#49: The Sober Philosopher, Peg O'Connor, Ph.D on "Higher and Friendlier Powers"

In this episode, we discuss:How philosophy supports sobrietyThe importance of friendshipHigher and friendlier powersThe influence of William James on AAReligion versus spirituality Spiritual impulsesAccessing joy in difficult momentsThe problem with a rock-bottom approachBuilding recovery capital Peg O’Connor, Ph.D., is a Professor of Philosophy at Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, Minnesota. Her training is in moral philosophy, feminist philosophy, addiction studies, and the work of Ludwig Wittgenstein. She believes that philosophy helped her to get and remain sober. Avoiding Alcoholics Anonymous for the first 20 years of her sobriety because of the concept of a “higher power,” she is focused on using some of the great canonical thinkers in western philosophy to illuminate dimensions of addiction.  She further shares this in her latest book, Higher and Friendly Powers: Transforming Addiction and Suffering (Wildhouse Publications, 2022).  Dr. O’Connor is regularly published in trade journals and writes a column, “Philosophy Stirred, Not Shaken,” for Psychology Today, which has nearly 2.3 million total views online and select columns have appeared in the print publication.  Her expertise has been featured on BBC’s Free Thinking and Canadian Public Radio’s On Drugs podcast, as well as in print and online publications ranging from The New York Times, The Chronicle of Higher Education, Cosmo and Marie Claire to Vice and Salon. She has been invited to present on addiction and recovery at some of the country’s most prestige universities, in addition to workshops and talks in church basements, classrooms, community centers, and treatment centers. To learn more about Dr. O’Connor, visit her website:  https://pegoconnorauthor.com/__Join the new Sun & Moon Community Membership: https://sunandmoonsoberliving.com/membership/Follow @sunandmoon.soberliving on InstagramDisclaimer: The content of this podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.