A Cabin in the Woods

“He who delights in solitude is either a beast or a god.” — Nietzsche

It’s no coincidence that many of history’s great philosophers have been solitary men who choose to forgo worldly comforts in exchange for a quiet cabin in the woods, where they can hear themselves think and immerse themselves in philosophy. Think Thoreau. Think Nietzsche.

I count myself fortunate to have designed and built my cabin— perched on high land at the confluence of Boulder and Gregory Creeks in Boulder, Colorado. This sanctuary allows me to be uber-social by day and a philosopher in solitude by night and on weekends.

The love of wisdom and the hunger for growth in our later years can be as intense as the hormonal surges of adolescence—a primal force driving us to seek meaning, depth, and understanding. As City Club matures, I am grateful for the teachers and thinkers who have guided us— from the late Kevin Townley (may his soul rest in peace) to the many scholars, members, and mentors who inspire us to grow wiser and age with grace.

Late last year, City Club member Niko Kovacevic and CU philosophy professor Paul Diduch led an eight-week exploration of Plato’s Republic, examining, among other things, the nature of justice. Dave Jilk—entrepreneur, poet, and scientist—continues to host Friday morning philosophy discussions, where we aim to evolve from Socrates’ “Know Thyself” to Nietzsche's “Will Thyself.”

Currently, we are studying Machiavelli’s The Prince, wrestling with timeless questions of leadership and power: Is it better to be feared or loved? Do the ends justify the means? Is chaos the rule and order the exception? Is war the norm and peace the anomaly?

Pondering such questions can drive one mad—or lead to escapism through food, alcohol, and other distractions. But the wiser path is to embrace philosophy: not to escape the world, but to better understand it and ourselves.

— Sina.