My biggest temptation was, and is, "falling into web rabbitholes." The best money I ever spent are the 35€ I used to but the license for ColdTurkey (a website blocker) after I read this chapter on your book. :D
Amazing how often Seneca’s advices find support in modern neuroscience and behavioral psychology. Observation, reflection and practical wisdom can really go a long way!
Very true. As an alcoholic who is approaching twenty-one years of sobriety, I have first hand experience with this. It is hard to avoid temptation without also avoiding the situations that lead to temptation. I can choose my actions but I cannot choose my consequences.
I believe that part of the power of Classical philosophy today is that human nature has not changed fundamentally despite human circumstances changing greatly. The particular details may change, but that’s good: they cloud our minds less this way. The psychological insights under the examples continue to withstand the erosion of time
My biggest temptation was, and is, "falling into web rabbitholes." The best money I ever spent are the 35€ I used to but the license for ColdTurkey (a website blocker) after I read this chapter on your book. :D
Ah! Nice to hear that what I write is occasionally useful! Congrats, Davide!
Amazing how often Seneca’s advices find support in modern neuroscience and behavioral psychology. Observation, reflection and practical wisdom can really go a long way!
Marcelo, indeed. Some of the ancients were excellent observers of human behavior, which they understood against a solid philosophical framework.
Good to see you mention Helen Fisher Massimo, who BTW, is a biological anthropologist 😉 Her work focuses on the hormones correlated with love, rejection & longing, comparing this powerful combination to addiction - see her short video "Is love an addiction?" below. It takes a lot of practice to apply the Stoic practice of dealing with desire/cravings (Impression -> Assent -> Action) when dealing with this cocktail. It certainly is possible though. As you say, by consistently keeping temptation out of sight (not answering texts, emails, calls or looking at photos of the loved one) & using our rational function to manage the strong emotions. https://www.google.com/search?q=helen+fisher+addiction&oq=helen+fisher+addiction&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyBggAEEUYOdIBCDg4NTNqMGo3qAIUsAIB&client=ms-android-samsung-ss&sourceid=chrome-mobile&ie=UTF-8#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:a7498600,vid:3N11JYc546w,st:0
Hide the chocolate ice cream! (But it'll melt and make a mess if I don't keep in the freezer!)
😆🍫
Just don't go telling me not buy the damned stuff to start with!
Exactly!
Very true. As an alcoholic who is approaching twenty-one years of sobriety, I have first hand experience with this. It is hard to avoid temptation without also avoiding the situations that lead to temptation. I can choose my actions but I cannot choose my consequences.
I believe that part of the power of Classical philosophy today is that human nature has not changed fundamentally despite human circumstances changing greatly. The particular details may change, but that’s good: they cloud our minds less this way. The psychological insights under the examples continue to withstand the erosion of time
Bob, exactly right! And congrats on your near 21 years!