Lives Well Lived STEPHEN WEST: transformation through philosophy
10 snips
Nov 13, 2025 
Stephen West, creator and host of the renowned podcast Philosophize This!, shares his transformative journey from foster care to philosophy. He dives into how teenage anger led him to seek wisdom and the pivotal role Plato played in reshaping his outlook on life. The conversation touches on the value of lived experience over theory, the balance between philosophy and action, and the impact of AI on consciousness. West also reveals plans for his upcoming book, exploring themes of love and technology while pondering the sacrifices necessary for global good.
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From Foster Care To Philosophy
- Stephen West described being taken into foster care at nine and later running away at sixteen after bad placements.
- He used warehouse work time to read Plato and other philosophers and said the job was a blessing in disguise.
Philosophy As A Personal Reboot
- Stephen used philosophy to replace trauma-induced thinking with new ways of seeing reality.
- He treats reading philosophy like a spiritual exercise that humbles and disrupts common sense.
Wisdom Through Living, Not Only Reading
- Stephen says healing anxiety came more from living and failing than from therapies and meditation alone.
- He values embodied experiences and learning through direct social encounters over pure rumination.
