Stoicism: How To Think Like A Roman Emperor - Donald Robertson | Modern Wisdom Podcast 274

[@ChrisWillx]

Press Subscribe for more videos with great Scottish accents.

[@T_D_B_]

Brother, love your work, but please try to keep an unbiased take on political events. Your take on the riots across America is showing the impact of media bias manipulating you.

[@ChrisWillx]

It’s a 90 minute podcast on stoicism and you’ve brought up the 60 seconds of politics.

[@helensmusings]

@@ChrisWillx or you could look at it as he loved every aspect except that 60 seconds 😊. It was a great podcast overall and I very much agree with the stoicism outlook on life

[@ChrisWillx]

@@helensmusings thank you Helen 👊

[@akalyx]

al gore rhythm

[@martynjukes482]

Stoicism and Buddhism literally saved my life. That and a healthy dose of ayahuasca in the Peruvian mountains lol. Making peace with death will liberate anyone who does so. I’m still working on my anger and recognise it for the poison it is. Now I have to stop administering it when I feel stressed out.

[@just_a_guy4788]

Can you tell me about it? How it saved your life, and how it feels, ayahuasca? I am merely curious because these are all subjects that are quite interesting to me.

[@467076]

@@just_a_guy4788 I don't think you need ayahuasca to make peace with death or for it to give you wisdom. Personally I think people do these things because it's the "easier way," meaning they don't want to put in the work. Not trying to talk bad about the commentor but I'm pretty sure Marcus Aurelius wasn't taking dabs of ayuhuasca lol

[@Οδυσσεύς_Κ]

As a Greek i am ashamed about the ignorance of the modern Greeks and them trying to be more "modern westerners" instead of looking at our roots and taking examples from the past, at the same time i am happy that people so far and wide understand the significance of those teachings and the realization that they are timless.

[@ChrisWillx]

Such a lost opportunity - I agree

[@ErnestRamaj]

I think of this sometimes, it's true.

[@frankquinn6872]

This podcast is thought-provoking, insightful and measured. I can’t see it catching on...😂

[@angelswings1219]

Sadly true

[@peterhaydock7836]

One of the best things I’ve watched/listened to in a while. Have loved Donald’s work. Roll on the second podcast...

[@ChrisWillx]

Thank you Peter. Subscribe for more 👊

[@jo9732]

Really enjoy this relaxed interview style. Letting the interviewee answer in full sentences. This is quite enjoyable. Thank you.

[@graememorrison1380]

YES!!!! Donald's book was the game changer for me

[@ChrisWillx]

Loved this episode

[@22thevoice22]

Listening to this felt like a milestone in personal development.

[@itsSocratesGoneMad]

I second what some are saying. I got massive amounts from this. Pushed me to look more into Donald's work. Also beautifully interviewed by Chris.

[@Shmandalf]

37:10 This is more or less CBT, and is what led to my own recovery of mental illness. It's extremely powerful once you are good at it, but it does take practice!

[@advocate1563]

Multiple studies show that a stable/happy psyche require in this order 1. Faith in something bigger than self 2. Connection to nature 3. Strong social bond. Yes, no wonder people are so scared. We have blown all 3 out of the water in the last 50 years which, in evolutionary terms, is a nano second. We are lost and I am only hoping that the current destructive chaos is us going through neutral until we recreate these relationships in a 21C fashion. See if you can get Ian MacGilchrist on. He is very strong on how a society which has allowed the rational left hemisphere to dominate needs to re-embrace the more conceprual right hemisphere.

[@EricLopushansky]

The reason people are more flexible about their values if they really know and understand them is that they know how imperfectly they live up to their own values.

[@jakebullet1731]

"An uninstructed person will lay the fault of his own bad condition upon others. Someone just starting instruction will lay the fault on himself. Someone who is perfectly instructed will place blame neither on others nor on himself." Epictetus in The Handbook (Enchiridion)

[@td1415]

Thank you for this interview, it was fantastic. I'm a big fan of Donald Robertson (his book on stoicism and CBT is great). I'm a psychotherapist and I've recently got into stoicism, so this was so very informative. Love your content and everything you're putting out😊.

[@advocate1563]

Love Mr A. Started exploring his reflections when I realised that he was the originator of many of my favourite quotes.

[@Gcarse]

Brilliant interview. Donald is a fascinating guest. Also reading his book right now, which again is brilliant.

