#91 - Donald Robertson - How To Think Like Socrates

Donald is a Scottish-born cognitive-behavioral psychotherapist and author, known for his work in integrating modern cognitive-behavioral therapy with Ancient Greek and Roman philosophy, particularly Stoicism. He is the CEO and founder of the Plato’s Academy Center in Athens and the author of several best-selling books such as “How to Think Like a Roman Emperor” and “Stoicism and the Art of Happiness”.

His latest book “How To Think Like Socrates” is the best book I’ve ever read on Socrates! It’s a delightful blend of biography, novel, philosophy and psychology and as Donald said, it’s the book he wishes he had about Socrates growing up and I’m very glad that he has written it. Highly recommend picking up a copy if you are interested in philosophy, history, psychology or just fancy a good read:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/How-Think-Like-Socrates-Philosophy/dp/1250280508

In this conversation, we discuss the relevance of Socratic philosophy in today's world, particularly in the context of modern democracy and social media. Donald emphasises the importance of the Socratic method as a form of dialogue that serves as a therapeutic tool for self-knowledge and understanding biases. The dialogue emphasizes the importance of cognitive flexibility, the dangers of rigid thinking, and the need for a nuanced approach to self-help advice, ultimately advocating for a Socratic approach to learning and understanding.

Watch the full conversation 👇

https://youtu.be/DztbWigcO-U

Chapters:

00:00 Socratic Inspirations: A Journey Through Philosophy

10:20 The Socratic Method: Dialogue as Therapy

20:44 Socrates and the Athenian Democracy: A Timeless Relevance

30:14 Social Media and the Modern Sophists: A New Age of Rhetoric

41:50 The Impact of Social Media on Perception

43:25 The Importance of Critical Thinking

45:50 Socratic Method and Its Relevance Today

48:09 Socrates: A Model of Courage and Wisdom

50:57 Reinterpreting Socratic Dialogues for Modern Readers

54:31 The Role of Self-Help Literature in Personal Development

57:50 Cognitive Flexibility and Its Importance

01:01:10 The Dangers of Rigid Thinking

01:03:45 Navigating Self-Help Advice Wisely

01:08:01 The Socratic Approach to Learning and Understanding

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