Lou Marinoff

Lou Marinoff is a Canadian-born academic, author, and Commonwealth Scholar. He is Professor of Philosophy and Asian Studies at The City College of New York and founding President of the American Philosophical Practitioners Association. He is known for his books, including Plato Not Prozac, Therapy for the Sane, The Middle Way and The Power of Dao, which focus on applying philosophical concepts to address everyday challenges.

Biography He was born on October 18, 1951 in Quebec. Marinoff studied theoretical physics at Concordia University and McGill University before earning a doctorate in philosophy of science at University College London. He then went to the Hebrew University of Jerusalem for post-doctoral work followed by a lectureship at the University of British Columbia. With Ran Lahav, he co-founded the International Conference on Philosophical Practice (ICPP) in 1994. He believes that many modern problems, such as stress, confusion, and moral dilemmas, can be addressed through philosophical reflection rather than medical or psychiatric interventions.

Criticism Lou Marinoff's work, particularly his bestselling book Plato, Not Prozac!, and his leadership in the philosophical counseling movement have been the subject of significant criticism from colleagues in philosophy and psychology. The critiques focus on philosophical inaccuracies, misrepresentation of the field, methodological concerns, and the potential for harm.

Critics have accused Marinoff of fundamental errors in his exposition of philosophical concepts and figures. Reviewer Tudor B. Munteanu describes the book as a "dubious trivialization of philosophy" and points to numerous misinterpretations, such as mislabeling Plato as a "naturalist," conflating Kant's transcendental idealism with rationalism, and providing a confused explanation of the Kantian noumenon. Munteanu also notes a conflation of teleology with consequentialism and utilitarianism, which are distinct theories. Similarly, philosopher-counselor Shlomit C. Schuster highlights factual errors, such as misstating the origin of the doctrine of original sin and mischaracterizing the historical relationship between philosophy and theology as fundamentally opposed, thereby ignoring centuries of Scholastic philosophy.

Psychologists Samuel Knapp and Alan C. Tjeltveit provide a critical analysis of the field, distinguishing between "narrow-scope" philosophical counseling (addressing clear ethical or worldview issues) and Marinoff's "broad-scope" practice, which claims to treat issues like depression and anxiety that are typically within the realm of psychotherapy. They argue that broad-scope philosophical counseling lacks empirical evidence for its effectiveness, operates with an overly broad and simplistic definition of "philosophical problems," and fails to demonstrate that its practitioners are trained to handle the interpersonal complexities and potential psychological disorders of clients. They warn that this could lead to harm if clients with serious mental health conditions are not referred to appropriate professionals. Critics also argue against what they see as a misrepresentation of mental health. While the argument that anti-depressant prescription has been abused could be seen as reasonable, their usefulness to treat many problems including personality disorders should not be neglected.

Critics have also questioned the content of Marinoff's counseling. Schuster notes his incorporation of esoteric and New Age elements, including advising clients to consult gurus and astrologers without philosophical discrimination, and his heavy reliance on the I Ching as a therapeutic tool. Marinoff's self-characterization as a "mystical pragmatist" and comparisons of himself to Julius Caesar have been cited as evidence of self-aggrandizement. 2010: Changing Our Minds, Living Life Films, San Diego. Directed by David Sousa. 2006: Way of the Puck, Creative Ape Productions, Los Angeles. Directed by Eric Anderson. 2004: Table Hockey: The Movie, Triad Films, Nova Scotia. Produced by Peter d'Entrement, directed by Thor Henrikson.

Books

Marinoff, Lou (2018). Eloquent Sinking: A Gaspesian Tragicomedy. Cardiff, CA: Waterside Productions. Marinoff, Lou (2017). The Power of Dao: A Timeless Guide to Happiness and Harmony. Cardiff, CA: Waterside Productions. Marinoff, Lou & Ikeda, Daiskau (2012). The Inner Philosopher: Conversations on Philosophy's Transformative Power. Cambridge, MA: Dialogue Path Press. Marinoff, Lou (2001). Philosophical Practice. NY: Elsevier Marinoff, Lou (1999). Plato Not Prozac. NY: HarperCollins

Edited books