[@jimluebke3869]

"Life is what you deem it" vs. "Try not to suffer any more stupidly than you have to" (The second seems more consistent with the world we live in)

[@jamespetitte2204]

Christianity is full of the stoic recommendations; for example, spiritual exercises where you visualize your death (particularly in a silent retreat), be a contradiction to the world, love your enemies, etc.

[@herrpez]

I mean... Christianity is a kind of "Greatest Hits" of ideas, in many ways. And it's not like that's a particularly groundbreaking revelation; this is something people have been pointing out for ages.

[@mattanderson6672]

I really loved this, Get Don back soon! Fantastic podcast, thank you both!!

[@danepaulstewart8464]

Talks with Donald Robertson are always very interesting. 👍👍

[@ChrisWillx]

He’s great

[@ErnestRamaj]

I really liked this interview, Donald really knows a lot.

[@TransRoofKorean]

47:25 "You ever seen a tor-toys that looked ruffled?" *Mitch McConnell has left the chat.*

[@ChrisWillx]

Tor-toys killed me

[@colinmacdonald2871]

This guy is a legend! Get him back on. Laughed at the fact a socratic tour would create such excitement because I'd be the same and most I know think this is odd. I'm not the only one! Lol

[@PerennialDew]

The bit about him ruining your birthday was kinda hilarious. Sounds like it was an amazing day regardless x

[@ChrisWillx]

Was so so sick

[@akalyx]

i've been researching stoicism this year, thanks for this

[@ChrisWillx]

You’re welcome

[@MrRocksW]

I really enjoyed this discussion- I bought his book as a result

[@venturecrew06]

I always try to do something once a week that is ridiculous and makes people laugh at me, whether it be a funny hat or speaking gibberish. people laugh at me (I work in a school) But I do this for myself. It's very liberating. I'm a Scottish Stoic. Epictetus is my personal guru.

[@tiraud105]

I'll be waiting for those books. Great discussion here

[@Jopacob]

Very interesting especially when applied to life and digital life today.

[@cortedemico]

"Question your values. Explore them deeply..." quoted from video @27:50. realize this is axiom. i question axioms now. wonder if it is a quote or a distillation.

[@penghunter4565]

This should have atleast 10x the views

[@brandonknapp8046]

1:25:00 ~ Perhaps a modern rendition: "Do not say FML."

[@andrewteece3496]

I loved every minute of that. Awesome.

[@jasoncousins3079]

Turns out i'm a Stoic. Experience, endure, reflect, then comes the friend of wisdom.

[@whiskeydeltanovember3660]

Enjoyable conversation and informative.

[@cortedemico]

1:22:28 life is 'opinion' or 'what you deem it'... the former is when you think it is so, and the latter when you make/say it so?

[@Lifeislikebitcoin]

My favourite podcast

[@ChrisWillx]

Thank you, hit Subscribe for more 👊

[@benjaminp2776]

Fantastic and illuminating conversation. My only real pushback is on some of the Freud critique. Much of his studies and observations have become common sense (when they weren't before) and now all that's really left to talk about are his more radical or objectionable positions.

[@TabletAIHub]

Awesome interview! 😄 Thanks!!

[@noraanderson3503]

When Mr Robertson said he lives in Athens and then mentioned a historical site not far from the Attalos stoa, a hole covered in rubbish, (didn't catch its name), my mind immediately went to Platos academy which is to be turned into a mall!! I was planning to mention this in the comments as I wondered if he was aware of this disgraceful plan. I was so pleasantly surprised that not only did he know but is in fact planning to create a philisophy academy where Platos academy used to be. This is AMAZING news!! As an Athenian I've despaired over our governments' blatant disregard for our historic monuments. Athens used to be a paradise up to the 1930's, however, the construction frenzie from the 1970s onwards has turned it into a cement monstrosity. The only area that can still transport you to ancient Athens is Plaka which thankfully has remained intact. Many thanks for this podcast to both of you and Mr Robertson should you need any volunteers, count me in! :)

[@leedsunited4872]

Your lovely

[@Tlicious04]

Your content has been so interesting and informative! Thank you :) Also your voice is lovely 😍 I would absolutely prefer if all my audiobooks were read by you haha ❤️

[@ChrisWillx]

Why thank you 💜

[@Tlicious04]

@@ChrisWillx you're quite welcome 🤍

[@isander1]

Great episode 👍 Book ordered...

