Happiness Lessons of The Ancients: Plato

In the 'Happiness Lessons of The Ancients: Plato' episode of 'The Happiness Lab with Dr. Laurie Santos', Dr. Laurie Santos discusses the ancient Greek philosopher Plato's insights into human happiness and self-control. Dr. Santos begins by acknowledging the internal struggle she faces each morning between her rational desires to engage in productive and happiness-inducing activities and the temptations that lead her astray. She introduces the idea that these internal battles were deeply understood by Plato over 2000 years ago. Dr. Santos is joined by her colleague, Tamar Gendler, who is an expert in both philosophy and cognitive science, to delve into Plato's concepts and their relevance to modern life. Gendler explains Plato's Academy, where intellectual discussions on a range of subjects, including happiness, were conducted. Plato's work, particularly 'The Republic,' is discussed as a comprehensive treatise on various aspects of life, including the ideal society and the nature of human beings.

Plato's story of Leontius, which illustrates the internal conflict between rational thought and base desires, is recounted to emphasize the divided nature of the self. Gendler explains that Plato saw human beings as composed of three parts: reason, spirit, and appetite. She further illustrates Plato's metaphor of the charioteer and two horses, representing the rational self and the two competing elements of spirit and appetite. The episode highlights how Plato's understanding of these internal dynamics aligns with modern scientific findings on habit formation and self-control.

Dr. Santos and Gendler discuss practical strategies for managing the 'horse of appetite,' which include avoiding temptations, creating cues for desired behaviors, and using simple techniques to train our 'animal' instincts. They also explore the 'horse of spirit,' which can be trained over time through habituation and taking pleasure in virtuous activities. Gendler shares personal anecdotes to demonstrate how these ancient strategies have been applied in her own life, such as establishing family routines during quarantine.