Philosophy

Metaphysical Beliefs

As an existentialist, my metaphysical beliefs align closely with those of Jean-Paul Sartre, who proposed that existence precedes essence. I believe that it is up to each individual to create their own purpose and meaning in life. This echoes Sartre’s assertion: “Man is nothing else but that which he makes of himself.” I align with the existentialist premise that the universe is indifferent to human existence. I don't attribute my life's purpose to any higher power or preordained plan. I believe it is my responsibility to discover my own purpose and imbue meaning into my life with meaning. To me, life itself means nothing. Meaning does not exist without life. Meaning is not something to be found. Meaning is what each one of us constructs during our lifetime with our interactions with ideas, artifacts and people. We live, we experience, we reflect, we learn, we enjoy. Life can therefore be viewed as a journey which we begin as an infant and most probably finish as an octogenarian. On this journey (an existentialistic journey, in my view), we decide on the route and destination, we decide (or at least have some influence over) which people, things and concepts to spend time with and we decide when to change the route or even the destination.

Epistemological Beliefs

My epistemological views are grounded in Karl Popper’s philosophy of critical rationalism. My decision-making process is strongly influenced by the scientific method and principles of logical reasoning. Deductive and inductive reasoning serve as tools to establish sound or cogent conclusions, much like Popper's proposition that scientific knowledge progresses through 'conjectures' and 'refutations'. I give utmost importance to empirical evidence and rational thought. Deductive and inductive reasoning form the backbone of my understanding, guiding me (where possible) to formulate sound conclusions based deductive reasoning or cogent conclusions based on inductive reasoning on evidence-based propositions, rather than mere beliefs.

Ethical and Moral Values

The principles within the Confucianism, Bushido and Eight-Fold Path of Buddhism inform my ethical and moral compass. I strive to lead (but often fail) a life guided by right understanding, thought, speech, action, livelihood, effort, mindfulness, and concentration. Moreover, I hold the Bushido virtues of rectitude, courage, benevolence, respect, honesty, honor, and loyalty in high esteem. The principle of respect permeates every aspect of my philosophy. Be it within the realms of Bushido's moral compass, or the Confucian emphasis on harmonious relationships, respect emerges as a fundamental value. Respect, in my view, extends beyond mere polite interaction to encompass a genuine recognition and acceptance of the intrinsic worth of all individuals. It is simple to declare espoused values, but what actually matters is whether one's actions align with one's declared valued. To me, walking the talk is what matters. To try to guide my behaviour, I created three sets of values that I try to live up to. Those who know me, we surely be able to point out instances in which my behaviour fell short of these values. I do not dwell on my failures, though; and try to focus improving incrementally, viz. being better each day.

Family Values

• Family first
• Courage: "Never being afraid of failure"
• Commitment: "Finishing what you start"
• Communication: "Conveying meaning clearly"
• Courtesy: "Respect and be respected" cf. Hell's Angels
• Charity: "Helping those less fortunate"

Teaching Values

• Learner first
• Integrity: "zero distortion between words and actions"
• Inspiration: "spurring learners into action"
• Innovation: "always experimenting"
• Integration: "mixing management, eduction, computer science and linguistics"

Personal Values

• Reduce: "achieve more with less"
• Refine: "seek improvement"
• Relish: "savour each moment"
• Respect: "treat everyone with respect"

Existential Beliefs

"Man is condemned to be free." - Jean-Paul Sartre

"Life is the sum of all your choices" - Camus

Existentialism posits that humans, as sentient beings, are responsible for creating their own purpose and values within a universe that is indifferent to their existence. It emphasizes our freedom to choose, and thus our responsibility for our actions. This responsibility calls for an honest assessment of our authentic self, the realization of our potential, and a commitment to personal growth towards our ideal self, as coined by Carl Rogers.

As an existentialist, I treasure my individual freedom and the responsibility that accompanies it. Authenticity and personal growth are paramount to me. I savour the existential angst arising from the freedom to make choices on my life trajectory. Life is a sequence of choices, some of which are free choices, some are closed choices dictated in part by the context in which I choice to operate. A meaningful life is created by our chain of choices and the consequences of those choices. It is possible to abdicate responsibilty for one's choices, blaming circumstances and others. However, those who follow this path are unlikely to find fulfilment.

