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- 1. How to Thrive in the Times of Artificial Intelligence Klaus Gottlieb, MD, JD AΩA Visiting Professor Indiana University Medical School February 2024 www.WealthCareLawyer.com
- 4. 29 January 2024 A New Interface The goal is to allow quadriplegics with the help of the interface to move a mouse cursor with their thoughts.
- 6. Isak Karabegović, 2017 Technology has only recently outpaced the ability of individuals and policy to keep pace.
- 7. How do my beliefs shape my world? What values guide me? Am I true to myself? What are my responsibilities to others? How do I serve the common good? What is a good life for me? How important are love and compassion in my life?
- 9. Bloom’s Hierarchy Connected with Thinking Tools Personal Philosophy (Values, Ethics, Eudaimonia) Model Thinking Systems and Complexity Theory Inferential Statistics Scientific Method Deliberate Practice Memorization Techniques (Method of Loci, spaced repetition) Critical Thinking Socratic Method
- 10. Knowledge Learning and Memorization Techniques – Method of Loci
- 11. • Chapter 1: Learning is Misunderstood - Re-reading creates a false sense of knowledge, rather than actual understanding. • Chapter 2: To Learn, Retrieve - Retrieval practice boosts student grades significantly, with lasting effects over a school year. • Chapter 3: Mix Up Your Practice - Spacing and interleaving teaching strategies can significantly enhance learning. • Chapter 4: Embrace Difficulties - Making errors during learning is beneficial, challenging the myth of errorless learning. • Chapter 5: Avoid Illusions of Knowing - Students often overestimate their knowledge and learning when using ineffective study strategies like re-reading. • Chapter 6: Get Beyond Learning Styles - No evidence supports learning styles; evidence-backed methods like retrieval practice are more effective. • Chapter 7: Increase Your Abilities - Adopting a growth mindset can lead to improved learning and perseverance. • Chapter 8: Make it Stick - The chapter provides practical tips for enhancing learning, with insights from the authors of the book "Make it Stick".
- 12. Learning and Forgetting – The Forgetting Curve
- 13. Spaced Repetition – Leitner Method
- 14. Evidence for Effectiveness of Spaced Repetition • Spaced repetition, combined with mobile technology, can significantly improve law students' learning outcomes, with a 19.2% higher bar exam pass rate when compared to non-users (Teninbaum 2017) • A survey revealed that most college students understand that spaced study is more effective than cramming, yet they often resort to massed study before exams. • This tendency is inversely related to GPA, with higher-GPA students more likely to space their studies. The challenges in adopting spaced study include the need for planning and discipline, and the deceptive feeling of learning proficiency from cramming (Kang 2016)
- 15. Method of Loci - Simonides of Ceos in 477 BC • The method consists of visualizing several previously selected and specific locations (loci) inspired by one's environment, within which to- be-memorized items are “placed” mentally. • During recall, one has to traverse the “memory palace” (a unique set of loci previously conceived for memorization) and recover the objects placed in each place • Joshua Foer: Moonwalking with Einstein: The Art and Science of Remembering Everything https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.612681/full#F1
- 17. Comprehension Tool – The Socratic Method https://platosacademy.org/ward-farnsworth-on-the-socratic-method/
- 18. 12 Socratic Rules of Engagement (Farnsworth) 1. The Open Table: Every view is open to inquiry and questioning. 2. The Purpose of Inquiry: Inquiry aims to reach or approach the truth, not to serve ulterior motives. 3. Challenges Wanted: Questioning and refutation of any position is encouraged and seen positively. 4. Arguments Met with Arguments: Responses to arguments should be reasoned, not dismissive. 5. The Priority of Reason: Arguments are judged on their merits, irrespective of who makes them.
- 19. 12 Socratic Rules of Engagement, contd. 6. Elenctic Reasoning: Inquiry starts from common ground, seeking to expose inconsistencies. Elenctic - refutative 7. Self-Skepticism: One must doubt their own biases and remain open to contradiction. 8. Group Skepticism: Popular opinion and consensus, especially in a homogenous group, are questioned. 9. Manners: Inquiry should be rigorous but courteous, avoiding sarcasm and name-calling.
