John
Stoszkowski
I write and teach philosophy for curious people. Come for a walk through my world. It ends in a clearing.
1Academia (dismantled)
Fifteen years on this line
I spent fifteen years in universities, researching how people learn, think and develop judgement. I left in 2021, because I’d lost faith in how education was being treated.
Still on the map: PhD in Social Learning, MPhil, PGCert, BSc in Sports Science, and a Senior Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy. The papers are on ResearchGate and Google Scholar.
2Syntropise
The practice I co-founded
With my friend Dr David Priestley. Applied philosophy for people whose decisions carry public consequences and private weight.
There are two ways in: membership for individuals, and partnership for organisations. The name comes from syntropy: life becoming richer, more energetic and more coherent.
3The Library
Two books out, two coming
Being Well and The Syntropist are out now, with royalties going to the MND Association and Hospice at Home. The Clearing and Life Leans Forward: A Short Book of Syntropology arrive in 2027.
4The Gallery
People I argue with while making a brew
Some of my favourite thinkers, painted by me. None of them sat still for it.
5Syntropology
Where I write
Readable philosophy on how things come together, why they fall apart, and what to do about it.
6Viewpoint
Things I believe, so far
- Reality is always richer than our descriptions of it.What might you miss once you’ve put a label on something?
- Perception comes before prescription.Have you understood what’s going on before you try to fix it?
- Wisdom matters more than knowledge.You can know plenty, but how do you decide what matters?
- Education should make you your own authority.How much of what you think have you actually thought through?
- Freedom comes with responsibility.Are you willing to own the choices you make?
- Life should still feel like an adventure.When did you last do something just to see what would happen?
- Coherence matters more than certainty.Can you live in a way that makes sense to you without having it all figured out?
- The good life is participatory.What could you help bring to life?
7The Allotment
My favourite place
Where syntropy’s easiest to see. I battle the elements here in pursuit of perfect fruit and veg, supervised by Dudley. From bare soil to harvest, one photograph at a time.
8The record shop
When the thinking’s done, tunes
I play records too. Three mixes, for working, walking or weeding. Press play and they spin right here.
9Lichtung
A note on the clearing
Lichtung: German, for a clearing in a forest.
Heidegger borrowed the word for the open space where things can show up as they are. Human existence is this clearing: the place where Being is disclosed.
It’s also the best description I know of a good conversation.