Philosophical Practice

Audience: Actual or would-be practicing philosophical practitioners with backgrounds in philosophy; practicing counselors and therapists from non-philosophical backgrounds such as physicians, psychiatrists, psychologists, and social workers.

Written to complement his earlier Plato not Prozac, this text lays out the principles of philosophical counseling for the practitioner and includes a list of reference materials for the American Philosophical Practitioners Association. Marinoff (City College, City U. of New York) is a gifted and often funny writer, who is not afraid to take on the established academic system of philosophy. In this volume, he describes the foundations, modes, professionalization, marketing, and politics of philosophical practice, providing detailed discussion of the state of the field, the philosophy behind it, and anecdotes from his own experience. The audience will include philosophers who might consider becoming practicing counselors, as well as the general reader looking for an alternative to the truths offered by the mental health industry. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Lou Marinoff, a Commonwealth Scholar, earned his doctorate in Philosophy of Science at University College London. After holding Research Fellowships at University College and the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, he became a Lecturer in Philosophy at the University of British Columbia, and was also Moderator of the Canadian Business and Professional Ethics Network at UBC's Center for Applied Ethics. He is currently an Associate Professor, and Chair of the Philosophy Department, at The City College of New York. Lou has been a philosophical practitioner for ten years. He is past president of the American Society for Philosophy, Counseling and Psychotherapy (ASPCP), and founding president of the American Philosophical Practitioners Association (APPA). He is a Fellow of the Institute for Local Government at the University of Arizona, and a Fellow of the World Economic Forum (Davos). He publishes regularly in decision theory, ethics, philosophical practice, and other fields. He is author of an international best-seller, Plato Not Prozac (HarperCollins, NY, 1999), published in twenty languages. His philosophical practice and pioneering of the profession have received national and international media attention. In demand as a speaker to all kinds of groups and organizations, Lou travels far and wide, helping to promote a global philosophical renaissance.