The Stoic Socrates: Four Emotional Resilience Strategies
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- čas přidán 4. 11. 2018
- Discussing one of my favourite passages in Plato's Republic where Socrates describes four cognitive (thinking) strategies that allow the wise, or philosophers, to develop emotional resilience in the face of adversity.
1. We can’t always be sure about what is good or bad in every situation.
2. Grieving too much does us no good.
3. Nothing is that important.
4. Grief prevents us from thinking clearly in a situation which requires us to be calm and solve the problem.
The first one - not truly knowing if what is happening is good or bad - reminds me of the story about a wise old man who came upon a farmer. The farmer was upset because his son had broken his leg and could not help with the farm work. This seemed like a disaster as it was time to harvest crops. The old man tried to enlighten him that it may be bad or it may be good. The next day, soldiers came to conscript young men into the army. The farmer’s son was not taken by the soldiers due to the broken leg. That same event saved his son’s life.
I think these strategies are very helpful. Our society encourages reactivity and having an opinion about EVERYTHING. I believe this leads to not valuing true knowledge and mob mentality. Also lack of joy, humour and the complexity of every situation. For me personally, I appreciate this idea of self-sufficiency. The 4 strategies are healing and when I think about them, bring up the modern concept of mindfulness and Russ Harris. I just bought your book How to Think Like a Roman Emperor and looking forward to delving deeper into the stoics. Never thought I would enjoy the stoic so much! Fati Morti! Thanks, Donald.
Great video, Donald! Thanks for sharing.
Feeling the grief is also healing. Not something to be done in the middle of something urgent but in the long run is also needed
Pedro Assunção It was my grief that led me to stoicism. I never wanted the rug ripped out from underneath me again. So grief can lead you into a better understanding of how the world truly works.
The stoics (generally) don't tell you to refrain from feeling emotions, but rather, not to let your emotions control you. I think Seneca did say something about not crying if your child dies or something, but that's not really in line with most of Stoic thought on the subject.
Excellent, thanks Donald.
Can you make a video talking about being self sufficient vs. our natural inclination to be social. Where does one end and the other begin. What would you consider to be a healthy balance?
thank you
i love this video 4 advices for mental health. does Socrates have ideas about awareness in your day to day life? . I think that is an important skill in order to use those good ideas in your daily life
Volume seems a bit on the quiet side.
No knowing if such things are good or bad, and even those things that appear bad at first may end up being not so bad in the long run.
3. Nothing is that important... whilst true, does require that we step back and take a much wider view of the world. The other 3 are to my mind unquestionable. But #3 does require a fine balance and a mind that accepts that we as individuals are ultimately not that important.
Don, you could use www.loudnesspenalty.com/ for checking loudness levels at post production.
Audio seems fine on all of my devices. Even at 50% on my laptop, I can still hear it very clearly. Do you have your volume turned up?
Not bad but i have to turn a bit up. Actually the Stat says its - 16 dB which is very quiet.
@@DonaldJRobertsonAuthor Mine is cranked up to 100%... normally I have it at 70%... but it could be me. Just good to let you know so that you can check.
I believe that a person with tattoos and a disproportionate face is only capable of speculating on other people’s thoughts or repeating them like a parrot, but is not capable of teaching the TRUTH. He just shows off and “wants to appear.”
Sometimes I feel that Stoicism contributes to apathy. It seems to assume that being at peace is the end goal and I am not so sure that is true.
Apathy or Apatheia in Greek. literally means a lack of disease or a lack of suffering. In that context, apathy is no so bad. Apathy = balance.
Virtue!