Reflection – Peter Saint-Andre, Philosopher-Coach

Career Reflections

Twelve months ago this week I quit my job at Mozilla. Herewith a few reflections on my 25 years in tech. When in my senior year of college I decided that I would not apply to Ph.D. programs in ancient philosophy, I had very little idea about what I would do in the real world.Continue reading “Career Reflections”

The Self as an Achievement

What is the self? Naturally this question invokes vast reflections spanning philosophy, psychology, cognitive science, sociology, biology, and many other fields. Although I claim no special insight, in my Aristotle readings over the last few years I chanced upon a fascinating perspective that I thought I’d share. In her book Aristotle’s Philosophy of Friendship (SUNY Press, 1995),Continue reading “The Self as an Achievement”

Read the Eternities

One of my favorite Thoreau aphorisms goes like this: “Read not the Times; read the Eternities.” Yet in times of turmoil – war, revolution, depression, pandemic, and the like – it can be difficult to focus on the timeless questions of how to live well because merely living take precedence. On the other hand, there’sContinue reading “Read the Eternities”

Weekly Wisdom

Although I don’t make New Year’s resolutions, at this time of year I do tend to reconsider some of my goals and practices. One thing I’d like to improve on is the frequency of entries in my online journal, because writing them pushes me to think about how I’m living and what I’m learning. ThusContinue reading “Weekly Wisdom”