Philosophy Archives

Worldly vs. Eternal Perspective: What Do You See?

Do you see through natural eyes or spiritual eyes? Do you have a worldly perspective or an eternal perspective? In Battlefield of the Mind, Joyce Meyer writes that Satan can trap us in a negative mindset if he can convince us that a better future is impossible. Satan can do this by prompting us to have a worldly perspective—to see the world through what Meyer calls our “natural eyes,” which focus on the physical world. The alternative is an eternal perspective. Keep reading to understand these concepts better.

What Is Revelation Knowledge? Joyce Meyer Explains

What is revelation knowledge? How is it different from head knowledge? Author, speaker, and Bible teacher Joyce Meyer argues that one of the signs that we’re under attack by the devil is that our mind is full of uncertainty. She contends that this uncertainty is a product of reasoning that has gone “too far”—causing us to question God or our faith. To combat this, Meyer recommends that we lean on revelation knowledge rather than head knowledge. Read more to learn about Meyer’s notion of revelation knowledge.

Sun Tzu’s Principles of War: 5 Keys to Victory

Who was Sun Tzu? What’s the key premise of Sun Tzu’s philosophy? In The Art of War, Sun Tzu, a Chinese warrior and philosopher, details the nature of competition and psychology of leadership and provides strategies for how to approach both. Although Sun Tzu’s principles are geared toward actual military conflict, they can be useful in all areas of conflict or competition, even at a personal level. Keep reading for Sun Tzu’s principles of war and the rationale behind them.

Sun Tzu’s Five Factors of Successful Military Action

What are Sun Tzu’s teachings about attaining victory? Can you really win a war without fighting? Much of Tzu’s teachings revolve around the concept that victory without direct fighting is the most advantageous way to win. Part of attaining this type of battle-free victory involves five factors of successful military operations: the Way, the weather, the terrain, the leadership, and discipline. Sun Tzu’s five factors can help you assess the likelihood of victory in any circumstance. Let’s consider each in turn.

Sun Tzu: Winning Without Fighting

Does victory necessarily have to involve fighting? How does one win a war without fighting? Winning without fighting, Sun Tzu argued, is the best outcome of any war. If the surrender comes before a battle is fought, all the better. Here’s why fighting should be your last resort, according to Sun Tzu.

Sun Tzu: Tactics to Gain Military Advantage

What is Sun Tzu’s theory of war? Under what circumstances should you advance and retreat? According to Sun Tzu, if victory is not certain, you should not engage in conflict. Before you advance, you must attain an advantage over your opponent. In The Art of War, Sun Tzu describes several tactics for securing an advantage. Here are Sun Tzu’s tactics to gain an advantage in a battle.

Sun Tzu: Attack by Stratagem, Rather Than Force

What is “attack by strategem”? Why is it best to attack by strategem rather than force? Sun Tzu said that the best outcome in a war is to take your opponent whole and intact instead of obliterating it completely—that’s the premise of attack by stratagem. If the battle is won, but the opponent’s forces and country are obliterated, that’s a lesser victory than if you are able to overcome them and force a surrender. Keep reading to learn about the attack by stratagem tactic.

5 Ways to Align With the Universe (Deepak Chopra)

How can alignment with the universe lead to your success? How is this alignment achieved? Deepak Chopra believes that personal alignment with the flow of thought-energy in the universe is the path to success. He offers five methods of alignment, including meditation and choosing meaningful goals. Read on for details on all five ways to align with the universe.

The Samurai Mindset: Think Like a Warrior

What is a samurai mindset? What are the key qualities of a samurai warrior? In his 1643 book The Book of Five Rings, Miyamoto Musashi says that you can’t become an expert swordsman if you don’t have the right mindset. He details important qualities that any aspiring samurai should cultivate such as honesty, perception, and purpose. Here’s how to cultivate a samurai mindset, according to Miyamoto Musashi.

The 3 Pillars of Samurai Sword Fighting

What are the top three rules for samurai sword fighting? How can these lessons be applied in a modern context? In the historical work The Book of Five Rings, legendary samurai Miyamoto Musashi shares his top three rules for Japanese sword fighting: 1) know your environment, 2) think like your competitor, and 3) adapt your strategy to the circumstances. While these rules seem very specific to combat, they can be adapted and applied to modern life. Keep reading for Musashi’s rules of Japanese sword fighting and how they are relevant today.