Integral philosopher Steve McIntosh helps us usher in the new year (and decade) with a fresh look at an ancient formula for living a happy, productive and meaningful life. In this episode he explains “the virtues”, a philosophical concept with living roots reaching back to antiquity, including Plato and Confucius, as well as modern validity in the findings of positive psychology and social science. Virtues practice is a powerful means of personal growth, and Steve gets us started by introducing The Character Exercise ( an eight-minute internet quiz that helps us clarify our highest ideals and create a personalized “portrait of the good”. We invite you to do the quiz midway through the podcast … your answers generate a printable chart that serves as a practice tool for cultivating happiness and fulfillment. I took the quiz a few months ago and I can honestly say that it has significantly changed my life for the better. I am surprised at its power and hope it works for you too (let me know!).
Later in the podcast, Steve imagines the virtues as illuminating the path through our hyper-polarized political culture, a prospect he explores more fully in his upcoming book, DEVELOPMENTAL POLITICS, How America Can Grow Into a Better Version of Itself.
0 Comments