Philosophy Archives

The Fifth Agreement: Context, Impact, and Reception

What are the historical and intellectual contexts of The Fifth Agreement? What impact has the book had? What do the critics say? In The Fifth Agreement, don Miguel Ruiz and don Jose Ruiz describe five “agreements” to make with yourself that adjust the way you see the world and your place in it. According to the authors, these agreements speak to the hearts of all people—everyone who’s learned a language, participated in a culture, and grown up around other people. They’re a series of intuitively common-sense principles we are all aware of—but which few of us actually practice. Those who

What Makes You You? It’s Up to You

What makes you you? Do you think what you are is determined by internal factors (thoughts, feelings, moods) or external factors (your circumstances and social identity)? There are many different views about what makes someone who they are. Some argue that one’s self is a repertoire of their internal world (their thoughts, feelings, beliefs, values, etc.). Others say that you are the product of a combination of your genetics and conditioning. Continue reading to understand what makes you you.

The Five Agreements: A Path to Personal Freedom

What are the five agreements? How do they change the way you see everything? Where do they lead? In The Fifth Agreement, authors don Miguel Ruiz and don Jose Ruiz outline the five agreements that you can make with yourself. These agreements transform how you perceive the world and your place in it. The authors believe that, if you practice these principles, you’ll rediscover your true self and reclaim the wholehearted love, joy, and freedom that you enjoyed as a child. Keep reading for details about the five agreements.

The Importance of Beliefs: Your Key to Happiness

What do you believe to be true about the world and yourself? How well do you realize the importance of beliefs? In The Fifth Agreement, Miguel Ruiz and Jose Ruiz discuss the importance of beliefs. They also explain that beliefs determine happiness—and how wrong beliefs cause damage to ourselves and others. Keep reading to learn about the importance of beliefs.

What Acceptance Means in Toltec Philosophy

Do you know what acceptance means in the context of Toltec enlightenment? How does it relate to personal freedom? Acceptance of “what is” is the second stage of Toltec enlightenment. In The Fifth Agreement, don Miguel Ruiz and don Jose Ruiz discuss what acceptance means in this context and how to practice acceptance to reclaim personal freedom. Continue reading to learn what acceptance means in Toltec philosophy.

The Toltec Path to Enlightenment: A Quest for Freedom

What is the path to enlightenment according to the Toltec? What do they mean by enlightenment? The Toltec path to enlightenment involves three stages: the mirage of “the real world,” the seed of doubt, and the freedom of control. Authors don Miguel Ruiz and don Jose Ruiz describe these three phases as subjective realities. The Ruizes believe that, once you break through these stages, you reach total personal freedom. Continue reading to understand the Toltec path to enlightenment.

Don Jose Ruiz and Don Miguel Ruiz: The Nagual Spirit

What do don Miguel Ruiz and don Jose Ruiz teach? How do they pass down Toltec tradition? Don Miguel Ruiz and don Jose Ruiz are often referred to as “the naguals.” Naguals, sometimes described as dreamers, masters, or scholars, act as a conduit between the spirit and the world. They pass on the teachings of the Toltec—whom the Ruizes say were the intellectual and cultural predecessors of the Aztec. To them, a Toltec is an artist of the spirit: a master storyteller who paints his own reality. Keep reading to learn more about don Miguel Ruiz and don Jose Ruiz.

Toltec Philosophy and the Road to Personal Freedom

What does Toltec philosophy say about reality? What is its view of enlightenment? Toltec philosophy asserts that we tend to carry false beliefs. When we challenge those beliefs and overcome them, we become more and more free. Authors don Miguel Ruiz and don Jose Ruiz (the naguals) discuss three stages that we go through on the road to total personal freedom (enlightenment). Continue reading to learn the Toltec philosophy of enlightenment.

Is Suffering the Key to Creativity? Dispelling the Myth

What is the connection between creativity and suffering? Does pain really facilitate creativity? Can you create great work without suffering for it? There is a common tendency to see creativity as necessitating or being facilitated by suffering. This view has been promulgated by Christianity and 18th and 19th century German Romanticism, both of which put a premium on agony. The central idea of these philosophies is that you cannot create something great without suffering for it. In this article, we’ll explore why pain is commonly associated with creativity, and why this is, in fact, far from the truth.

The Lindy Effect: The Ultimate Test of Time

What is the Lindy effect? Why does the longer something has been around, the longer it will likely be around in the future? Named after a deli in which actors are said to have casually invented the idea, the Lindy effect states that a nonperishable thing’s longevity is roughly equal to its current age. In other words, truly effective ideas, inventions, and institutions become less likely to die as time goes on. As Nicholas Taleb puts it, if something is “Lindy,” it “ages in reverse.” In this article, we’ll explore the “Lindy effect” and show why, in the absence of