Author: Andrew Taggart
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The mirthful canopies of spring
My friend was at the front door at half past 9. Joan yelled down, “Who is it?” I was already sitting near the door and admiring the spring morning when the doorbell sounded. “Who is it?” she tries again. “A friend, Joan, it’s a friend,” I yell up. “Huh? Who is it?” “Don’t worry, it’s…
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‘The infinite value of life itself’: 3 examples of spiritual exercise
“I did nothing today,” the man says. “What?” Montaigne replies. “Did you not live? That is not only the most fundamental but the most illustrious of occupations.” * This week a number of conversation partners have spoken to me about spiritual exercises (ascesis), asking further about what they are and how to practice them. (The…
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‘Why not me? Why not now’: On the collective loss of ethical life
My good friend Jennifer has shared with me her philosophically rich personal essay, “Attention” (forthcoming). In “Attention,” she relates that she is traveling by train from Detroit to Chicago. Not far into the trip, the train stops abruptly. The passengers are informed that a man has stepped in front of the train that had been…
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On 7 faulty but reasonable strategies for being at home in the world
Let’s suppose that a person P experienced sufficient physical harm during P’s formative years, such that P’s standing in the world is brought into question. What strategy or strategies would P likely employ (where these strategies are more ways of being in the world than conscious choices, more ongoing practices than ‘cognitive’ takes) in order…
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‘Philosophy is not suited to the classroom’: An essay on ascesis
Today I begin with a remarkable meditation from Pierre Hadot on philosophical life. I then discuss the supreme value of ascesis: the style of reasoning that is aimed less at informing and more at forming and re-forming the self. This symbol, [ ], denotes my own additions. This symbol, […], denotes my editorial decision to…
Andrew Taggart, Ph.D. 
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