Philosophy for Living!
Philosophy has always been a search for spiritual truth, a process that deepens our understanding of nature, humanity, and the universe. Every search is at the same time an exercise in the freedom of conscience, challenging the ignorance, confusion, and prejudices that hinder calm and profound reflection.
Our vision of Philosophy
We believe Philosophy is an innate attitude inherent in human beings. We aim to translate this attitude into actions that allow us to develop our full potential and improve our world. We propose a practical philosophy, useful for both individuals and society.
Philosophy, when it is practical, is educational. lt helps us to know ourselves and to improve ourselves. To be a philosopher is a way of life committed to the best aspirations of humanity.
We do it not only through reading, study and theoretical knowledge, but also by learning to live well with strength and efficiency at every moment of life; to seize the opportunities that come our way, learning something positive even from adversity.
This means "Philosophy as a way of living" to us
We are working to improve the world and the human being by means of Philosophy in the classical tradition: a philosophical quest that offers answers to contemporary problems.
School of Philosophy in the Classical Tradition
At the heart of the activities of New Acropolis is its School of Philosophy, which we understand as a way of life, that is, as a means of access to spiritual knowledge and to individual and collective realization.
The School of Philosophy of New Acropolis is inspired by the powerful Platonic tradition to promote philosophy as a model of life that is based on knowledge and development of the qualities of each human being.
This school develops a common study program for all countries, taught at successive levels, the following of which is an essential condition to be a member. It is an update of the traditional knowledge of the East and the West that, in accordance with classical humanism, relates sciences, arts and philosophies.
Introduction Programme
New Acropolis teaches its Introduction to Philosophy program, through Courses, aimed at publicizing the most important Schools of Philosophy and the practical application of these teachings, with a new style, which integrates East and West and all civilizations of History and promotes a social commitment to our time. This program teaches the values of a universal ethic, which can unify human beings, without distinction of religious creeds, cultures or customs.
Introduction to the compared Philosophy of East and West
- Natural philosophy. The art of learning to live. The mystery of life.
- The Human Being and Cosmos. The seven principles of Nature.
- The wisdom of ancient India. Dharma-Karma. The Bhagavad-Gita: the awakening of consciousness and the inner war.
- Teachings from Tibet. Ancient texts: “The Voice of the Silence” and “The Book of the Golden Precepts”.
- Buddhist philosophy. Life and teachings of the Buddha. The Dhammapada.
- Chinese wisdom. Confucius: ethics as the foundation of the social order. Lao-tzu and the conquest of harmony.
- Egypt. Meaning of life and the afterlife. Texts and teachings of Ptahotep, Ani…
- Greece, the great philosophers.
- Plato: justice and freedom. The myth of the cave.
- Aristotle: Ethical values and the search for happiness.
- Rome, Stoic philosophy.
- Epictetus, Seneca, Marcus Aurelius. Courage and strength in the face of adversity.
- Inner freedom and power over oneself.
- The Neoplatonic school. Plotinus. The three approaches to wisdom: beauty, music and philosophy.
- The human being and society. Factors that promote social harmony.
- The human being and history. Antiquity of humanity. Historical cycles. Inner youth. Can we change the world?
- Practical psychology exercises. Attention, concentration, memory, imagination.
Advanced courses
- Psychology. Set of knowledge and practices that allow expanding awareness, working on imagination and memory to develop our mind and learn to control emotions with higher feelings. It is the key to “know yourself” to reach a psycho-synthesis.
- Wisdom of the East and the West (two levels). Compendium of topics that revolve around the universe, life and the human being, approached from the wisdom traditions in the East and West, and their implications for the postulates of current science.
- Symbology of Civilizations. Study and comparative analysis of the myths and symbols of religions and civilizations.
- Applied Philosophy and Ethics. Tour of the main Moral Schools of the East and West.
- Sociopolitics. A philosophical approach to improving our society.
- Oratory (two levels). Recovery of the art of the word, the effectiveness in oral expression.
- History of Philosophy (four levels). Deep knowledge of the proposals of Philosophy, throughout History, analysis of its context and its influence.
- History of Religions. Comparative study of the theological messages of the religions that, at all times, have raised the conscience of Humanity.
- Anthropogenesis. Study of the conceptions of the human being and its evolution.
- Cosmogenesis. Study of the conceptions about the origin of the universe and its development.
- Astrology. Study of the conception of the universe as a system of living beings that interact, which is close to the modern GAIA theory.
- Philosophy of science. Study of the philosophical foundations of all science and the epistemology that underlies all scientific method.
- Metaphysical Aesthetics. Study on the processes of the path to beauty.
For these studies, IONA awards the following diplomas:
- “Diploma of specialization in the comparative study of universal thought.”
- “Diploma of Expert in Philosophy of East and West” for programmes of 750 hours, equivalent to 30 credits.
- “Specialist Diploma in Philosophy of East and West” for programmes of 750 hours, equivalent to 30 credits.
- “Master’s Degree (MA) degree in Philosophy of East and West”. Level 1 and Level 2. For programs with a minimum of 1,500 hours, equivalent to 60 credits each.
International Philosophy Program
This program aims to:
- Bring philosophy closer to all audiences
- To publicize its importance in daily life
- Promote reflection and dialogue practice
A cornerstone of this program is the celebration of the World Philosophy Day.
Every year, the centers of New Acropolis around the world respond to the call of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to celebrate World Philosophy Day, which has been taking place every November since 2002.
The programs organized by the different countries that form part of New Acropolis International (OINA) have brought philosophy closer to many different kinds of audiences using a wide variety of media and an imaginative range of different events.
Colloquia abound, aimed at making people reflect on the close relationship that exists between Philosophy and timeless values. Others choose to bring the immortal episodes of History to the stage, recreating dialogues and messages from outstanding philosophers.
Other events link philosophy with the arts, promoting exhibitions and photographic competitions to give form in images to the conceptual richness brought to us by the great sages of the world.
IONA has a website dedicated to World Philosophy Day where it features some of the activities that take place every year throughout the world to celebrate this event.