- 20. 12 Socratic Rules of Engagement, contd. 10.Candor: Participants should speak their minds without fear of retribution. 11.Offense: Efforts are made to neither give nor take offense in the process of inquiry. 12.Humility: Conclusions are seen as provisional, maintaining an attitude of humility and doubt. Excerpted from Epilogue, The Socratic Method https://perma.cc/X6AZ-MVNQ
- 21. 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗼𝘁 𝗖𝗮𝗸𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗧𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗻𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘆 • ChatGPT prompt: Is the following a valid statement? • 𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝘁𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗻𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘆 𝗶𝘀 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗺𝗮𝗱𝗲. 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝘂𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗺𝗮𝗱𝗲. 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲, 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝘂𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗻𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘆 • ChatGPT answer: Yes, it’s a valid statement, blah, blah … • Refutation by reductio ad absurdum: • 𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝘁𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗻𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘆 𝗶𝘀 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗺𝗮𝗱𝗲. 𝗖arrot Cakes 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗺𝗮𝗱𝗲. 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲, 𝗰arrot cakes 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗻𝗼𝗹𝗼 𝗴𝘆
- 22. Formal Logic “Highly readable . . . D. Q. McInerny offers an introduction to symbolic logic in plain English, so you can finally be clear on what is deductive reasoning and what is inductive. And you’ll see how deductive arguments are constructed.”—Detroit Free Press
- 25. Other Books Related to Application 1."The Talent Code" by Daniel Coyle, which explores how talent is developed and the neurological processes behind skill acquisition. 2."Talent is Overrated" by Geoff Colvin, delving into what really separates world-class performers from everybody else. 3."Mindset: The New Psychology of Success" by Carol S. Dweck, which examines the importance of our mindset in achieving success. a) Fixed Mindset: The belief that abilities are static and cannot change. Individuals with a fixed mindset may avoid challenges, give up easily, see effort as fruitless, and feel threatened by the success of others. b) Growth Mindset: The belief that abilities can be developed through dedication and hard work. This view creates a love of learning and resilience essential for great accomplishment. Individuals with a growth mindset embrace challenges, persist in the face of setbacks, see effort as the path to mastery, and learn from criticism.
- 26. Analysis Inferential Statistics, Scientific Method
- 27. “The Art of Statistics“… is part of a trend in statistics education towards emphasizing conceptual understanding rather than computational fluency. Statistics software can now perform a battery of tests and crunch any measure from large data sets in the blink of an eye. Thus, being able to compute the standard deviation of a sample the long way is seen as less essential than understanding how to design and interpret scientific studies with a rigorous eye.” Evelyn Lamb https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-019-00898-0 "In the kitchen sink world of Data Science and Big Data, we need the rigor and reliability of statistics to navigate through the noise and find meaningful patterns.” attributed to ChatGPT4 ca. 2024
- 28. “People often assume that the more data you have, the more information you have, but data and information are not proportional,” said Stigler. “If you double your data, you don’t double your information. In fact, sometimes you’re better off throwing data away.” “By aggregating, you lose the identity of the individual, so you’re throwing away information, but you’re also gaining information of a different sort,” said Stigler. “No one wants to be reduced to a statistic, but by losing the identity of the individual, you are producing information about the group.” https://news.uchicago.edu/story/new-book-outlines- intellectual-terrain-statistics
- 29. The Seven Pillars of Statistical Wisdom • Aggregation: Gaining information by losing details, such as the individual characteristics in data through averaging. • Information Measurement: Noting that the value of data is not directly proportional to the number of observations but often to the square root of that number. • Likelihood: Emphasizes the importance of probability in making sense of data, assessing the strength of evidence, and making informed decisions based on statistical analysis. • Intercomparison: Making statistical comparisons without the need for an external standard. • Regression: Observing paradoxical trends (e.g., tall parents having shorter children) and its application in Bayesian inference and causal reasoning. • Experimental Design: Improving experimental outcomes through combinatorial methods and strict randomization. • Residual: Simplifying complex phenomena by subtracting known effects, thus leaving a simpler residual to analyze.
- 30. Becoming a Scientist (Scientific Method) Ramon Y Cajal – Advice for a Young Investigator Edward Wilson – Letters to a Young Scientist
- 31. Synthesis Model Thinking, Systems Theory
- 32. The book is a compendium of accessible chapters that cover a breadth of models, from linear and network models to Markov chains and systems dynamics, aimed at a broad audience with basic mathematical knowledge. Central to the book is Page's concept of the "many-model paradigm," which guides the reader in using a variety of models to structure information, resulting in smarter decisions, improved forecasting accuracy, and sturdier designs.
