Lou Marinoff

Long a valued friend of the Ikeda Center, Lou Marinoff is a professor of philosophy at City College of New York. His many books include the bestseller Plato Not Prozac, as well as such titles as The Middle Way and On Human Conflict. Significantly he is co-author, with Daisaku Ikeda, of The Inner Philosopher: Conversations on Philosophy’s Transformative Power (Dialogue Path Press, 2012).  Additionally, Dr. Marinoff is founding president of the American Philosophical Practitioners Association, and founding editor of its Journal, Philosophical Practice. A true Renaissance man, Lou also has studied theoretical physics and achieved a doctorate in the philosophy of science. Additionally, he is a classical guitarist, photographer, and winner of the Canadian Open and US Open competitions in the sport of table hockey! His modes of participation at the Center are many. He was a panelist at the 2011 Ikeda Forum, “Cultivating the Greater Self.” In 2012, he delivered a lecture at the book launch event for The Inner Philosopher. During this time he also sat down for series of video interviews with the Center, including one of our most popular videos: on the lessons of the Stoics. The video of his remarks at the 2011 Ikeda Forum, on transforming poison into medicine, is also very popular. You can also read his reflections on many of our core convictions, including: one, two, five, and seven. Above all, Lou urges us to “focus on what’s right with us” and believe in our capacities for creativity, well being, and peace.