Socratic Thinking: A Guide to Clarity, Calm, and Purpose

Donald Robertson shares 5 key insights from How to Think Like Socrates: Ancient Philosophy as a Way of Life in the Modern World.

What would good old Socrates think of the modern world? The ancient philosopher, famous for his probing questions and unrelenting pursuit of truth, might be fascinated—and perhaps a bit dismayed—by our era of endless distractions, emotional turbulence, and polarized debates. Yet his timeless wisdom, honed on the streets of Athens, offers profound insights for navigating today’s challenges. Donald Robertson, a cognitive-behavioral psychotherapist and scholar of Stoicism, believes that Socrates’ teachings can help us find clarity, calm, and purpose in a chaotic world. In his new book, How to Think Like Socrates: Ancient Philosophy as a Way of Life in the Modern World, Robertson reveals how we can use Socratic methods to cultivate a more thoughtful, balanced, and meaningful life. Scroll down to hear five key ideas to get you started.

The 5 Key Insights:

1. How to practice the Socratic Method.

2. Generate alternative perspectives.

3. Separate your thoughts from external events.

4. Illeism, meaning talking in the third person.

5. Anger and perceived injustice.

Hear Donald’s tips for better living through the Socratic method: