Philosophical Praxis

Origin, Relations, and Legacy

Author: Gerd B. Achenbach and Michael Picard Series: Philosophical Practice

Philosophical Praxis, launched by the author in 1981, ushers in a new academic philosophy as an alternative to current therapeutic practices, offering unique insights into the compelling origin and development of a renaissance of philosophy.

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Gerd B. Achenbach’s Philosophical Praxis: Origin, Relations, and Legacy, translated by Michael Picard, offers unique insights into the compelling origin and development of what has been called a renaissance of philosophy: a storied trove of thought steeped in tradition, character, and experience, and redeployed in the service of understanding the individual life. Throughout this book, the author explores Philosophical Praxis not only through the tumultuous history of philosophy, but also through psychology, religion, literature, and more. Achenbach’s tone is subtle, humorous, and constantly surprising, demonstrating his intimacy with an expansive spirit of life and leaving behind the narrowness of academic disciplines. As the founder of Philosophical Praxis, Achenbach dissects the challenges faced in current philosophy and psychology and, in doing so, surpasses academic philosophy to reveal the possibility of a new profession for philosophical practitioners seeking to resist the seductions of theory, methods, or solutions, and personify the seriousness of being human.

Critic Reviews

"Achenbach at his best. Thoughtful, witty, and steeped in the European philosophical tradition, he takes us along as he reflects on the philosophical impulses underlying philosophical practice, on what needs it addresses, on what mastering it may be and require, and makes a compelling case for why it matters today. This choice selection of essays, long-awaited and masterfully translated, is a must-read for anyone interested in philosophical counseling and in the therapeutic significance of philosophical thinking more generally."

--Raja Rosenhagen, Ashoka University

"Gerd Achenbach is one of the pioneers of philosophical practice. While his reputation precedes him and some of his works have been translated into English, Philosophical Praxis captures Achenbach's unique, formidable character, philosophy, and spirit. Michael Picard has contributed an excellent service―a labor of love that comes through in his capturing of Achenbach's style―in making this valuable contribution to philosophical practice available in English. This is a must read for anyone interested in philosophical practice!"

--Rick Repetti, Kingsborough Community College

"This collection of Gerd Achenbach's most important writings on Philosophical Practice is a much-awaited milestone in the history of this field. It's been more than forty years since Achenbach baptized Philosophical Practice and gave it a solid philosophical foundation--in German. In all these years, Philosophical Practice expanded worldwide and took many different forms, while Achenbach's incipit remained obscure to all those who could not read German. Through his excellent translation of Achenbach's texts into English (an almost impossible task requiring outstanding linguistic and philosophical skills), Michael Picard marks a turning point in this story and makes an invaluable gift to all those interested in and caring for Philosophical Practice."

--Donata Romizi, University of Vienna