The outward path : the wisdom of the Aztecs

by Purcell, Sebastian

The Aztecs were a philosophical people who held that the top goal in human life is not happiness but the pursuit of what they called 'neltiliztli': a life in truth. Our world, they held, is a 'slippery' one - a place where it is easy to make mistakes and be unwell. A true life avoids slipping by pursuing a communitarian solution, beginning with the formation of relationships and growing deep roots and later moving inward to still the mind. This outside-in approach is the outward path. In 'The Outward Path', Sebastian Purcell carves out a place for Aztec philosophy in popular culture, alongside the ancient Greeks, the Stoics and the Buddhists"-- Provided by publisher. "During the twilight decades of their empire, the learned ones among the Aztec filled numerous volumes with philosophical and ethical thought in testimony recorded by Spanish priests. However, these have been largely overlooked and Westerners often see Aztec culture as a matter for history, anthropology, and archaeology -- not the elevated realms of philosophy...The Outward Path refers to the central insight that our true desire as human beings is not really for "happiness," a fleeting mood. No, what we really want is a rich and worthwhile life, which we can only achieve by pursuing an outward path of engagement with other people. Wisdom is not a matter of "thinking for oneself," but comes through deliberating well in concert with others. Stoic and Buddhist philosophies will teach you to still your mind to address the outside world; but according to the Aztecs, we should cultivate healthy relationships first and then use those to forge a path forward. This "outward path" offers an alternative to the presumptions of our highly individualistic, competitive Western culture...Aztec self help for the modern world, The Outward Path is the first book in any modern language to present the core ethical principles of the Aztecs

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