Have you ever asked yourself: what is the meaning of life? What is the point of our existence? Why are we here? How do I have a good life? We know how you felt right after asking yourself these questions; you felt just as confused as ever and maybe even silently prayed for the perfect answer. In this article, we will cover 10 philosophies for a better life.
But unfortunately, there is, in fact no perfect answer to living a good life or finding the meaning of your existence. However, there are some interesting philosophies that will not only increase your chances of having a better life; they will also help you find the meaning you’ve always yearned for.
Ready for this adventure? We promise not to make this sound like a philosophy class! Let’s get right to it!
1. Stoicism
You must have heard of stoicism in some way, as it is widely regarded as one of the most popular philosophies for a happy life.
But stoicism began in Ancient Greece; how is it still valid today?
The short answer: stoicism is a philosophy that suggests that moral excellence is the eventual goal.
One interesting quote fully defines it, “Waste no time arguing what a good man should be. Be one.”
So rather than wasting time talking about what good needs to be done in the world, how about you go out there and do the needful?
Stoicism suggests that you live a life of wise and moral decisions, and in doing this, you’ll unlock happiness for yourself!
The Stoics also believe we shouldn’t blame ourselves for things we cannot control.
This further mentions that only our actions and reactions to situations are in our control, but the eventual outcome of whatever we do in life is not up to us.
So, why should we decide our happiness by that eventual outcome?
But by finding happiness in your actions and attitude, you are putting your key to happiness in your own hands and not something out of your control!
Want to practice stoicism? Remember that we cannot control how things turn out, but we can control what they mean.
Notable stoics include Marcus Aurelius, Epictetus, Seneca, Ryan Holiday and Nassim Nicholas Taleb.
To read more about Stoicism, these are great to start:
- “Meditations” by Marcus Aurelius
- “The Enchiridion” by Epictetus
- “Letters from a Stoic” by Seneca
- “On the Shortness of Life” by Seneca
- “The Discourses” by Epictetus
- “The Art of Living” by Epictetus
- “The Stoic Philosophy of Seneca” by Lucius Annaeus Seneca
- “The Daily Stoic: 366 Meditations on Wisdom, Perseverance, and the Art of Living” by Ryan Holiday and Stephen Hanselman.
2. Epicureanism
What’s the secret to living a happy life? Epicureans believe that happiness can be found in living a pleasurable life!
But this pleasure is not the one to be found at the typical spots of food, great drinks, vacations, or sexual activities; it can be instead be found in the art of moderation and abstinence from bodily desires!
This philosophy doesn’t necessarily suggest you shouldn’t have a pleasurable life. It means that true pleasure can be found in learning more about our world, friendships, and communities, living a virtuous life, and, most importantly, doing everything in moderation.
Living by this philosophy will teach you the importance of knowing how much of everything is needed and how happiness can be found in the quest for knowledge.
This teaches us to live moderately, adopt a modest style, and find knowledge, as these are the secrets to true happiness!
Notable proponents include Arthur Schopenhauer, Hermann Hesse, Thomas Jefferson and Frances Wright.
To find out more about Epicureanism, check these out:
- “The Principal Doctrines” by Epicurus
- “On the Nature of Things” by Titus Lucretius Carus
- “Epicureanism” by Tim O’Keefe
- “The Art of Happiness” by Epicurus
- “Epicurean Ethics” by Catherine Wilson
3. Taoism
Taoism is an ancient philosophy whose teachings are still valid today.
For starters, this philosophy teaches three important lessons; simplicity, compassion, and patience.
It advises us to be simple in thinking and action, reminds us to always be patient with friends and family, and most importantly, we must have strong compassion towards ourselves!
This suggests that you should always strive for simplicity, but love and belief in yourself are more necessary!
But Taoism goes beyond that; it also advises us to go with the flow! Does this mean we should never make plans and instead act spontaneously?
Definitely not! This means we should never try to change things out of our control; instead, let them take their natural course!
So, when you are next faced with a dilemma or have no idea what you need to do, the best decision is to do nothing!
However, you should take a shot when you see the right move opportunity!
Furthermore, Taoism teaches us to let things go.
This philosophy argues that if everything in life is subject to change, would it make any sense to try to hold on to something forever?
Of course not! When we accept the facts of life, the facts of life and death, and the facts of change, we can live a life of freedom, and this freedom is key to having a better life.
Notable Taoists include Lao Tzu, Alan Watts, and Benjamin Hoff.
To read more about Taoism, start with these:
- “Tao Te Ching” by Lao Tzu
- “Chuang Tzu” by Zhuangzi
- “The Tao of Pooh” by Benjamin Hoff
- “The Tao of Physics” by Fritjof Capra
- “The Taoist Inner View of the Universe and the Immortal Realm” by Taoist Master Ni, Hua-Ching
- “Taoism: An Essential Guide” by Eva Wong
- “The Book of Chuang Tzu” by Chuang Tzu.
