אינפורמציה - באנגלית
Plato counseled Dionysius II of Syracuse, Descartes counseled Queen Christina of Sweden, and Locke was a counselor in the household of the first Earl of Shaftesbury. These are just a few examples of the philosophers who counseled royalty, politicians, clergy and all others who asked for their services. Though philosophy has become a purely academic profesion in the last few centuries, at the end of the 20th century private philosophy tutors and counselors are increasingly gaining popularity. The German philosopher Gerd B. Achenbach conceived the idea of the philosopher as a private "institution," as a person working independently outside the ivory tower of the university. Achenbach began receiving people for private consultations about life problems and questions in 1981. Though there are psychiatrists and psychologists who use philosophy in their treatment of persons, Achenbach´s aproach is non-clinical. Philosophical Counseling may remind people of sessions with therapists or pastoral counselors because of outward similarities in the sessions. Nevertheless, Philosophical Counseling does not work with psychological, theological, or medical models. The aim of Achenbach´s practice is to create a "free place" where persons use philosophy to develop their own thoughts on relevant subject matters.