Eudaimonia

Piet Calcoen, MD, MPhil, PhD

Approach

Do you have a problem? Need a change? Looking for a flourishing, meaningful life? As a medical doctor and philosopher, I can assist you with an in-depth analysis of your problem and finding suitable solutions. Addressing emotions is a central part of this process.

I can assist you in dealing with issues such as stress, anxiety, depression, burnout, overstrain, insomnia, obesity, as well as relationship problems, work-related issues, and existential questions.

The approach begins with identifying the problem, followed by a critical analysis of all factors, including your own ideas and assumptions. Solutions are sought in the rich philosophical tradition and in medicine. My experience as a legal expert may also prove helpful.

I actively utilize efficient methods that have proven their value, such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT and ACT) and Existential Therapy. Both therapies have their roots in philosophy, respectively in Stoicism and Existentialism.

"For just as there is no use in a medical art that does not cast out the sicknesses of bodies, so too there is no use in philosophy, unless it casts out the suffering of the soul."

(Epictetus, c. 50-130 AD)

Insights from medicine also play a significant role. The importance of healthy nutrition, adequate exercise, sleep, and good social connections cannot be underestimated. Scientific evidence shows, for example, that daily walking for an hour positively impacts mood.

A session lasts one hour. The goal is to achieve significant change after a few sessions, at a pace of one or two sessions per month. In addition to the sessions, there is daily “homework.” Mental change requires practice and repetition (cf. Aristotle). Learning to play the piano also only happens through daily practice. Personal responsibility is crucial. "Practice makes perfect."

Philosophy

In Greco-Roman antiquity, the philosopher was to mental health what the medical doctor was to physical health. The Greek philosopher Democritus (c. 460–370 BC) wrote: "Medicine heals the sicknesses of bodies; but wisdom rids the soul of its suffering." Similarly, the Roman orator, philosopher, and statesman Cicero (106-43 BC) expressed it as: "There is, I assure you, a medical art for the soul. It is philosophy, whose aid need not be sought, as in bodily diseases, from outside ourselves. We must endeavor with all our resources and all our strength to become capable of doctoring ourselves."

"The central motivation for philosophizing is the urgency of human suffering, and the goal of philosophy is human flourishing, or eudaimonia."

(Martha Nussbaum, b. 1947, in her book Therapy of Desire, about philosophical therapy in Greco-Roman times)

Modern, effective psychotherapies such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Existential Therapy have their roots in philosophy. Albert Ellis (1913-2007), the founder of Rational-Emotive Therapy (RET), an early form of CBT, frequently referred to the Stoic philosopher Epictetus (c. 50-135 AD): "It is not the things themselves that disturb people, but the judgements that they form about them." Aaron Beck (1921-2021), the founder of Cognitive Therapy (later integrated into CBT), also acknowledged the parallels between his approach and Stoic principles. Existential psychotherapist Emmy Van Deurzen draws inspiration from philosophers such as Friedrich Nietzsche (1844-1900), Martin Heidegger (1889-1976), Jean-Paul Sartre (1905-1980), Jacques Derrida (1930-2004), and Hannah Arendt (1906-1975).

According to the Stoics, three core disciplines of philosophy can be distinguished: physics, logic, and ethics.

• Physics concerns the study of nature, the cosmos, and humanity's place within it. Spinoza (1632-1677) emphasized that understanding reality leads to freedom and harmony with nature. Insights into brain function are essential here. Leading neuroscientist Lisa Feldman Barrett (b. 1963) argues that the brain continually predicts what will happen based on past experiences (“knowledge archives”), generating appropriate responses accordingly. Emotions, she claims, are not universal or automatic but are actively constructed by the brain in interplay with context and cultural influences.
• Logic involves developing skills for logical thinking, analyzing arguments, and acquiring knowledge. Rhetoric (the art of persuasive speaking and writing) and dialectics (structured debate and dialogue that examines contradictory positions to reach deeper understanding) are valuable tools. These philosophical methods help organize, interpret, and analyze thoughts, leading to problem-solving approaches.
• Ethics is the study of how to live well. While physics and logic answer Kant's (1724-1804) question, “What can I know?”, ethics addresses his question, “What should I do?” Kant himself formulated the categorical imperative: “Act only according to that maxim through which you can at the same time will that it become a universal law.” This means acting only in ways that would be morally acceptable if everyone did the same.

Philosophy as therapy for the psyche aims to map a problem as accurately as possible through an analysis of the actual situation. Logic, rhetoric, and dialectics are useful tools in this process. Various solutions are then explored, and the rich philosophical tradition can provide surprising new insights.

Emotions are an important domain of philosophical study. Philosophical therapy can aid in emotional regulation, helping individuals not to passively endure emotions or suffer from the effects of fear and anger.

Language plays a crucial role in philosophical understanding and critical reflection. Language is not neutral but structures our thinking and perception of the world. For Ludwig Wittgenstein (1889-1951), language defines the boundaries of reality: "The limits of my language mean the limits of my world." Jacques Derrida (1930-2004) stressed that meaning is never fixed but emerges and shifts through context and relationships.

Philosophy is especially suited for questions about meaning. Finding meaning in life is closely tied to giving meaningful direction to life. Kant’s third core question is, “What may I hope?” Exploring a person's belief system can help answer this question and provide direction in life. The search for meaning and purpose is central to logotherapy, developed by the Viennese psychiatrist Viktor Frankl (1905-1997): "Man’s search for meaning."

Oscar Brenifier, a pioneer in modern philosophical consultation, uses a method of philosophical analysis in three steps: identification (becoming aware of one’s ideas and assumptions), critique (examining potential objections to these ideas), and (re)conceptualization (formulating new ideas to address the problems identified during this analytical process). This is one possible way to use philosophy as a form of therapy.

Finally, Martha Nussbaum (b. 1947), an expert in Greco-Roman philosophy and recipient of over 60 honorary doctorates, emphasizes that sympathy, empathy, and compassion play a crucial role in applying philosophy as therapy.

In a world where resilience and meaning are increasingly important, philosophical therapy offers a path to inner freedom and a meaningful, flourishing life. In ancient Greece, therapeia meant “to help” and “to provide care.” Philosophy, the "love of wisdom," can support us in realizing a meaningful existence.

Belgian Association for Practical Philosophy
Association for Philosophical Practice 
American Philosophical Practitioners Association 

Background

• Master of philosophy, Free University of Brussels
• Medical doctor, University of Ghent
• Baccalaureate in theology, Catholic University Leuven
• Master of Laws, University of Antwerp
• Master in Laws, Yale University (New Haven, U.S.)
• PhD, Erasmus University Rotterdam

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