4. Hedonism
If the Epicureans’ definition of pleasure didn’t sound too fancy to you, then hedonism definitely will. Hedonism teaches us that true happiness can only be found in our pursuit of pleasure, and yes, you guessed right, this pleasure could be anything in the world!
This is quite a fascinating way to live, and it is defined by the simple boundaries of “If you want to be happy, you might as well only do things that please you!”
Hedonism further tells us to always live in the moment; the past is gone, and the future is buried in the smoke of doubt, so the present is the only thing we’ve got, the only thing we can control, so wouldn’t it suck if we allowed the present moment to pass us by?
Do what you’ve always wanted rather than let the moments pass you by. Create bucket lists and make an effort to turn them into reality! All we’ve got is now; let’s make it count!
Notable hedonists include Hugh Hefner, Caligula, Giacomo Casanova, Epicurus and Lord Byron.
If you are interested in learning more, you can start with these:
- “The Cyrenaics” by Tim O’Keefe
- “The Hedonism Handbook: Mastering the Lost Arts of Leisure and Pleasure” by Michael Flocker
- “Hedonism: A Novel” by Jason Starr
- “The Hedonistic Imperative” by David Pearce
5. Existentialism
If you are familiar with existentialism, we are sure you are wondering how it can help us live better lives.
Let’s take it from the start: existentialists believe all humans are bothered by existential angst.
This angst is seen as that period in our lives where we search for meaning and purpose and try to know ourselves and how we fit into the universe’s grand scheme.
Existentialists believe that to find meaning, we must be willing to become self-aware, create our values and meaning, and live based on these values.
This suggests that our lives are fully in our hands, and finding meaning and purpose in this world depends entirely on us.
Existentialists remind us that God, the government, our parents, teachers, or even friends cannot give us meaning in life except the ones we give ourselves.
What, then, is the first step to finding your purpose? It is a journey to discovering who you are, what your dreams and aspirations are.
What are your deepest fears? What are your strengths and weaknesses? By answering these questions, you are slowly on your path to finding meaning in your life.
Notable existentialists include Albert Camus, Jean-Paul Sartre, Simone De Beauvoir, Friedrich Nietzsche, and Franz Kafka, to name a few.
Here’s a few famous books that explore existentialism:
- “Being and Nothingness” by Jean-Paul Sartre
- “The Stranger” by Albert Camus
- “No Exit” by Jean-Paul Sartre
- “The Myth of Sisyphus” by Albert Camus
- “Existentialism Is a Humanism” by Jean-Paul Sartre
- “The Rebel” by Albert Camus
- “Nausea” by Jean-Paul Sartre
- “The Plague” by Albert Camus
- “Fear and Trembling” by Søren Kierkegaard
- “The Birth of Tragedy” by Friedrich Nietzsche
6. Aestheticism
Have you ever stopped to appreciate how beautiful the world is? Look at the mountains, the endless oceans, the vast sky of stars, rainfall, and the beautiful trees. Art is all around us; we must be willing to look!
Aestheticism is a philosophy that helps us see the connection between pretty things and happiness. These philosophers believe that visual pleasure is something we should always pay attention to!
And hey, this isn’t just because pretty things can be fun; scientific evidence shows that looking at pretty things directly impacts our happiness!
So, if you constantly find beauty in everything around you, you will notice that you are happier than someone who refuses to see beauty in the world. Pro-tip: stare at more beautiful things; it will make you feel better!
Oscar Wilde’s The Picture of Dorian Gray is a famous example of aestheticism. Other notable people include Immanuel Kant and Aristotle.
Here’s a few ideas for further reading:
- “The Picture of Dorian Gray” by Oscar Wilde
- “The Decay of Lying” by Oscar Wilde
- “Intentions” by Oscar Wilde
- “Salomé” by Oscar Wilde
- “The Importance of Being Earnest” by Oscar Wilde
- “Against Nature” by Joris-Karl Huysmans
7. The David Foster Wallace Philosophy (This is Water)
In 2005, David Foster Wallace, one of the most brilliant individuals of the 2000s, delivered a speech at Kenyon College. This speech aimed to teach the graduates how to live a compassionate life, and Foster Wallace explained that we can only achieve true happiness when we have control over our thoughts!
Come to think of it, our thoughts largely influence our emotions! For instance, is your mind always filled with thoughts of how difficult things are for you?
Then you’ll be sad half the time! However, if your thoughts fixate on the fact that things will improve, you’ll be happy most of the time!
When our minds are not in the right place, it will have an outward effect on us. But when you gain mastery of your mind, it becomes quite easier to control your happiness!
But as soon as you give power to your mind, you have decided to throw your happiness to the wind.
