https://www.chsmith.co.uk/categories/philosophising/ Recent content in Philosophising on Charlie Harry Smith Hugo :uk: Fri, 20 Jan 2017 00:00:00 +0000 https://www.chsmith.co.uk/posts/2017---derren-brown/ Fri, 20 Jan 2017 00:00:00 +0000 https://www.chsmith.co.uk/posts/2017---derren-brown/ <figure> <img sizes="(min-width: 35em) 1200px, 100vw" srcset=' https://www.chsmith.co.uk/posts/2017---derren-brown/derrenbrown_hu_32730a73a159cb56.jpg 480w, ' src="https://www.chsmith.co.uk/posts/2017---derren-brown/derrenbrown.jpg" /> </figure> <p>If you’re not a philosopher, then Derren Brown’s new book, <a href="https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/1110142/happy/9780552172356.html" class="external-link" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Happy: Why More or Less Everything is Absolutely Fine</a>, may be a pleasant surprise. It’s an accessible foray into <a href="https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/stoicism/" class="external-link" target="_blank" rel="noopener">stoicism</a>, an ancient greek philosophy that’s gaining momentum in the modern day amongst philosophers and non-philosophers alike. Returning to Hong Kong this week, one element of stoicism that he touched on seemed particularly poignant in the context of a year abroad: appreciating those things in our lives that we take for granted. I want to explore, briefly, how a year abroad can facilitate such reflexive activity.</p>