- 33. “This is a book with a very ambitious title and content. I have to say that the author make an excellent job in describing their introduction to Complex Systems theory. … In their list, starting from Basic Statistics (notably presented with Polya urns and Bayes Theorem exempla), the reader passes to Scaling theory, Network science, Evolutionary processes, and finally general methods of Statistical Physics. Not all the parts have the same degree of difficulty for the reader, but the authors make an extraordinary effort to present the topics in the most didactical way. The book is certainly an excellent start for students (who can find also a series of exercises in every chapter and for practitioners). For scientists, it is a useful handbook to find whatever needed to start their journey in Complexity Science.” Guido Caldarelli 2019
- 34. Evaluation Personal Philosophy (Values, Ethics, Eudaimonia)
- 35. Virtues, Happiness and the Soul in Ancient Ethical Theory • Virtue (Aretê): Excellence specific to function; for humans, this includes traits like courage, justice, and moderation. • Happiness (Eudaimonia): A state of living well, not just a feeling; involves doing human activities well, reflecting human excellence. • Soul: The seat of virtues; the psychological aspect of being, rather than material, contributing to a life of happiness. Excerpted from https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/ethics-ancient/#Aca
- 37. Misconceptions about Stoicism • Stoicism Misinterpreted as Merely Being Tough: It's more about resilience and humanity than invulnerability. • Misconception of Emotionlessness: Stoics value nuanced emotional intelligence, not suppression of feelings. • Alleged Misogyny in Stoicism: Virtue is seen as gender-neutral, advocating for the rational capacity of both men and women. • Stoicism Reduced to Self-Help Hacks: It's a moral philosophy aimed at social good, not just personal improvement. • Indifference to the External World: Stoics advocate for engagement and positive intervention in the world through clearer perception.
- 38. The Stoic Path to Eudaimonia - I 1. Stoic Telos (End Goal): Imagine yourself making life decisions, like choosing a career or a partner, based on what truly aligns with your personal values and natural strengths, rather than societal pressure or short-term gains. 2. Internal Consistency and Harmony: Picture yourself having such a strong alignment between your beliefs and actions that you face no inner conflict when making choices, like always being truthful in your relationships. 3. Virtue as the Path to Eudaimonia: Envision yourself focusing on developing personal virtues like patience, resilience, and empathy, and finding joy and satisfaction in these qualities rather than external rewards. 4. Knowledge and Virtue Interconnection: Imagine yourself making decisions in your professional life that are not only smart and strategic but also ethical and considerate of their impact on others and the environment.
- 39. The Stoic Path to Eudaimonia - II 5. Indifferents and Happiness: Visualize yourself maintaining a calm and positive mindset even in challenging situations, like job loss or health issues, focusing on what you can control – your attitude and response. 6. Preferred Indifferents: Consider yourself choosing to lead a healthy lifestyle, understanding that while good health is preferred, it doesn’t define your happiness or self-worth. 7. Deliberation and Proper Function: Think of yourself deciding to help others even when it’s not convenient, like volunteering for a cause you believe in or helping a colleague in need, prioritizing the greater good over personal comfort.
- 40. The Stoic Path to Eudaimonia - III 8. Stoic Cosmopolitanism: See yourself treating everyone you meet, regardless of their status or background, with equal respect and kindness, recognizing the interconnectedness of all people. 9. Oikeiôsis (Affiliation): Reflect on how naturally you care for your loved ones and extend this sense of care and responsibility towards the broader community, seeing social welfare as a personal concern. 10. Passion-Free Living: Imagine yourself in a high- stress situation, like receiving harsh feedback, and responding with calmness and rationality. You focus on constructive emotions and actions that align with your core values, rather than reacting impulsively.
