Real World Philosophy 101

I remember my roommate talking about a Philosophy exam that he had failed. His
voice was filled with exasperation when he told us the question that was the
source of his downfall — `Prove you’re not a tree.’

Apparently he was not sufficiently rooted in the study of philosophy and remains
haunted to this day by the realization that he may indeed be a tree.

It is this type of exasperation that has been the quintessential problem with
philosophy for many a young academic. “What is the meaning of life?” has often
been followed by “What is the meaning of that question?” Turning the study of
philosophy into a practical form of knowledge has proven to be as challenging
for some as spelling existentialism.

Recent graduate Peter Raabe is determined to put some sense into Sartre with
his newly established PhD made possible through the Dept. of Educational Studies
in UBC’s Faculty of Education. The first person in Canada and among the first
in the world to do a dissertation on philosophical counselling, Raabe is helping
lead the way for a renaissance in philosophy.

According to Raabe, when most people struggle with problems and life issues,
it stems not so much from a breakdown in their ability to function, but a breakdown
in their belief system and the desire to continue to function. This is where
Raabe and his philosophical counselling come into play.

Raabe explains that despite being brushed aside by some academics as an illegitimate
branch of the field, philosophical counselling is not a bastardization of academic
philosophy.Rather, it is a revival of the old tradition of practising philosophy
that aimed to help people deal with the elements of human misery.

More than 2,000 years ago, Epicurus said, “Empty is the argument of the philosopher
which does not relieve any human suffering.” He described philosophy as “therapy
of the soul — a counsel for humanity.”

Raabe admits that while incredibly popular in Europe, philosophical counselling
has taken longer to attract attention in North America — perhaps because of
our love affair with traditional therapy and prescription drugs. However,
he is quick to point out the differences between philosophical counselling and
psychotherapy as a way of addressing some of the most disturbing and painful
problems of human life.

“I deal with actual belief systems. I don’t look at the past as something
that necessarily determines you,” says Raabe.

Raabe helps his patients deal with issues ranging from  relationship
problems, building one’s self-esteem, ethical decision-making, meaning of life
and life choices, addiction recovery and the loss of a loved one.

“The most important thing I try to do is help people to develop the skills
that will allow them to untangle the complexities of their own lives for themselves,
rather than offering myself as the authority who alone has the power to do so,”
says Raabe. “In this way I’m a teacher as well as a counsellor.”

Raabe also runs three different philosophy cafés each month: one for
teens, one for the general public, and one for seniors. He sees the café
sessions as bridging the gap between the theory of philosophy and the practicality
of applying it to everyday life.

Philosophy cafés are gaining popularity on the West Coast and are seen
by many as evidence of a desire to reconnect to a community and exchange ideas
and opinions with others who are not necessarily like-minded.

Raabe believes the rise in philosophy’s popularity could have something to
do with what he calls our “value eruption.”

With the coming of the new millennium, people are starting to question the
shift in values that has occurred over the past few decades, Raabe says. Reconciling
new and old values with religion and faith can often lead to questions and doubts
such as, “Are you meant to be happy?” “Are you meant to be alone?” “What does
it all mean?” Philosophy can help you deal with those questions, he says.

Raised in a fundamentalist Christian home, Raabe recalls being chastised by
his church pastor for questioning his religion.

“Those are wrong questions,” Raabe remembers him saying. “I worry about your
attitude.”

Discouraged, he left the church in his early 20s because he says, “I had more
questions than the church was willing to deal with.”

He drifted from job to job, married and had a son. It wasn’t until he took
his first course at Capilano College at the age of 40 that he discovered philosophy
and felt he had finally found a discipline in which asking the wrong questions
was acceptable.

“Philosophy developed my ability to confidently inquire into all those areas
of both religion and life in which difficult but legitimate questions are often
brushed aside,” he says.

After earning his honours BA and master’s degree in Philosophy at UBC he started
working towards his doctorate, doing his dissertation on philosophical counselling
through the Faculty of Education.

Such an unusual thesis topic meant that both Raabe and his advising team of
four Education professors learned together how to use philosophy as a teaching
and therapy tool. He has since presented papers on his work at international
conferences in New York and Germany and plans to give a workshop on his approach
to philosophical practice in Berlin next summer.

Raabe continues to promote the renaissance of philosophy through an “Issues
in Education” course at UBC which centres around student discussions and presentations
of topics such as critical thinking, multi-culturalism and racism, gender, sexual
orientation, religious values in education and the aims and purposes of education.

In addition to teaching philosophy courses and seeing clients in his private
practice, Raabe also practises philosophy with children at an independent elementary
school in North Vancouver. By breaking down concepts so kids can understand
them, he challenges them and their beliefs.

“Kids have very profound insights and profound questions,” says Raabe. “I
let them see that philosophy is applicable to real life problems like suicide
and that existential question — what’s the point?”

Begun nearly two decades ago by German philosopher Gerd Achenbach, philosophical
counselors, professional associations and certification programs can now be
found in the Netherlands, Canada, Norway, Austria, France, Switzerland, Israel,
Great Britain and the United States.

With the enthusiasm and passion Raabe shows for his profession it is clear
that he is intent on promoting practical philosophy as a way to bring meaning
and clarity to our lives — there may be hope after all for my roommate’s tree
complex.