What Would Aristotle Do?

What Would Aristotle Do? Self-Control Through the Power of Reason
by
Eliot D. Cohen
(Prometheus Books, 2003)

"Elliot Cohen. . . tells in simple, sensible, and practical language what you can do to use rational philosophy to help yourself. Well worth reading!"

~ Albert Ellis, Ph.D., President, Albert Ellis Institute

Review from Midwest Book review:

What Would Aristotle Do? Self-Control Through the Power of Reason
Eliot D. Cohen

Thank God for Eliot D. Cohen! He has returned the almost lost art of Reason to America. For too long we have wallowed in the twilight of culture and danced in the aisles foaming at the mouths over the latest WWJD bumpersticker fad. It has been a long, dark night and now, finally, the brilliance of dawn. What Would Aristotle Do? Self-Control Through the Power of Reason is a breath of fresh air (sadly, since we forget everything older than a twenty-second soundbite, it is so ancient it is fresh again). This light book-- it is short and easy to read and, even more importantly, easy to comprehend-- should be required reading for everyone in America. Put down the ignorant hysteria and pick up a little empowering Reason.

I suppose it is truly a sign of the End Time so perpetually popular amongst some segments of society that we even need a book like this. But there you have it. We work with what we are given. Dr. Cohen, one of those Renaissance types who feels compelled to succeed in multiple areas like teaching, writing, counseling, directing, and being a philosopher, is well known in counseling circles worldwide as the man who is reuniting psychology with philosophy, that is using hands-on, applied philosophy in the same way we are familiar with psychological counseling. Or to sum it all up, he is also the director of the Institute of Critical Thinking. I think that about solves everything. If we used a little critical thinking in life, we'd probably find we were suddenly bereft of problems. It is all a matter of clarity. Rule number one: Thou shalt not confuse thyself.

Confusion is rampant in our society and so is its side effect anxiety. No one understands what is happening, what they could do, and what they should do, and so they become more and more anxious to the point of breaking down. And then we become so depressed we start bumpersticker fads to feel that somehow we connect with each other. It's cyclical ignorance. This book cuts through all the hooplah like a laser beam. Very succinctly and quietly Dr. Cohen tells us how we might be confusing ourselves, lists numerous impediments to growth and solutions, such as faulty thinking, and how all of this causes us emotional distress. Best of all, for the average man, he does it in common language with common examples of real life cases involving real life people. It is all so crystal clear it can accidentally cut off your emotional turmoil and leave you smiling and well adjusted. Can you imagine being uplifted, forgiven, happy, satisfied, fortified, excited, confident, and ready to conquer the world with a laugh? Well this book allows you to do just that, and with your own mind, your own reason, and your own self confidence. You don't have to feel guilty or borrow anyone else's blessing to succeed. You can do it all yourself. It's amazing.

I love this book. It couldn't have come out at a better time, either, what with the current state of fads and crises in the world. We seem to be spiraling downward at a pretty good clip. Culture wars and other forms of public stupidity do not a successful, happy family make. But here comes some reasonable wings to lift us up. Ahhhh. The comfort of it all. Thank you, Dr. Cohen, and of course Mr. Aristotle himself for offering the antidote to today's ills. You refute our frustrations and flaws and empower us to employ the rationality of our own willpower. You return the world to balance by showing us the importance of the middle path. We need not be excessive pro or con, prone to outbursts of emotion or indecision. When we weigh the world with our mind, the choice is obvious and we no longer fret. We can simply act, in peace and pleasure. Or to sum up, Aristotle says, "That which is proper to each thing is by nature best and most pleasant for each thing; for man, therefore, the life according to reason is best and pleasantest, since reason more than anything else is man. This life, therefore, is also the happiest." I'm a happy man.