[@timmerchant837]

Hey Chris! Absolutely loved this one - but I’d have easily skipped it based on the title as I find Ancient Greek/Roman philosophy quite challenging sometimes - also was there a “definition” of stoicism in there at the start? You go on to discuss some huge mic drop moments around self help techniques and blew open the usefulness of them if they’re not applied - I wasn’t expecting those topics from the title if I’m making any sense! I’ve shared this one with a number of WhatsApp groups and with a psychotherapy service I work with locally - hopefully get the 98.6 subs incremented futher... SO CLOSE!!

[@maddog9358]

Brilliant podcast! Thanks

[@ChrisWillx]

Thank you

[@nicholashughes8214]

i really enjoyed this episode thanks

[@jamesmilligan9496]

Good job Chris.

[@jpturvey8898]

Ruby Wax's books are mostly focused on addressing anger impulses and combat it with Mindfulness, which isn't much of a leap from stoicism

[@cortedemico]

15:11 ... lol funny exchange. that eyebrow/eye twitch.

[@cortedemico]

9:19 oh, you mean 'do unto others as you would have them do unto you' sorta thing?

[@JCSAXON]

He dropped the eternal question: “Have you ever seen a tortoise ruffled?” 🍌🛒🦍💤

[@avertingapathy3052]

I think Stoicism is a good way to cope with reality. For the real difficult issues psychoanalysis may be a better model.

[@geoded]

Great one!

[@ChrisWillx]

Thank you!

[@pedrogorilla483]

You don’t wanna think like a Roman emperor. Marcus Aurelius was an exception.

[@ChrisWillx]

Think like Hadrian doesn’t sound so good eyh

[@TransRoofKorean]

You can say Marcus Aurelius thought the best of 'em, but is it a coincidence he was the last of the good ones, and that the Empire really crumbled in large part due to his failures? The Philosopher-King might be the most ideal of all possible leaders, but sometimes you might be a bit too much "Philosopher" and not enough "King". Maybe.

[@martynjukes482]

Marcus Aurelius was the first and last good Roman Emperor.

[@TransRoofKorean]

@@martynjukes482 I say Julius was the first of the Great Emperors, that he clearly began the truly noble aristocracy that was the Roman Empire. Marcus Aurelius was the failed last. ... no?

[@johnnynemo7893]

I mean, he's no Caligula, but he's aiight

[@simigonzalez5704]

I have no inner conflict with listening both side of covid conversation. However, after listening to their personal opinion I get the sense about them feeling a relief of some source. My conclusion is that the pandemic Trigger something in people where they feel powerless, where they have no control over anything and when that happens they feel fear or threat which is expressed in anger, anxiety, frustration, defensiveness, etc...and one of the thing is that people don't know who they are, or they identify themselves with their habits or life style or job. This conversation is really interesting. However, I would like to highlight that Freud has a point regarding the relationship between unconsciousness and having strong reaction to the present situation. Great listening !! if people take the time to read and to learn how to speak to one another, this world would be better...the speaker is so funny regarding the "cocacola stuff🤣" and "you wouldn't be able to enjoy the pleasure of my company " it's hilarious 🤣

[@MrSkalgar]

This guy is so funny. When he said that it's mainly millenials on tech that are into stoicism, I was like, they're onto me.

[@saintlybeginnings]

22:40 Christianity has some amazing philosophers. Catholics and Orthodox. It really occurred more around w/ Modernism started pushing in, which became far more concerned w/ material / physical world and rejecting the spiritual

[@United_Wings]

Amazing

[@jimluebke3869]

Is the act of broadening your scope of attention, a conscious way of invoking your exploratory state, as opposed to a fight-or-flight state?

[@jimluebke3869]

Were Marcus Aurelius' references to withdrawing into a "garden of the mind" (if I'm remembering his phrase properly) a direct response to the Epicurean way of life?

[@KevKam]

57:40 "I drank, took drugs, masturbated, slept"..... Ermmm, have you bugged my house? 😆

[@leestringer]

Love 98% of this, except the idea of throwing it all down and following your dreams. To quote Tim Dillon on Twitter, "Advice that will impoverish you: a) Follow your dreams (b) Marry for love (c) live somewhere cool." lol It's no coincidence that the people who keep telling us to follow our dreams also happened to have the luck, and most importantly, the TALENT to live them out. Most of us don't. I also think Marcus Aurelius would have laughed at that sentiment. I do, however, think it's possible to resign yourself to a mediocre job if you can still find the time to do something that gives your life meaning in your spare time. I also believe society would fall into chaos if everyone was "following their dreams." Ambitious people can create beautiful things, but they are also just as likely to wreak havoc.