Every choice we make has an impact. The impact may be neglible, moderate or substantial. The impact may be on ourselves, others or the environment. Some choices result in breakthroughs that positively impact the future of world. Others may be devastating. Our present is the accumulative sum of all our past choices.

Aesthetic Beliefs

Minimalism champions the idea of living with less, freeing oneself from the entanglements of material possessions to focus on what truly matters. I find beauty in simplicity, which aligns with my minimalist approach to life. I believe in the aesthetic power of less, in all aspects of my life from possessions, to friendships and focuses. This minimalistic aesthetic allows me to declutter my life, focusing on what is truly important and freeing me from unnecessary distractions. Minimalism is reflected in my lifestyle choices, such as valuing quality over quantity when making purchases. My friendship network is tight. I am less successful in reigning in my enthusiasm to conduct research in multiple rather disparate domains although I understand that a laser-focus on one domain would lead to higher quality research outcomes in that domain. My brain, however, finds it hard to focus on just one domain, and so rather than fighting constant distraction, I prefer to follow the flow and work on whatever I am preoccupied by.

Practical Wisdom

Guided by the humility encapsulated in Socrates' words, I face challenges that life throws at me head on. My commitment to the scientific method and logical reasoning plays a crucial role in problem-solving and decision-making, allowing me to approach situations with courage, determination, analytical clarity and willing to learn from each experience.

Social and Interpersonal Beliefs

Informed by my Confucian values, I deeply value family and harmonious relationships. As Confucius posits, the harmony within a family translates to harmony within society. I am committed to nurturing and strengthening these bonds. I adopt the policy of rightful speech in which I avoid direct confrontation, engaging in ego battles. However, should the safety of my family or friends is at risk, I will act swiftly and decisively until there is no longer any threat. This is not an endorsement of violence, but rather an affirmation of my commitment to safeguard those dear to me.

Environmental Beliefs

As Wendell Berry eloquently puts it, our shared home binds us all together. My minimalist lifestyle extends to my environmental beliefs. I believe in sustainable living, reducing waste, and leaving a minimal footprint on the planet. This respect for the natural world is reflected in the way I choose to live, consume, and travel.

Teaching philosopy

My teaching philosophy draws on the Socratic method of instruction and the constructivist learning theory of Jean Piaget. I firmly believe in motivating learners by setting challenging tasks, mirroring the existentialist notion of responsibility and growth through struggle. The Socratic method encourages critical thinking by facilitating a dialogue that challenges learners to defend their ideas, thus fostering an environment that is simultaneously supportive and rigorous. Moreover, I advocate for giving learners space to grapple with and make sense of new concepts on their own, resonating with Piaget's concept of "constructive struggle". Struggling, within the context of a supportive learning environment, serves as a potent facilitator of deep learning. As echoed in Carl Rogers' humanistic approach to learning, I am committed to learner-centric teaching. I believe in the intrinsic worth of each student and their capacity for self-direction and self-regulation in learning. Rogers proposed that the role of the educator is more a facilitator than a director of learning, which aligns with my belief that educators should guide students to explore their own paths of inquiry. In sum, my teaching philosophy incorporates inter alia the principles of learner motivation, embracing struggle, providing challenging yet supportive environments, and centering learning around the learner. These principles, deeply embedded in philosophical thought, guide me towards fostering an enriching and empowering learning environment.

More details on my teaching philosophy related to language learning is available here.

Useful expressions to write a philosophy statement

The following list of expressions may be useful when drafting your philosophy:

1. [Source of influence] guides my XXXX.
2. [Source of influence] shapes my XXXX.
3. My beliefs are aligned with [Source of influence].
4. My beliefs are grounded in [Source of influence].
5. My convictions mirror those of [Source of influence].
6. The principles of [Source of influence] inform XXXX.
7. The words of [Source of influence] influence XXXX.
8. Guided by [Source of influence], XXXXX
9. Informed by [Source of influence], XXXX