In the spotlight: Lou Marinoff

What is the role of philosophical practice in society today? 

If philosophical practice has an overarching mission, it’s about helping people apply philosophy to their everyday lives and issues. That mission entails many roles, across varying social strata. Just look at where practitioners work: from philosophy for children to philosophy for AI developers, from philosophy for prison inmates to public café-philos to clinical ethics, from individual philosophical counseling to group programs to consulting in businesses and branches of government. Practitioners can play a multitude of roles.

Which film, work of art, or piece of music do you consider the most philosophical, and why?

A great question! So many works convey profound philosophical messages that it’s impossible to do justice to them here. In film, one can contrast Casablanca with Doctor Zhivago (David Lean’s film based on Pasternak’s novel). In Casablanca, the protagonist sacrifices his personal romantic life for the cause of victory over the evils of Nazism. In Dr, Zhivago, the protagonist celebrates his personal romantic life for the cause of humanity contra the evils of Bolshevism. From these examples we see that resisting different forms of evil may compel us to re-prioritize our values. In art, Bosch’s The Stone of Folly predicts the supersession of science over religion, yet suggests that philosophy is still required to contemplate the “bigger picture” of the human condition. In music, J.S. Bach’s Chaconne illustrates the Buddhist lesson (from the Lotus Sutra) of “transforming poison into medicine”: Bach transforms the sudden personal loss of his beloved spouse into an immortal masterpiece for all music lovers.

What is the most important thing that philosophical practice has taught you? 

It has taught me that the capacity to philosophize is part of human nature, and that good things happen when it is activated. The philosophical practitioner’s role is to help others to activate it in themselves. 

Anything else you would like to share with the conference audience and those interested in philosophical practice? 

I’d just like to celebrate the fact that we’ll convene for the 19th ICPP in Helsinki, this June 2027.  When Ran Lahav and I co-organized the first ICPP in Vancouver, back in 1994, we had no idea that it would blossom into a recurring global event. So I’d like to thank you, your co-organizers, the participants and the audience for continuing this tradition. To those interested in philosophical practice, please take this opportunity to nurture your own interest, and to interest newcomers in turn.

If you could ask one question to a world leader of your choice, what would it be, and who would you ask?

Over the years I have met a number of world leaders, and have conversed or dialogued with several. At this point I would like to ask President Donald Trump a question. Since an opportunity to do so may yet arise, it’s preferable that he be the first to hear it raised. However, speaking of the broader political world, perhaps many leaders themselves are the ones who more desperately need to ask philosophical questions.