This video is an excerpted version of our Conversations with Modern Stoicism special Marcus Aurelius Birthday event with author Donald J. Robertson.

In this presentation, Donald Robertson discusses the birthday of Marcus Aurelius and how Stoicism might save Western Democracy from demagogues.

Democracy, Demagogues, and Ancient Athens

Donald Robertson discusses the historical context and potential threats to modern democracy, drawing parallels between ancient Athens and the current society. He explains how democracy can be manipulated by demagogues using emotive rhetoric to deceive people, and how truth can be misused to divert attention from actual issues. Donald also makes the distinction between lying and misinforming, and gives examples of professional misinformers in ancient Athens. He briefly touches upon the second sophistic movement during the reign of Marcus Aurelius, highlighting the influence of Greek-speaking intellectuals and orators known as Sophists. He also mentioned Marcus's gratitude toward his tutor, Junius Rusticus, for introducing him to Stoicism and moral education.

Overcoming Demagogy With Stoicism

Donald explains the dangers of rhetoric without moral wisdom, using Marcus's philosophy as an example. He criticizes modern-day figures for manipulating public opinion through cynical tactics and laments the pervasive influence of political rhetoric in modern society facilitated by social media and other modern technologies. Donald emphasizes the relevance of Stoicism in modern times as a means to prevent democracy from devolving into demagogy and suggests learning from Marcus Aurelius to overcome personal struggles and avoid being misled by political rhetoric. He also advises recognizing early warning signs of intense emotions such as fear and anger, which can lead to irrational behavior and loss of perspective, and encouraged the practice of detachment from external events and critical examination of one's own thoughts. Donald concludes by expressing hope that these strategies could help counter the influence of demagogues and protect democracy.

About our Presenter

Donald J. Robertson is a writer, cognitive-behavioral psychotherapist, and trainer. He's a leader in the field of applied philosophy, co-founding the Modern Stoicism nonprofit and establishing Plato's Academy Centre in Athens, Greece. Donald specializes in teaching evidence-based psychological skills and is an expert on the connections between modern psychotherapy and classical Greek and Roman philosophy. His work brings together philosophy, history, and psychology in a unique and insightful way.

Learn more about Donald Robertson at his website:
https://donaldrobertson.name/

About Conversations

Conversations with Modern Stoicism is an interactive virtual gathering that provides an opportunity for Stoics around the world to connect, learn, and engage in meaningful dialogue with each other.

The events feature a presentation from a respected speaker followed by multiple rounds of audience conversations via the Breakout Rooms feature in Zoom.

The events are lively, engaging opportunities to collaborate with others as you pursue your journey into philosophical Stoicism.

You can generally find out about upcoming events on the Modern Stoicism website. Sign up for email notifications of upcoming events.

https://modernstoicism.com/

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