Donald Robertson

But the real guy kind of shines through to some extent. And he must have been an extraordinary individual. He's somebody who has a tremendous capacity for thinking outside the box, for spotting logical contradictions. And he said some of the most radical things in the history of Western philosophy. Not only that, I see him as the godfather

of modern self-help and self-improvement psychology or the great, great granddaddy of cognitive behavioral therapy. So as a psychotherapist, a cognitive behavioral therapist, you know, I look to Socrates as somebody who stands at the very origin of our tradition. But also I think in some ways we've kind of gone astray in ways that he warned us about.

of modern self-help and self-improvement psychology or the great, great granddaddy of cognitive behavioral therapy. So as a psychotherapist, a cognitive behavioral therapist, you know, I look to Socrates as somebody who stands at the very origin of our tradition. But also I think in some ways we've kind of gone astray in ways that he warned us about.

of modern self-help and self-improvement psychology or the great, great granddaddy of cognitive behavioral therapy. So as a psychotherapist, a cognitive behavioral therapist, you know, I look to Socrates as somebody who stands at the very origin of our tradition. But also I think in some ways we've kind of gone astray in ways that he warned us about.

So by going back and looking at what he originally said, I think we can figure out maybe and see beyond some of the mistakes that we might have made along the way.

So by going back and looking at what he originally said, I think we can figure out maybe and see beyond some of the mistakes that we might have made along the way.

So by going back and looking at what he originally said, I think we can figure out maybe and see beyond some of the mistakes that we might have made along the way.

Well, the most famous thing is that we have Plato's dialogues. There are like 36 or 37 of Plato's dialogues, most of which feature Socrates prominently. And it's generally assumed by scholars that Plato changed his approach throughout his career. Early in his career, he wrote a more literal description of Socrates, probably embellished a bit.

Well, the most famous thing is that we have Plato's dialogues. There are like 36 or 37 of Plato's dialogues, most of which feature Socrates prominently. And it's generally assumed by scholars that Plato changed his approach throughout his career. Early in his career, he wrote a more literal description of Socrates, probably embellished a bit.

Well, the most famous thing is that we have Plato's dialogues. There are like 36 or 37 of Plato's dialogues, most of which feature Socrates prominently. And it's generally assumed by scholars that Plato changed his approach throughout his career. Early in his career, he wrote a more literal description of Socrates, probably embellished a bit.

As time went on, he starts to use Socrates more and more as a mouthpiece, probably for his own views. Like Plato's famous metaphysical theory, the theory of forms, probably wasn't something that Socrates ever actually said. Socrates' way of doing philosophy seems to be more kind of homely, down to earth, more focused on applied ethics in daily life, basically. So we have those.

As time went on, he starts to use Socrates more and more as a mouthpiece, probably for his own views. Like Plato's famous metaphysical theory, the theory of forms, probably wasn't something that Socrates ever actually said. Socrates' way of doing philosophy seems to be more kind of homely, down to earth, more focused on applied ethics in daily life, basically. So we have those.

As time went on, he starts to use Socrates more and more as a mouthpiece, probably for his own views. Like Plato's famous metaphysical theory, the theory of forms, probably wasn't something that Socrates ever actually said. Socrates' way of doing philosophy seems to be more kind of homely, down to earth, more focused on applied ethics in daily life, basically. So we have those.

And, you know, dude, Plato's dialogues are just incredible. You know, Plato was also a genius. And so we have the writings of a genius about another genius, basically. You know, some of these texts are the most profound and moving pieces of literature in the Western canon. And, you know, I seldom recommend books to people, funnily enough, unless I know them very well.

And, you know, dude, Plato's dialogues are just incredible. You know, Plato was also a genius. And so we have the writings of a genius about another genius, basically. You know, some of these texts are the most profound and moving pieces of literature in the Western canon. And, you know, I seldom recommend books to people, funnily enough, unless I know them very well.

And, you know, dude, Plato's dialogues are just incredible. You know, Plato was also a genius. And so we have the writings of a genius about another genius, basically. You know, some of these texts are the most profound and moving pieces of literature in the Western canon. And, you know, I seldom recommend books to people, funnily enough, unless I know them very well.

but my one exception to that is that i think everybody should read plato's apology because i think it's a masterpiece and it only takes a couple of hours to read as an aside so we've got all that stuff and then we have xenophon another student of socrates and his dialogues are less well known but we have a bunch of like 30 or 40 dialogues shorter ones more down to earth from xenophon as well um

but my one exception to that is that i think everybody should read plato's apology because i think it's a masterpiece and it only takes a couple of hours to read as an aside so we've got all that stuff and then we have xenophon another student of socrates and his dialogues are less well known but we have a bunch of like 30 or 40 dialogues shorter ones more down to earth from xenophon as well um

but my one exception to that is that i think everybody should read plato's apology because i think it's a masterpiece and it only takes a couple of hours to read as an aside so we've got all that stuff and then we have xenophon another student of socrates and his dialogues are less well known but we have a bunch of like 30 or 40 dialogues shorter ones more down to earth from xenophon as well um

Then we have this really weird thing, which is a play by Aristophanes, which is a satire ridiculing Socrates that was written and performed during his lifetime. And we learn almost nothing from that, or it's hard to tell anything from it because it's a caricature, but it tells us that he must have been pretty famous.