3.5 Ideas from Donald Robertson — How to Think Like Socrates

Donald Robertson — How to Think Like Socrates

“I think what’s really scary is if you’re facing death and you don’t feel that you’ve done anything with your life.” — Donald Robertson

Donald Robertson is a cognitive-behavioral psychotherapist, bestselling author, and one of the world’s leading experts on ancient Stoic philosophy.

Donald’s previous works include “How to Think Like a Roman Emperor” and “Marcus Aurelius: The Stoic Emperor.”

Donald and I discusses his latest book, “How to Think Like Socrates” and insights on how we can apply Socrates’ ancient wisdom to modern life.

3.5 Ideas from Donald Robertson:

1) Who was Socrates & Why Does He Matter Today?

• “Socrates was the quintessential Athenian philosopher… He really defines the Western philosophical tradition. Socrates lived in classical Athens and was executed in 399 BC when he was around 70 years old.”
• “Socrates had a number of influential students, one being Plato, who went on to become probably the most influential philosophical author in the history of Western philosophical tradition… Socrates stood up for philosophy and what it represented and was executed. The trial of Socrates was a seismic event in the ancient world.”

2) What is The Socratic Method?

• “The Socratic method emerges from the dialogue form. It’s a method of asking questions about what Socrates considered to be the most important things in life. Socrates questioned the nature of wisdom, questioned justice, courage, and other virtues.”
• “Usually the typical form the method takes is he’ll ask his interlocutor to define what wisdom is, or what justice is, or what courage is. Then Socrates will think of exceptions to that definition, spot contradictions in it, and by questioning the other person, he’ll get them to reflect on and revise their definition.”

3) How Would You Define Wisdom?

• “Some people might think of wisdom as the accumulation of knowledge, like just knowing a load of stuff… Socrates thought of wisdom more like a skill.”
• “Wisdom is a process of being able to ask the right questions and spot contradictions and errors in our reasoning. If we simply thought it was a doctrine or an idea, that would make us quite passive. Socrates very much saw wisdom as an active, dynamic process.”

3.5) How Can Socrates’ Two-Column Exercise Make Us Better Thinkers?

• “Draw two columns… put the word injustice and justice at the top of these columns. Ask for examples of injustice — stealing, lying… Then ask, ‘Can you think of any situations where stealing might be considered just? Like if an elected general in war captures weapons from the enemy?”
• “Using this simple two-column technique, Socrates is teaching cognitive flexibility. He’s saying, ‘Come up with a definition and then brainstorm exceptions to that.” This helps us develop more nuanced thinking rather than depending too rigidly on rules.”

Connect with Donald Robertson:

• Website: donaldrobertson.name
• Book: “How to Think Like Socrates”
• Book: “How to Think Like a Roman Emperor”
• Book: “Marcus Aurelius — The Stoic Emperor”

“Life is Built, Not Born.”

Joe Ciccarone

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