- 41. Chapter 1. Judgment Chapter 2. Externals Chapter 3. Perspective Chapter 4. Death Chapter 5. Desire Chapter 6. Wealth and Pleasure Chapter 7. What Others Think Chapter 8. Valuation Chapter 9. Emotion Chapter 10. Adversity Chapter 11. Virtue Chapter 12. Learning Chapter 13. Stoicism and Its Critics “This book struck me first and foremost as having been written with exceptional verbal clarity and precision. Perhaps that’s due in part to the author’s knowledge of rhetoric and his interest in the law.” Donald Robertson 2020
- 42. Conclusion • Embrace Open Inquiry: Cultivate a mindset that welcomes questioning and critical thinking. • Apply Socratic Engagement: Engage with others through reasoned dialogue, valuing truth over victory. • Consider Stoicism as Personal Philosophy: Focus on what you control, accept what you cannot, and pursue virtue for a fulfilling life. • Promote Mutual Respect: Treat all perspectives with consideration, fostering a culture of respect and understanding. • Commit to Personal Growth: Use these principles as tools for self-improvement and societal contribution.
- 43. Contact Klaus Gottlieb, Esq. San Luis Obispo, CA www.WealthCareLawyer.com LinkedIn
Editor's Notes
- Thank you for this opportunity to talk to you. I will give a similar presentation at the Annual Dinner tonight, albeit much shorter and without audiovisuals. Perhaps you will forgive me if some of what I will talk about is not new to you, but again, the main thrust of this talk and its subject matter is aimed at a much younger audience still finding their way in life. I will talk about thinking tools that will have enduring values. The hope is that adoption of only a few of them will equip the next generation to navigate an era of ever-accelerating change.
- Oakley, in his book "Man the Toolmaker," suggests that what sets us apart in the animal kingdom is our longstanding relationship with tools. Think about it – tools have been our constant companions throughout history, from the earliest stone implements to smartphones, and most recently, AI.
- On this slide, we're breaking down tools into two fundamental categories: 'Thinking Systems' and 'Doing Tools.' It's a simple way to understand that tools aren't just physical objects we hold in our hands; they're also the systems and frameworks we use to process information and solve problems. 'Thinking Systems' are the internal tools of the mind. They're the mental models, the frameworks, and the strategies we use to understand the world, make decisions, and create new ideas. On the other side, we have 'Doing Tools'—the physical instruments we interact with. These are the hammers, the computers, the machines—any device that resides outside of our brain that we use to act upon the world and shape it to our needs. Both are crucial. Our 'Thinking Systems' shape our understanding and our approach to challenges, while our 'Doing Tools' translate that thinking into action. Our focus will be on thinking tools, as this seems to be an area that has suffered from neglect.
- The idea of controlling the movements of a cursor by thought alone is not new, but it seems that we are on the way to implementing it. Moving a cursor would allow text input and web searches, etc.
- If it wasn’t clear by now, this slide reminds you of the rapid pace of technological innovation with some selected milestones.
- Already 50 years ago, at the beginning of our timeline on this slide, Alvin Toffler talked about the future shock. He argues that the accelerated rate of technological and social change leaves people disconnected and suffering from "shattering stress and disorientation”. I think there has been not so much of a future shock but a gradual numbing of our minds, withdrawal from meaningful social interaction, and a general coarsening of our ways we deal with each another. Technology dominates, and the chances of catching up with the changes it has brought along are lagging behind for individuals, businesses, and society at large. An interesting book that examine this is Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community ”
- We live in a world that is perhaps bent on self-destruction and with the din and noise all around us we forget what makes us better than machines even if we are not faster and stronger: The deep philosophical and reflective questions that people may ask themselves when considering their personal identity, purpose, and ethical framework. This is where I want to end up with you, but first some more mundane thinking tools that arethere for everyday life.
- In 1956, Benjamin Bloom published a framework for categorizing educational goals: Taxonomy of Educational Objectives. I am using his original taxonomy because I can adopt it more easily as a hierarchy of thought to the intellectual tools I will talk about.
- Knowledge acquisition is aided by memorization techniques, comprehension by critical dialogue, including the Socratic method, and application is home by deliberate practice. Analysis relies on the scientific method and its tool, inferential statistics. Finally, we are nearing the apex of this pyramid. Synthesis is accomplished by applying model and systems thinking. Evaluation will be guided by a personal philosophy. In the following, I will proceed from the bottom up and introduce the tools and sources which you should turn to if you are interested.
- Let’s talk about knowledge acquisition using learning and memorization techniques, including the method of loci.
