In Chapter 2 of my book 30 Philosophers, I wrote about mixing and matching traditions. In today’s world, those who are reflective often choose to blend different schools of thought to craft their own unique perspective. In one sense, that’s what my book is about. This practice has a name: philosophical eclecticism.
This perspective isn’t just for the secular among us. If you have a formal religion, consider it your primary guide, and layer on top the teachings and insights from the great thinkers across the ages. Perhaps you appreciate the Buddhist Eightfold Path, the Stoic Dichotomy of Control, or the Epicurean pursuit of lasting pleasures. You don’t have to embrace an entire philosophy to benefit from its wisdom. This approach allows you to develop an authentic self that resonates with who you want to become.
I frequently identify as an Epicurean Stoic embracing Secular Spirituality. I identify with those frameworks. Epicureanism emphasizes pleasure and the avoidance of pain, while Stoicism emphasizes virtue and self-discipline. In 30 Philosophers, I reorganized their traditional tools into two similar structures: the Epicurean Happiness Toolkit and the Stoic Virtue Framework. I use the Epicurean toolkit with pleasures, and the Stoic framework for life’s challenges. I love these complementary recipes, one with a focus on pleasure, the other with a focus on virtue.
For me, philosophical eclecticism is also about openly acknowledging where ideas come from, what they originally meant, and how one adapts them. Throughout 30 Philosophers, I explore traditional ideas, sometimes presenting them with a fresh new look, sometimes changing their structure to make them easier to remember and apply. Your personal philosophy is unique to you, shaped by your experiences. Philosophical eclecticism gives you the freedom to borrow from the greatest thinkers across the ages.