philosophical tradition can not only reenliven philosophical ideas, but the way we practice philosophy in itself. Come join us in conversation with Aamir Kaderbhai, current Phd candidate at Oxford on this topic.

While there is a recent trend of asian philosophies being introduced more in universities and western thought, there are those who fear this is being done superficially, in a way that relies on a contemporary western understanding of what philosophy is and does. Philosophy doesn’t have to mean disappearing into rabbit holes and intellectual wankery; 

the love of wisdom for many in the past and present signifies a practice, a way of life.

So, how can “asian philosophies help change our ways of doing philosophy and enrich our understanding of what philosophy is for”?

This is an invitation to move beyond surface-level engagement with Asian wisdom practices. We need a radical reconsideration of what philosophy is and may become: a living, transformative tradition that challenges—and enriches—the very foundations of intellectual thought and modern ideology.

If you want to read some of Aamir’s recent reflections on this topic, you can do so here: https://epochemagazine.org/83/the-transformative-potential-of-asian-philosophies/