Having trouble with the meaning of life? Perhaps you should see a philosopher

Sunday, May 25, 2008
By Rebecca James Staff writer

Excerpt:
"The critical part of philosophical counseling is helping clients to articulate their world views, Fitz-Gibbon said. Then clients look to see how their world view influences how they deal with problems. The clients then consider whether they need to alter that way of seeing the world.

Someone considering taking a job and coming out of retirement might say he or she mainly wants to be happy. Fitz-Gibbon said he might ask the client to write down each possibility and describe how much happiness each choice would create and for whom.

One advantage of talking with a philosopher is that it can help people weighing choices, such as moving or going back to school, while others are discouraging them, Russell said.

"When you talk about your beliefs with a philosopher and lay them out on the table, you can increase your confidence that this is what you want to believe," she said.

Philosophers challenge irrational assumptions, such as the idea that people ought to live forever, Fitz-Gibbon said." the rest