CJ Faderogao

We all want to be in control of our time. We want to manage our life in a way that we can balance all of the things we want to do (leisure) and the things that's making it possible for us to do so (career). This is the ideal. Life however is not that simple. Entering our adult life has its excitement and joy but it also has with it the challenge of taking responsibility for how we use our time. One of the challenges that I faced as I enter my adulthood is time management. It seemed that as I made my way out of college and into the workforce, I suddenly found myself surrounded by deadlines, tasks, and priorities. Adding to all these is the necessity of handling my personal life in areas like my finances, relationships, and personal development. I found myself juggling them all for months, feeling stretched out in the process, until I read about a time management concept called The Rule of 3. The rule of 3 concept is originally from J.D. Meier's book Getting results the agile w

What makes a good life? This question has been asked throughout history by philosophers, academics, religious leaders and politicians. Although answers differed from each culture, there remained themes that unites them all. Certain values that are central to our common humanity regardless of our country, race, and traditions. In Greek thought, they call these the four cardinal virtues. They are Justice, Fortitude, Temperance and Prudence. In his book The Republic, Plato referenced these four virtues as necessary traits that people must uphold in order to create a just society. Where each citizen has their distinct role to fill and everyone lives according to the maxims of balance and equanimity. Aristotle expanded on these thoughts on his idea of  the golden mean. A moral norm that suggest living in moderation between the excesses and lacks of the human character.  Although Greek in origin, these virtues have also made mark in the tenets of Christianity. They were named as T he Holy Vi

When's the first time you've known about Greta Thunberg? In the news? In social media? Like many of us, I too was baffled on how a teenage girl from Sweden is able to speak out powerful truths about our changing climate. But I guess that's just the power of telling the truth. You can lean on it even if you're alone; voicing out the truth will always be heard amidst a thousand drowning voices. Greta's work, that of upholding climate justice, started in August 2018 when she protested alone in front of the Swedish parliament house holding a sign with the words "Skolstrejk for Klimatet" (School strike for climate) skipping out her school class in the process. She garnered instant attention from local news publications. In just a span of weeks, people supporting her cause soon accompanied her in protest. Not only this but similar strikes, inspired by Greta's cause, were also organized in other countries. Prior to her protest, Greta was living a simple life.

Starting a reading journey in Philosophy can be intimidating. With numerous topics to cover, it can easily be confusing and drudging. It is, however, normal to feel these things. It's the point of Philosophy after all to get us to question and reflect upon our society, ourselves, and the world that we live in. Nevertheless, it would be of help to have a starting point. A place where we can plant the seed of our curiosities and nurture it as we go along the journey. The internet is teeming with recommendations: "Start with Greek Philosophers" or "Begin with Stoicism" and there are also some that encourages starting with anything we find interesting.  In my case, I went about it by going through Philosophy's History. I decided to make a survey of the subject's landscape first. Doing this allowed me to be familiar with key themes, people and the timeline that occurred within the history of thought.  I think this approach can also be helpful to other people.