Ikigai (Bob Fabian) Nov 10, 2021
Foreground: Japanese Ikigai
My foreground concern is with the Japanese idigai concept and its relevance to our personal search for purpose and meaning. Ikigai can be used to improve one’s career path, but can also be used more broadly (and modestly) to improve satisfaction and joy in life. The short BBC article provides a reasonably balanced view:
Ikigai: A Japanese concept to improve work and life (BBC)
If you are interested in dipping more deeply, the following reference provides a summary of one of the more popular English books on ikigai:
Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life (Book Summary)
Background: Cognitive Science
One of my background concerns is with the impact of recent work in cognitive science and the view we should take of self, mind, brain, body and environment (in light of these new findings). We think and perceive in terms of patterns and metaphors. The nominal precision of formal logic especially in fields such as psychology is largely an illusion. Wikipedia provides a reasonably overview:
Cognitive science (From Wikipedia)
If you are interested in dipping more deeply into the (possible) impact of the cognitive science on philosophy, the stanford encyclopedia of philosophy is a good starting point:
Cognitive Science (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy)
Presentation
The slides I plan to use can be found here in pdf form:
Caution: I may decide to make changes between now and when this material is presented on Nov. 10th.
Bob Fabian - bob@fabian.ca