The antics of former spin bowler Shane Warne may not seem the obvious inspiration for one of the world's best known philosophers. But the playboy's way of life is a model we can all follow, according to English writer and thinker Alain de Botton. Apparently Warne is a kind of philosopher.

“Well obviously it's not his job, obviously he's a cricketer," de Botton said on Tuesday. "But he's someone that you can think deeply about, or be philosophical with.”

De Botton is in Melbourne on several missions: partly as founder of The School of Life, which is opening its first permanent branch on Bourke Street this week, partly to speak at the National Gallery of Victoria about the therapeutic value of art, and partly to talk about his new book The News for the Wheeler Centre on Books, Writing and Ideas.

In the lead-up to this tour, de Botton devoted a post to Warne on his other outlet, the blog The Philosopher's Mail. In it, he hailed Warne as a beacon of self-confidence and self-acceptance.

"Many, many might worry that they wouldn't have much of a chance getting together with the deeply posh English actress," he said of the cricketer's relationship with Elizabeth Hurley.

"But he gives the impression that it might never have occurred to him that he might not be in her league . . .

“People think celebrities are trivial, but for us, it's a way into bigger issues. Are we living the right life? Are we making the right decisions? I think that's what we're trying to do at The Philosopher's Mail, to show that you can think deeply or quite deeply around the stuff of everyday life, you don't have to go to Plato.”

Along with Warne, visual art is another source of enlightenment that de Botton feels is wasted, a thesis that is reflected in his 2013 book Art as Therapy.

“There's a terrific anxiety in the modern museum world about not telling people what to think, so on the whole they don't tell you anything. But that isn't helpful. What do you do at 3am and you've got a problem? You turn on some music, or read a book – art can be the same,” he said.

Creating entry levels to rarefied ideas is, de Botton says, at the core of what he is trying to achieve. In this aim, he doesn't reject a comparison to British celebrity chef Jamie Oliver.

“Oliver is a great teacher, he's done amazing things. I think to do for the mind, what he has done for the stomach – wow, what an ambition.”

Alain de Botton will speak at the National Gallery of Victoria, co-presented with The School of Life, on Wednesday, March 26 and for the Wheeler Centre at Dallas Brooks Hall on Thursday, March 27. He will speak at the Sydney Opera House on Saturday, March 29.