Meaning and the good life
![A painting of a man with long hair wearing a black outfit and hat, holding a lit cigarette, and sitting in a café with a glass of green liquid.](https://images.aeonmedia.co/images/ef969e66-73c0-4e75-92e0-efd6533aec39/original.jpg?width=3840&quality=75&format=auto)
Thinkers and theories
idea
Learning to be a loser: a philosopher’s case for doing nothing
For Emil Cioran, a life devoid of action, practical ambitions and busyness is a life in which room has been made for meaning
by Costica Bradatan
![Black-and-white photo of three men smiling and holding a large inflatable globe in a small room with shelves.](https://images.aeonmedia.co/images/501316c6-7891-4cc2-94bc-ada2ccb1e87c/original.jpg?width=3840&quality=75&format=auto)
Creativity
idea
A life of splendid uselessness is a life well lived
Like the fertile soil of a well-kept garden, a life of splendid, utter uselessness yields abundance beyond our immediate aims
by Joseph M Keegin
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Death and dying
guide
How to not fear your death
You exist, but one day you won’t. An Epicurean perspective can help you feel less afraid, and even grateful for life’s finitude
by Sam Dresser
![Photo of a sailboat on a calm lake at dusk with snow-capped mountains in the background under a cloudy sky.](https://images.aeonmedia.co/images/a5ef30d8-c021-4692-9af5-82467d2702e5/original.jpg?width=3840&quality=75&format=auto)
Meaning and the good life
film
A boatbuilder above the Arctic Circle works hard at his epicurean life
Directed by Vern Cummins & Jamie Gallant
![Ancient marble relief sculpture of a young girl holding a bird close to her face, with intricate detailing of her hair and clothing.](https://images.aeonmedia.co/images/56014c52-a201-41c6-a677-8ef35ba42190/original.jpg?width=3840&quality=75&format=auto)
Habits and routines
idea
Sprinkle a little ancient philosophy into your daily routines
Long before the psychology research was in, ancient philosophers knew the importance of spiritual exercise for wellbeing
by Joel Owen
![A man sits on a vine-covered balcony surrounded by potted plants, absorbed in thought, against a backdrop of lush green foliage.](https://images.aeonmedia.co/images/ac1fa17f-0d60-4188-8435-61492f54060a/original.jpg?width=3840&quality=75&format=auto)
Thinkers and theories
idea
For Nietzsche, nihilism goes deeper than ‘life is pointless’
For Friedrich Nietzsche, nihilism is a terrible psychological problem – a coping mechanism with deadly consequences
by Kaitlyn Creasy
![Painting of a man sitting on a rock thinking, by a dirt path in the countryside with a horse carriage in the background.](https://images.aeonmedia.co/images/cddeb98c-49fd-4225-92f7-2723b4501efe/original.jpg?width=3840&quality=75&format=auto)
Meaning and the good life
guide
How to cope with an existential crisis
Has the world gone grey? Are you wondering what life is for? Kierkegaard’s philosophy could help you rediscover your zing
by Skye C Cleary
![Abstract orange background with two stick figures amidst geometric shapes and lines.](https://images.aeonmedia.co/images/39842d13-c9dc-4b2f-8ad9-32d93c194ce2/original.jpg?width=3840&quality=75&format=auto)
Progress and the future
film
Stick figures meet existential angst in this acclaimed, darkly comedic short
Directed by Don Hertzfeldt
![Person kneeling on barren land under a cloudy sky, facing away with arms crossed. Sparse vegetation visible in the background.](https://images.aeonmedia.co/images/5be8a5c1-0430-48a6-a1fc-bce2847c4bf7/original.jpg?width=3840&quality=75&format=auto)
Spirituality and religion
idea
Religion gives life meaning. Can anything else take its place?
Religious faith promotes a sense of meaning in life – and it might take more than ‘social glue’ to duplicate the effect
by Michael M Prinzing
![Hands sculpting a small, rough clay figure of a person’s head and torso against a blurred background.](https://images.aeonmedia.co/images/8ece098c-8bda-402c-849d-6d661e0f2f72/original.jpg?width=3840&quality=75&format=auto)
The self
idea
When Nietzsche said ‘become who you are’, this is what he meant
Behind the philosopher’s cryptic phrase is an invocation to sculpt your ideal self out of the hard stone of your psyche
by Ryan A Bush
![Abstract painting with concentric circles and colourful segments in red, blue, green, yellow and pink, creating a visually dynamic composition.](https://images.aeonmedia.co/images/b1760a2c-2d59-4351-95a5-deac5ad46ab0/original.jpg?width=3840&quality=75&format=auto)
Work and vocation
guide
How to craft a harmonious life
Forget the ideal of work/life balance – your needs and interests are much richer than that, and your life can be too
by Jessica de Bloom & Merly Kosenkranius
![Black and white photos of a smiling couple in formal attire, appearing to be at a celebratory event or gathering.](https://images.aeonmedia.co/images/8e272d6e-3887-43f9-8299-5dc1f1859ad4/original.jpg?width=3840&quality=75&format=auto)
Spirituality and religion
film
What happens when two people on life’s spiritual path find each other?
Directed by Lloyd Kramer and Scott Chestnut