Why Philosophy Matters

Pietas Quest Question: Why does practical moral philosophy matter for the cultivation of pietas and a meaningful life?

Direct Answer
Before pietas, philosophy is often viewed as abstract and disconnected from daily life, leaving us without tools to navigate hardship or moral confusion. After pietas, it becomes the actionable study of human nature and duty that builds moral strength, empowers the soul, and provides meaning regardless of circumstance.

So when I turned my eyes towards her and fixed my gaze upon her, I recognised my nurse, Philosophy...And I asked her, 'Wherefore have you, mistress of all virtues, come down from heaven above to visit my lonely place of banishment?’...Then fixing her eyes wholly on me, she said, 'Are you the man who was nourished upon the milk of my learning, brought up with my food until you had won your way to the power of a manly soul? Surely I had given you such weapons as would keep you safe, and your strength unconquered; if you had not thrown them away.' - Boethius

The kind of philosophy that Project Pietas concerns itself with is not utterly abstract and disconnected from the realm of experience, but thoroughly relevant and actionable. This practical philosophy is the same kind that Xenophon's Socrates, the ancient Roman Stoics, the Christian Boethius, and the Scottish Common Sense Philosophers concerned themselves with as well. They were much less interested in pondering the mysteries of the universe than in studying human nature and how to best navigate day-to-day life, whether in the mundane moments, instances of elation, or seasons of deep sorrow and suffering.

John Witherspoon best describes the moral philosophy of these thinkers and of Project Pietas as "that branch of Science which treats of the principles and laws of Duty or Morals. It is called Philosophy, because it is an inquiry into the nature and grounds of moral obligation by reason, as distinct from revelation." In a nutshell, it is "nothing else but the knowledge of human nature." It assumes that human beings achieve their full potential through the cultivation of their moral understanding, and that in doing so they nourish their souls and find meaning in the midst of hardship and the mundane.

Boethius calls this kind of philosophy the "mistress of all virtues," she who generates "the power of a manly soul" and a strength unconquerable within her disciples. She does not promise to change one's circumstances but rather empowers her adherents with the strength of purpose to withstand, and even thrive in, any circumstance.

The holidays are not a merry time for everyone, but those seeking strength and encouragement that is impervious to the fickle whims of fortune will find a ready partner in Lady Philosophy.