Outward wisdom: What the Aztecs can teach us about living well Analysis of Sebastian Purcell’s opinion piece for The Guardian

In a thought-provoking essay for The Guardian, Sebastian Purcell, associate professor of philosophy at SUNY-Cortland, introduces readers to a lesser-known but powerful framework for personal growth—the Aztec philosophy of the "outward path." While much of today’s self-help industry leans heavily on introspective traditions like Stoicism and Buddhism, Purcell makes the case that the ancient Aztecs offer a refreshingly different approach: don’t start with your mind—start with your world.

At the heart of the Aztec worldview is the belief that wisdom is cultivated externally—through physical habits, communal relationships, speech, and environment—rather than solely through solitary reflection. This is a striking contrast to modern self-help paradigms that often focus on internal dialogue, emotional processing, and personal insight. The Aztecs, as Purcell explains, believed that meaning emerges from interaction with life’s fragilities, not from trying to escape them.

One of the most compelling ideas Purcell explores is the Aztec critique of happiness as a life goal. Rather than chasing fleeting joy, the Aztecs advocated for rootedness—a deeper, more enduring sense of connection to self, society, and nature. This resonates with modern psychological insights that purpose and meaning often trump happiness in terms of long-term well-being. It’s also a sobering reminder that the best things in life—love, justice, loyalty—often expose us to pain. To live well is to accept life’s risks, not to neutralise them.

Another powerful departure from Western self-help comes in the Aztecs’ social view of wisdom. Contrary to the lone genius myth so dominant in popular culture, the Aztecs saw collective deliberation as the cornerstone of good thinking. This encourages us to seek community input not just for emotional support but as a vital component of ethical clarity and life planning.

Equally compelling is the breakdown of willpower into three categories: drive, durability, and discipline. This tripartite model offers a more nuanced understanding of why we succeed in some areas and fail in others. It’s a flexible approach that aligns well with cognitive behavioural insights—different problems require different tools.

Purcell’s piece doesn’t romanticise the Aztecs. He’s clear-eyed about their historical context, but urges us to salvage enduring lessons from their rich ethical tradition. Whether it’s using fasting to train willpower, practising embarrassment to build social resilience, or harnessing speech to shape thought, the Aztec emphasis on action-first offers a valuable corrective to modern over-intellectualisation.

The ultimate message? You don’t need to fix your inner world before you organise your outer one. In fact, doing the dishes, sweeping the floor, or speaking deliberately might be exactly how your internal transformation begins.

By Vugar Khalilov