The Egyptian philosopher Plotinus (205–270 CE) insisted that philosophy should be concerned with nothing less than το τιμιώτατον (pronounced “to timiotaton”), generally translated as what matters most. Writing in the twentieth century, the Russian existentialist Lev Shestov considers this to be “the best and only complete definition of philosophy”. I’m pretty sure, however, that neither Plotinus nor Shestov would consider this volume to be το τιμιώτατον. After all, it does not follow their lead in seeking the transcendent, prophetic or mystical through the philosophical. Come to think of it, they may not consider it a work of philosophy at all.

Is living an art? Then it requires knowledge and effort. “The art of living” has been captured by retreat centres, wellness escapes, therapy rooms. It brings to mind virtue, happiness, peace, mindfulness, freedom. This volume, by contrast, seeks the art of living in the midst of all the spectacular messiness generated by an aggressive, violent, anxiety-ridden, acquisitive, cruel and lustful species. The conversations that follow are rooted in those questions that matter most to us as citizens of increasingly fractious societies and inhabitants of an increasingly fractured planet: How do we cultivate the art of living under oppression when this oppression may be permanent? (Part I); How do we cultivate the art of living together when the cocoon-like embrace of our echo chamber feels so attractive? (Part II); How do we cultivate the art of living with technology in the face of prophecies of a forthcoming AI apocalypse? (Part III); and How do we cultivate the art of living through crisis when the climate catastrophe has served to shatter any illusion of solidarity or a common world? (Part IV).

In autumn 2020, The Philosopher launched its first series of free “digital dialogues” after our in-person events in the UK were cancelled due to the pandemic. These events have proven surprisingly successful, with over 12,000 attendees from 109 countries tuning in to date. This attests to an ongoing (ineradicable?) public desire to participate in rich philosophical explorations of important contemporary questions. Most of the conversations that follow are edited transcripts of these events.