[@4_am]

What he saying is great to a point. What if you can't find "meaningful" ? Again it seem somthing for the rich or the extremely young, yeah just change and do somthing meaningful.

[@ChrisWillx]

You put the work in until you find it

[@michaelblazin4093]

If you understand your values, you can find meaningful things to do. Things to do does not have to be your job. Expecting your job to provide meaning can lead to disappointment. The best that you can expect is that your job does not challenge your values. Fulfillment opportunities are everywhere outside of work.

[@4_am]

@@michaelblazin4093 @Modern Wisdom I thank both of you for your replies, I guess this is just a mentally I don't have.

[@martynjukes482]

If you’re looking for meaning in life read Viktor Frankl. I guarantee you will find your ‘why’ if you are searching for it.

[@4_am]

@@martynjukes482 thank you, I'll give it a look. I don't know if I am or not, think my mentally is just too different.

[@Andy-B1984]

Am a natural. During pandemic. I walked in opposite direction with no jab, no mask while everyone had theirs and wore a mask and all walked in the same direction. Id come out pure gym and walk through silverburn in glasgow in this manner. What did Mark Twian say about finding yourself on the side of the majority, pause and reflect. Men, it has been well said, think in herds; it will be seen that they go mad in herds, while they only recover their senses slowly, one by one. Charles Mackay.

[@connoroshaughnessy4327]

That comedy style reminds me of a Japanese style known as the funny man and the straight man.

[@ATMDPNKBJ]

I’ve never heard someone up talk as much as your guest.

[@fredericwild734]

SO you're looking back right? ... and you see a past of philosophic rumination, as opposed to watching TV right? .... and then (seconds later) you face permanent oblivion ... right?

[@glennmitchell9107]

Some of them weren't "storming" the Capitol. They were taking a determined walking tour of a tourist attraction and picking up a souvenir here and there, as tourists are wont to do.

[@Exodus26.13Pi]

It's not fair to have those accents because you already sound smarter.

[@ChrisWillx]

IT’S ALL A LIE

[@TransRoofKorean]

You say that, but I always think of that movie Snatch kzbin.info/www/bejne/i3jYeK1-aLOYa9k

[@Blackwindzero]

You must be American...

[@dbcoco]

yes, you must be American indeed, because the way Donald Robertson talks sounds slightly dumb unless you listen to the smart content of his speech. And i am not saying that because of his local accent, but rather because of the way he ends almost every phrase with an upward intonation... smart guy though

[@TransRoofKorean]

@@dbcoco I have a feeling no one here watched that earliest of web shows, Pure Pwnage, but he kept reminding me of Jeremy from it, the main character, the way he speaks... and it's funny when a Scot's way of talking reminds you of a Canadian

[@david2618]

Professional cbt worker.

[@ChrisWillx]

I don't understand

[@jimluebke3869]

Socrates himself points out that a significant number of jurors voted to acquit -- 220 out of 500. The sentencing was a little different, with 360 voting for death, 140 to levy a fine.

[@kknoodsen8394]

He gets the connection of stoicism to CBT, but seems unaware that stoicism influenced Christianity. see: Serenity Prayer.

[@ChrisWillx]

I think he's probably aware of that

[@helensmusings]

I grew up with my dad having the serenity prayer on his desk in the front room, we never spoke about it that I remember, but it heavily influenced my life and outlook. That pragmatism has got me through a lot of shite in life and helped me thrive where I may otherwise have buckled. Regardless of the religious connection to it, I believe the basis is something that's hugely important

[@DonaldRobertson]

I've written a lot about the Serenity Prayer and other connections between Stoicism and Christianity in my books and articles, etc. ;)

[@helensmusings]

@@DonaldRobertson thank you, I'll have a look into those

[@rpjswish]

Interestingly, the Serenity Prayer is recited at the start of most 12 Step programs.. and is a highly recommended mantra and "pause" mechanism.

[@danielogrady6449]

A lot of people are feeling better off after the lockdown?

[@ChrisWillx]

May have re centred their priorities onto things which truly matter

[@danielogrady6449]

@@ChrisWillx I pulled the trigger a little too quickly on my response or question. He smoothed it over as he explained why and I understood better what he was getting at. Thanks for the reply.

