Wednesday Wisdom

WHO?

Paulo Coelho was born on August 24, 1947, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Coelho had a diverse range of experiences in his early life. He attended law school but dropped out to pursue his passion for writing. During the 1970s, he worked as a lyricist and wrote songs for Brazilian musicians. Coelho underwent a profound spiritual awakening in the 1980s, which greatly influenced his writing. He made the pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela in Spain, also known as the Way of St James. Saint James was an original apostle of Christ, who became the patron Saint of Spain. The Way of Saint James is an is a network of pilgrim routes leading to the shrine of the apostle Saint James at the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in Galicia, Spain and Coelho’s experience travelling it was the catalyst for his book "The Pilgrimage."

What he produced

Paulo Coelho's debut novel, "The Pilgrimage," published in 1987, recounts his journey along the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage route alongside his wife, Christina Oiticica. In the book the story focuses primarily on Coelho's personal experiences and encounters during the pilgrimage. This particular journey played a significant role in shaping his spiritual and emotional journey and all of his future novels contained elements of a journey, self-realization and spirituality. Like the characters in the ancient Greek writer Homer's epics, the protagonists in Coelho's novels often embark on transformative journeys that lead them to profound insights and self-realization. His books include, The Pilgrimage, Veronika wants to die, Manuscript found in Accra, Brida, The Hippie as well as many others, however his opus is “the Alchemist” written in 1988.

The novel “The Alchemist” follows a young shepherd named Santiago who has a recurring dream about finding treasure at the pyramids in Egypt. Urged by this dream, he embarks on a journey to discover his "Personal Legend" or purpose in life. He meets Melchizedek, the wise king of Salem, who sets him on his quest, and later encounters the enigmatic alchemist who guides him toward his destiny. Along the way, he encounters various mentors and challenges that help him realize his raison d'être. Through his travels, Santiago learns valuable lessons about following his dreams, listening to his heart, and discovering the true treasures of life.

The concept of the "Personal Legend" is a central theme in Paulo Coelho's novel "The Alchemist." In the book, the term refers to an individual's unique and true destiny or calling in life. It is the fulfillment of one's deepest desires and the realization of one's potential. The Alchemist, published in 1988, became an international bestseller translated into 80 languages and is known for its aesthetic prose. Its inspiring message about following one's dreams has resonated with readers worldwide.

2024 why do we care?

The main of question epistemology is how do we know something, what is knowledge? What is important? What are we seeking?

In Homers Odyssey, Odysseus travels back from the Peloponnesian Wars and the book/poem explores themes of heroism, perseverance, the importance of home and family. On his journey home to Ithaca, he is faced numerous trials and challenges, including encounters with mythical creatures like the Cyclops Polyphemus, the sorceress Circe, and the sea monster Scylla. Through all of Odessey’s trials and tribulations he gets stronger and more resolved in his love of family and home. Back in Ithaca, Odysseus is confronted with multiple suitors for a would-be widow Penelope. Posed as one of Penelope’s suitors he realizes her devotion and love, his Homeric journey brought a realization of who he was as man and the devotion to his wife.

Like Homer’s Odysseus, Paulo Coelho’s brings a common man, a shepherd on a long journey away from home. Santiago journey brings him across the Iberian Peninsula and across North Africa to the great pyramids of Egypt. In this journey and with the people he meets along the way, he comes to question his previous life’s journey. Poetic and allegorical, Coelho tells a tale a tale of journey, exploration, learning and spirituality. “The Alchemist” uses the protagonist's quest to find treasure as a metaphor for the universal human journey of discovering one's true purpose or raison d'être. The novel's enduring popularity stems from its inspiring message about following one's dreams and finding meaning in life's journey.

I had a dear friend who enjoyed the writings of Coelho and in particular the Alchemist. Her journey unfortunately included a long fight with cancer. Small in stature, she was fierce in her constant battle against illness. She confronted her foe through a relentless pursuit of knowledge spanning across science, spirituality and philosophy.

What was her personal legend? Throughout her journey in life, she has encountered numerous individuals who have cherished her and referred to her as a dear friend, amassing a wealth of friendship that many would consider extraordinary.

She never truly realized her own personal legend, uncertain in that she brought friendship, love, life and laughter to so many.

And now you know...

Thank you, Dad for the Gift of Curiosity

Philosophy is the art of thinking, the building block of progress that shapes critical thinking across economics, ethics, religion, and science. 

METAPHYSICS: Literally, the term metaphysics means ‘beyond the physical.’ Typically, this is the branch that most people think of when they picture philosophy. In metaphysics, the goal is to answer what and how questions in life. Who are we, and what are time and space?

LOGIC: The study of reasoning. Much like metaphysics, understanding logic helps to understand and appreciate how we perceive the rest of our world. More than that, it provides a foundation for which to build and interpret arguments and analyses. 

ETHICS: The study of morality, right and wrong, good and evil. Ethics tackles difficult conversations by adding weight to actions and decisions. Politics takes ethics to a larger scale, applying it to a group (or groups) of people. Political philosophers study political governments, laws, justice, authority, rights, liberty, ethics, and much more.

AESTHETICS: What is beautiful? Philosophers try to understand, qualify, and quantify what makes art what it is. Aesthetics also takes a deeper look at the artwork itself, trying to understand the meaning behind it, both art as a whole and art on an individual level. A question an aesthetics philosopher would seek to address is whether or not beauty truly is in the eye of the beholder.

EPISTEMOLOGY: This is the study and understanding of knowledge. The main question is how do we know? We can question the limitations of logic, how comprehension works, and the ability (or perception) to be certain.