Thursday, April 3, 2025

Philosophy at Work: Lou Marinoff and the PEACE of Wise Leadership

April 3, 2025

Lou Marinoff is my colleague and the founding president of the American Philosophical Practitioners Association (APPA). He’s also one of the few philosophers I know who can walk into a boardroom, sit with corporate executives, and—with the quiet confidence of Socrates—transform the way they think about decision-making.

Years ago, Lou introduced a method he called PEACE. At first glance, the acronym might seem simple. But don’t be fooled—it’s a deeply thoughtful, even revolutionary approach to handling challenges, whether in life or leadership. And unlike other models that try to force quick fixes, Lou’s method invites us to slow down, reflect, and think philosophically.

Existential Psychotherapy by Irvin D. Yalom (1980)

What does it mean to live knowing that life is finite — that every choice we make occurs under the shadow of death , freedom , isolation , a...