Here are a few books by David Foster Wallace:
- “Infinite Jest”
- “The Pale King”
- “A Supposedly Fun Thing I’ll Never Do Again”
- “Consider the Lobster and Other Essays”
- “Brief Interviews with Hideous Men”
- “Girl with Curious Hair”
- “The Broom of the System”
- “Oblivion: Stories”
- “Both Flesh and Not: Essays”
8. Socratic Philosophy of Self-Reflection
Socrates was a wise, old man whose philosophies from Ancient Greece shaped our Western philosophy today.
So, if this guy says, “An unexamined life is not worth living,” then we are 100% certain he knows what he’s talking about.
Socrates argues that to live a better life; one must be willing to examine one’s life objectively.
This way, you’ll see yourself for who you are and discover where to make the necessary changes!
This self-reflection can also be done with a trusted friend, as we sometimes have “blind spots” that we need others to point out.
Socrates believed that in trying to become a better person through self-reflection exercises, we are on the path to genuine happiness and a better life.
Notable proponents include Socrates’ student Plato, Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius (Meditations), Ralph Waldo Emerson, Michel de Montagne.
You can check out the Socratic Dialogues by Plato if you want to read further about his philosophy.
9. Skepticism
Skepticism? Isn’t that the philosophical belief that doubts the existence of almost every form of knowledge? Yes, that’s right. How, then, will it help us lead better lives?
Well, here’s the thing; skepticism questions everything.
Some philosophers have argued that philosophy would not exist without skepticism!
It is the endless search for knowledge, for answers, even when it looks like you are getting none!
But still, how does this affect our daily lives?
Skepticism as a concept teaches us to question our assumptions, our truths, our values, and eventually ourselves.
When we question these assumptions, we begin to form our own opinions about certain subjects, and in doing this, we become more self-aware.
By questioning your values, you can also tell if they still matter as much as they used to, or if they’ve slowly evolved into something else.
Life is an endless search for meaning, and by being skeptical, you push yourself to constantly search for answers, and in turn, this will provide more clarity on how to lead a better life.
Notable skeptics:Michael Shemer (The Skeptic Magazine), Richard Dawkins
Here are a few books by Richard Dawkins you may find interesting:
- “The God Delusion”
- “The Blind Watchmaker”
- “The Selfish Gene”
- “Unweaving the Rainbow”
- “The Ancestor’s Tale”
10. Modern Humanism
Ever heard the phrase “The world will be a better place without humans”? Even though this sounds like a phrase from someone who has lost all faith in humanity, we cannot deny that it doesn’t contain a certain level of truth.
Every single thing we have suffered and enjoyed as our own hands caused humans, so the world would be a good place if humans didn’t exist.
Interestingly, this is the core belief of modern humanists, a philosophy that states that humans are solely responsible for their fate!
This means that we can blame no one for our errors, but most importantly, it teaches us to take responsibility for our actions despite their consequences.
In addition, this philosophy suggests that the key to having a great future as humans will be determined by how we treat and help one another.
It’s the simple rule of our existence: treat others how you want to be treated.
Help others when you can, and look out for other people, irrespective of our differences.
This simple rule is the key to creating a better world for every human in every part of the world!
Notable modern humanists: Carl Sagan, Kurt Vonnegut, Steven Pinker
Here are a few books you can read:
By Carl Sagan:
By Kurt Vonnegut:
By Steven Pinker:
Hey! You made it to the end of this article!
What if I told you that you were ahead of the average person even before you started reading this article simply because you questioned yourself about your philosophy for living life? Everything you will do starts from here. Now, at the end of this post, you are much further along.
I understand how difficult it can be to keep up with the “-isms,” but you did one hell of a job hanging on!
I am happy about that because it means you are on your way to living a better life! As a thank you for reading until now, here’s an extra philosophy for you, and it doesn’t have an “-ism.”
Bonus: The Philosophy of Perspective
This philosophy teaches that your problem might, in fact, not be the real problem but how you look at it! This says that you can turn a situation around with the right perspective.
Let’s take a quick example: you lose your job and wonder how this will affect your future goals and aspirations.
But what if you think of this job loss as an opportunity to upskill? Or an opportunity to examine your life and see where you can make changes?
At this point, the situation stops being a problem and becomes an opportunity, all because of a new perspective!
Conclusion: Unlocking Happiness
Remember that happiness lies within your grasp in your quest for a better life. Embrace Stoicism’s call to action, Epicureanism’s pursuit of moderation, and Taoism’s wisdom of simplicity.
Let go of existential angst, revel in aesthetic beauty, and master your thoughts with David Foster Wallace’s philosophy. Reflect on Socrates’ wisdom, question with skepticism, and embrace modern humanism’s call to kindness.
But most importantly, remember the perspective philosophy—your outlook shapes your reality. So, take heart, dear reader. The journey to a better life begins with a single step. Start now, and watch as these philosophies transform your world.
Take the first step towards a better life. Implement these philosophies today.