[@ChrisWillx]

Glad you enjoyed mate

[@sciencefliestothemoon2305]

When it comes to Romans, and Emperors I always would love to have a look of their hair or blood sample to measure the lead levels. Some of that behaviours just smell of low key lead poisoning.

[@jimluebke3869]

What do you think of the Biblical book of Ecclesiastes?

[@jimluebke3869]

Has anyone ever written an American character named "Marcus Aurelius Jefferson" or something similar, who is an angry, bitter, vengeful soul by nature, and just goes around muttering to himself selections from The Meditations, in an effort to remind himself of everything he ought to be but he's not? Sometimes I wonder whether Marcus Aurelius was really so virtuous as we see him today.

[@patrickloftus_]

Did anyone else this was John Higgins?

[@jimluebke3869]

Yeah, there are some really good points, but when in the movie your son is played by Joaquin Phoenix, you have to ask whether you missed the mark as a father.

[@jimluebke3869]

The thing is, God isn't dead. Christianity still exists, many of us are still believers in spite of everything the world has thrown at us. Perhaps a cross isn't the virtue signal it used to be, but perhaps the fact that the trendy and the hypocritical have fallen away doesn't really touch the core of it all.

[@jimluebke3869]

Marcus Aurelius himself deprecates the followers of "Chrestus" as being too "theatrical". I doubt he would approve of La Pieta, the Sistine Chapel ceiling, or any Catholic liturgical procession.

[@geehothi4318]

I 💙 this episode! Donald Trump is a massive sophist. I’m kind of liking the epicurean way of life.

[@ethan1268]

If you’re looking for wisdom there are not much better texts than the wisdom texts of the bible. Psalms, Proverbs, Job, Ecclesiastes, Sirach, The book of Wisdom, these are all available on KZbin to listen too. I started with Aurelius, Plato, Aristotle, Seneca, Epictetus, Zeno, Hellenic philosophy and the next logical step is to read from the mouth of the logos. Christ is wisdom personified because He is the word incarnate.

[@zoraksama8914]

He didn't like it when he said we should have predicted it. But then again why bring up that particular topic right? And then not like that particular answer? Getting some political energy from the host and that is the moment you realize your guest is an expert on a topic that's a silver bullet for irrational ideas and beliefs.

[@NiinaSKlove]

👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼

[@florkyman5422]

I'm not a Christian. I don't really believe in god I don't care too much if he exists. Im still basicly a christian. The beliefs that are normalized by it in the US in christianity are still generally good.

[@Neon-Covenanter]

*The joke was about bloody World War Two!*

[@cortedemico]

what if i got it all (understood the net cast), and still didn't care? more of a doom and gloom sorta guy who did that which is necessary to facilitate his ideals?

[@cortedemico]

18:30 i wonder if trump will have some similar misgivings from his haters. ^not a trump fan, or a party fan, or a politics fan. just watching the show.

[@AdliberateVideoProduction]

Get Lao Tzu on

[@StationGarageSt]

Sniff, Scurry Hem and Haw. Cheese station n. A stoic destination.

[@robgoodsight6216]

✌

[@drivebye2709]

9 months of burning and looting and you can't stop talking about "the capitol". How's that self examination going?

[@ChrisWillx]

Blame it on my Availability Bias

[@drivebye2709]

@@ChrisWillx It's disgustingly universal.

[@T_D_B_]

@@ChrisWillx really should work on that mate... media is misleading you and you seem to realize it... yet you seem stuck by it still...

[@T_D_B_]

THANK YOU. I am so glad I am not the only one that was bothered by this. 25 people died during months of violent riots. Many fed bldgs burned, with people in them. Yet we keep hearing about 2 hrs of stupidity in the Cathedral. What a joke. The propaganda is working.

[@stephenjohnhughes1001]

THE ROMANS BLEW IT TOO

[@goldcard60]

The question is...was Freud a fraud ?

[@Andy-B1984]

Dont follow the mob

[@T_D_B_]

He didn't see the "insurrectionists" stay in the ropes? Oh really informed.

[@ChrisWillx]

This is everything that’s wrong with the internet. An entire podcast on a life changing philosophy and a single sentence is all that’s commented on. SMH,

[@DonaldRobertson]

It's demonstrably false that all the people who breached the Capitol stayed within the ropes. We all know there was violence. So, sorry, but your comment is just propaganda not fact-based.

[@DrumandBassLinks]

killing time watching this vid....avoidance? 😉

[@nicholaschristodoulou3821]

Great interview!