- First off, if you know a promising high school or college student, have them read “Make it Stick” by Peter Brown and colleagues. It reviews scientifically proven learning techniques and debunks some others which have never been rigorously proven. Remember the learning styles of visual, auditory, and tactile? Well, there is no rigorous evidence that they exist, or more importantly, how they could be used to enhance learning. In contrast, the evidence for spaced repetition is overwhelming. More about this on the next slide.
- We always talk about learning curves. What we should be talking about is forgetting curves. While we could argue about the exact numbers, the shape of the forgetting curve is that of exponential decay. Repetition spaced at increasing intervals shifts the curve up.
- Spaced repetition was first formalized by Sebastian Leitner in the 1970s. At the time flashcards would advance to the next box if the question was answered correctly, if not, the card went back to the first box. Now there are various apps available that may take your confidence level into considerations.
- While the effectiveness of spaced repetition has been overwhelmingly confirmed, it is not possible to ethically conduct randomized studies in students who prepare for professional licensing exams. There is a tendency for students with higher GPAs to gravitate to spaced repetition confounding the results
- I am sure you are all familiar with memory palaces but may be some of your students are not. The book Moonwalking with Einstein: The Art and Science of Remembering Everything gives you interesting insights into the world of competitive memorization where Memory Places are extensively used.
- Let’s move up the pyramid to Comprehension.
- The Socratic Method does not have many adherents or practitioners at the moment, but it is fundamental to learning as every 2 – 5 year-old can attest. If a concept is worth penetrating deeply, this method, sometimes known in root cause analysis as the Method of Answering the Five Whys, will bear rich fruit.
- Here is the summary, abridged from the epilogue in Farnsworth's book. The Open Table: Every view is open to inquiry and questioning. The Purpose of Inquiry: Inquiry aims to reach or approach the truth, not to serve ulterior motives. Challenges Wanted: Questioning and refutation of any position is encouraged and seen positively. Arguments Met with Arguments: Responses to arguments should be reasoned, not dismissive. The Priority of Reason: Arguments are judged on their merits, irrespective of who makes them.
- Elenctic Reasoning: Inquiry starts from common ground, seeking to expose inconsistencies. Elenctic - refutative Self-Skepticism: One must doubt their own biases and remain open to contradiction. Group Skepticism: Popular opinion and consensus, especially in a homogenous group, are questioned. Manners: Inquiry should be rigorous but courteous, avoiding sarcasm and name-calling.
- Candor: Participants should speak their minds without fear of retribution. Offense: Efforts are made to neither give nor take offense in the process of inquiry. Humility: Conclusions are seen as provisional, maintaining an attitude of humility and doubt.
- I put this question to ChatGPT about a year ago asking Is this a valid statement? And the statement was 𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝘁𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗻𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘆 𝗶𝘀 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗺𝗮𝗱𝗲. 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝘂𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗺𝗮𝗱𝗲. 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲, 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝘂𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗻𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘆 ChatGPT walked right into the trap and said Yes, it’s a valid statement, blah, blah … The trap is the fallacy of the undistributed middle. It’s probably best recognized by the analogous statement: 𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝘁𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗻𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘆 𝗶𝘀 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗺𝗮𝗱𝗲. 𝗖arrot Cakes 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗺𝗮𝗱𝗲. 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲, 𝗰arrot cakes 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗻𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘆
- Formal logic, just like the Socratic Method, is infrequently taught, but highly relevant because its study advances critical thinking, argument analysis, and clarity in reasoning and communication. And, importantly, you will beat large language models until such time they have developed real understanding.
- I am sure you have heard about the 10,000 hour rule of practice for mastery. Somehow our social media are obsessed with multiples of 10. 10 things I learned when I wasn’t learning anything. 10 hormones you need to know to get ahead in life. 10,000 steps you should take every day. In any case, if you want to learn about deliberate practice, hear it directly from the expert on experts, Anders Ericson in Peak – Secrets from the new science of Expertise.
- Mindset by Carol Dweck is an important book that explores “locus of control” differentiating a Fixed Mindset from a Growth Mindset, and, how to move from the former to the latter.
- I don’t have to tell this audience here how valuable statistics is, It is an application method because it Is the backbone of evidence-based medicine. However, most statistics courses are taught to medical students by teaching assistants who do not impart the big picture but get lost in the details, and this is where books from such luminaries as David Spiegelhalter with The Art of Statistics can close the gap.
- A similar book is Stephen Stigler’s The Seven Pillars of Statistical Wisdom, albeit for those readers who already know a lot of the technical details, Stigler essentially examines the contributions of statistical thinkers that made statistics the independent discipline it is today, separate from applied mathematics.
