Check out my recent conversation about Socrates on the We can be Weirdos podcast hosted by Dan Schreiber.
Category: Philosophy
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Stoicism and the Tin-Can Monster
Modern behaviour therapists often teach clients to dismantle their troubling experiences into smaller chunks and practice acceptance, or emotional coping, with one aspect at a time rather than being overwhelmed by the whole thing. It’s a bit like the folk-wisdom advice to tackle problems “one step at a time”. In this article, I’m going to describe the…
Check out my recent conversation with Niall for the Weekend University podcast.
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Miscellaneous Sayings 2
More sayings from the same passage in Epictetus’ Handbook. I’ll comment on each in turn.
If someone brings you word that So-and-so is speaking ill of you, do not defend yourself against what has been said, but answer, “Yes, indeed, for he did not know the rest of the faults that attach to me; if he had, these would not have been the only ones he mentioned.”
Commentary 1
This seems like an example of humour, although making a serious point. We shouldn’t be concerned about people criticizing us. We should remind ourselves that we have many other flaws. Marcus Aurelius lists a similar strategy for coping with anger: reminding himself that he is imperfect himself and has many flaws and perhaps given the opportunity would make the same mistakes as the person he’s angry with. It’s also an example of the Stoics practicing Socratic irony, or intellectual humility, by emphasizing their own fallibility and imperfection.
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Some Notes on Anger and Intolerance
In this article, I’m going to explain why I think the concept of “intolerance” is so useful in understanding and overcoming anger.
One of the fundamental dilemmas of human life, with which the Stoics among others wrestled, is what I call “squaring the circle of concern.” How do we care enough about the world to live ethically, and avoid indifference, …
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Coping with your Emotions
In this article, I’m going to describe in plain language how I advise people to cope with anxiety, anger, sadness, and other troubling emotions.
Most of the coaching that I currently do draws on the Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy (REBT) of Albert Ellis, as well as elements of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT…
Check out my latest appearance on the Modern Wisdom podcast with Chris Williamson.
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The Thirty Tyrants
This (modified) excerpt from How to Think Like Socrates, relates some of the events that occurred following the surrender of Athens at the conclusion of the Peloponnesian War.
Theramenes, after meeting with the Spartans, returned with the news that Athens would be spared if the Long Walls and fortifications of Piraeus were leveled and all but twelve of t…
My latest book, How to Think Like Socrates, has now been rated by over a hundred listeners on Audible, where it has 4.8 stars, and has been getting great reviews. You can listen to a sample from one of the chapters there.
I wrote this book primarily to be listened to, in audiobook format. I narrated it myself at d’Aragon Studio in Montreal, where a tea…
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How I got off to a bad start in life
I was going through some old documents recently and uncovered a couple of interesting letters from my teens. I thought I’d write down my memories, before I forget, and so one day my kids will be able to read about my life — if they’re interested! Anyway, this is (part of) my story.
When I reached the age of twelve, my parents had to choose between two …