Join Halkyon Fellow Thomas Jockin in a 6-Week Journey to Understand Health, Virtue, and Well-Being
In a world overwhelmed by abundance—too many calories, too much dopamine, too little clarity—our health is drifting. Chronic diseases, anxiety, and environmental toxins plague modern life. Yet, the ancient wisdom of Plato and Aristotle offers a timeless lens to redefine health in body, soul, and community. Discover how to cultivate virtue and restore balance in this transformative course at the Halkyon Academy.
LIMITED TIME OFFER: Use coupon code HEALTH at the checkout and take 20% off any tier.
Seminar Dates:
September: 6th, 13th, 20th, 27th,
October: 11th
Always 1-3pm EST, 7-9pm CET
The Course
The Generational Health Drift
We live in an age of excess, where digital distractions and processed foods dull our perception and harm our well-being. From rising rates of obesity and depression to the hidden dangers of microplastics, the modern world challenges our health like never before. Moreover, the digital arena, in which we spend so much of our time now, is a sort of meta-physicalm, quasi timeless, and certainly disembodied space; apparently entirely immaterial. So the question emerges, what does it mean to be truly healthy? How do mind, body, soul relate?
This course turns to Plato and Aristotle to uncover a unified understanding of health that connects the physical and the spiritual.
Health as Virtue
Drawing from various Platonic dialogues, including Philebus, The Republic, Phaedros, and Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics, Analytics, Physics this course explores health as a measure of proportion and virtue. You’ll learn:
- How health is a prerequisite for knowledge, beauty, and courage — and a gate toward the metaphysical.
- How health and virtue relate and reinforce each other and that we must rethink what health is in light of virtue.
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Practical ways to apply ancient wisdom to modern challenges, from digital overload to environmental stress.
Why This Course?
- Unique Perspective: Combines your personal experience with timeless philosophy to address modern health challenges.
- Expert Guidance: Led by Assoc. Professor Thomas Jockin, a Halkyon Fellow with expertise in Plato and Aristotle.
- Practical Applications: Learn about practices and habit-cultivation, gymnastics, diet, and temperance to cultivate health in the digital age.
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Community Learning: Engage in lively discussions and present your own work to a like-minded cohort.
Curriculum
Your instructor
Thomas Jockin’s extensive background in Communication Design and a keen interest in the interplay of design and human behavior inform his unique perspective on the Philosophy of Health. His commitment to understanding the intricacies of how our surroundings and choices affect our well-being is evident both in his professional endeavors and his academic contributions. As a founder of Readable Technologies, he bridges the gap between technology and the human experience, epitomizing his dedication to enhancing life through innovation. Thomas’s interaction with students as a visiting associate professor across esteemed New York design departments has deepened his insights into the ancient connections between design, ergonomics, and holistic health.
His analytical work, including the co-authored “A Philosophy of Glimpses: The Prolegomena to a New Metaphysics and Phenomenology of Lacks,” reflects a profound engagement with the philosophical underpinnings of human existence and perception, which stands at the core of his teachings. In his classes, Thomas encourages a blend of theoretical inquiry and practical application, fostering an environment where students can explore timeless wisdom and its relevance to contemporary health discussions. Through his interactive and dynamic teaching style, he inspires a reflective and integrative approach to understanding the philosophy of health as it spans across the ages.
FAQs
- Who is this course for? Anyone seeking to understand health holistically, from students of philosophy to those navigating modern challenges.
- Do I need prior knowledge of Plato or Aristotle? No, the course is designed for all levels, with guided readings and essays by Thomas Jockin.
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How much time is required? Expect 3-5 hours per week for readings, reflections, and discussions.
Testimonials for Thomas Jockin
"I’m really happy to be partaking in this course. I’ve realised what an overwhelming abundance there is in Plato’s dialogues and Aristotle’s notes, and Thomas’s resourceful, in-depth commentary only adds to that richness. I can already tell I’ll return to these dialogues, as well as the lectures and seminars, more than twice or thrice in the future."
Georgios K.
"The work Thomas has put in is clear in the lectures—you draw so many connections, and only partly from the dialogues themselves—showing a path to how much more there is to them. This feels so much more than a university course on Plato."