- Here are the seven pillars. I will highlight only the first one, One could perhaps say that the discipline of statistics started to emerge when people not only suspected but also became convinced that information could be gained by losing details, such as the individual characteristics in data through averaging.
- There are several seminal books about the scientific method, but most of them are too abstract and philosophical. These two are exceptions. They directly address what a young scientist should know. More than 100 years ago Ramon y Cajal, whose painstaking structural analysis of neurons has been immortalized by his exquisite drawings, published his advice for a young investigator, and more recently, Edward O Wilson, whose contributions to biology are numerous, wrote his Letters to a Young Scientist.
- Model thinking refers to the process of conceptualizing and using models to understand, explain, and predict the world around us. Of the several popular books in print, Scott Page’s the model thinker stands out, because it crosses over to a textbook. Central to the book is Page's concept of the "many-model paradigm," which guides the reader in using a variety of models to structure information, resulting in smarter decisions, improved forecasting accuracy, and sturdier designs. The book is a compendium of accessible chapters that cover a breadth of models, from linear and network models to Markov chains and systems dynamics, aimed at a broad audience with basic mathematical knowledge
- Another well-regarded title has the ambitious goal of being an Introduction to the Theory of Complex Systems. It is written in textbook style, and not aimed at the general reader. Some of the chapters are quite accessible, others require a bit more math. Still, some of your students will benefit from it greatly.
- For orientation, there are three large themes in the ancient, mostly Greek, ethical theory. Virtue (Arete), Happiness, (Eudaimonia), and Soul.
- Eudaimonia as understood by the Greeks remains with some adjustments one of the recognized theories of well-being to this age.
- Before we go into Stoicism, let me review some misconceptions about this ancient philosophy about how to lead a good life: Stoicism Misinterpreted as Merely Being Tough: It's more about resilience and humanity than invulnerability. Misconception of Emotionlessness: Stoics value nuanced emotional intelligence, not suppression of feelings. Alleged Misogyny in Stoicism: Virtue is seen as gender-neutral, advocating for the rational capacity of both men and women. Stoicism Reduced to Self-Help Hacks: It's a moral philosophy aimed at social good, not just personal improvement. Indifference to the External World: Stoics advocate for engagement and positive intervention in the world through clearer perception.
- On this slide let me just highlight Virtue as the Path to Eudaimonia. In order to pursue a path of virtue we do not need to achieve holiness, Instead, picture yourself having such a strong alignment between your beliefs and actions that you face no inner conflict when making choices, like always being truthful in your relationships.
- According to Marcus Aurelius, Seneca, and Epictetus, the Stoic is indifferent to external things, indifferent to wealth, indifferent to pain, indifferent to winning, indifferent to hope and dreams and everything else. This does not mean that the stoic would not prefer wealth over poverty, health over illness, but they simply do not get too attached to these things that are not within their control.
- Passion-free living does not mean emotion-free living. Imagine one of your children dies, stoics do not suppress the normal or as they would say “according to nature” grieving process. But eventually they would turn and and extend this sense of care and responsibility towards the broader community, seeing social welfare as a personal concern.
- Here is another book by Ward Farnsworth. We encountered him earlier as the author of the book ”The Socratic Method”. His book “The Practicing Stoic” is by far the best practical handbook for anybody who wants to be a stoic. Ward Farnsworth is a law professor and the John Jeffers Research Chair at the University of Texas School of Law. He was the Dean of the school from 2012 to 2022. While his knowledge of philosophy is deep, he is not obligated to use the jargon of present-day professional philosophers. His writing is both erudite and accessible. This is in contrast to most popular books about stoicism currently on the market.
- In conclusion, I hope I have inspired you to consider the following for yourself and your students: Embrace Open Inquiry: Cultivate a mindset that welcomes questioning and critical thinking. Apply Socratic Engagement: Engage with others through reasoned dialogue, valuing truth over victory. Consider Stoicism as Personal Philosophy: Focus on what you control, accept what you cannot, and pursue virtue for a fulfilling life. Promote Mutual Respect: Treat all perspectives with consideration, fostering a culture of respect and understanding. Commit to Personal Growth: Use these principles as tools for self-improvement and societal contribution.