Massimo Pigliucci, an evolutionary biologist and philosopher of science, introduces five Stoic lessons designed to help individuals improve their lives. He emphasizes that Stoicism's goal is to foster better human beings and live a life worth living, not through abstract concepts but through practical application of its principles. The video covers managing emotions, the benefits of philosophical journaling, the importance of distinguishing between what is within our control and what is not, the process of making sound decisions, and the Stoic concept of living in accordance with nature by focusing on reason and social cooperation.
Massimo Pigliucci describes philosophical journaling as a reflective practice, distinct from a diary, that helps in self-improvement. He cites Marcus Aurelius's "Meditations" as a prime example, noting that it was a personal journal, not intended for publication. Pigliucci explains that "Meditations" lacks a specific structure or subheadings, reflecting Marcus Aurelius's process of reflecting on his daily life and reactions. He points out that the journal can seem repetitive and preachy because Marcus grappled with recurring problems, like anger management, and was essentially preaching to himself to encourage better behavior. Pigliucci also suggests that writing in the second person, as Marcus did, can create helpful distance from emotional responses and facilitate analytical learning. The practice involves describing an incident objectively, analyzing it, and asking three key questions: "What did I do wrong?", "What did I do right?", and "What could I do differently?". This process is not about dwelling on regret but about learning from past experiences to prepare for similar future situations.
Epictetus suggests creating two lists to distinguish between what is up to us and what is not. These lists can be made mentally or, preferably, written down.
The first list, labeled "up to me," would include things like:
The second list, labeled "not up to me," would include things like:
