1 00:00:00,290 --> 00:00:05,871 At some point in time we all have found ourselves in the position where we felt lost, like we 2 00:00:05,871 --> 00:00:11,420 didn’t know what steps to take next, having no confidence in ourselves and feeling like 3 00:00:11,420 --> 00:00:14,540 we’ve lost control over our lives. 4 00:00:14,540 --> 00:00:19,270 To regain that control does not mean to become able to control everything that happens to 5 00:00:19,270 --> 00:00:24,430 you, but rather to gain the necessary confidence in yourself and your capabilities that you 6 00:00:24,430 --> 00:00:27,810 can tackle anything that life throws at you. 7 00:00:27,810 --> 00:00:32,140 Throughout history, many have pondered over the best strategies one can take to get that 8 00:00:32,140 --> 00:00:37,590 control back and feel confident again, with writings on the subject from as far back as 9 00:00:37,590 --> 00:00:42,240 the ancient Greek philosophers, including Plato. 10 00:00:42,240 --> 00:00:49,760 Plato lived between 429 and 347 B.C.E and he is without a doubt one of the most influential 11 00:00:49,760 --> 00:00:53,079 writers in the history of philosophy. 12 00:00:53,079 --> 00:00:58,739 The ethical, philosophical, and political questions he raised in his work are so profound 13 00:00:58,739 --> 00:01:04,470 that almost every great thinker from any epoch after him was influenced in one way or another 14 00:01:04,470 --> 00:01:06,970 by Plato’s work. 15 00:01:06,970 --> 00:01:12,290 Plato was the first thinker in history who established philosophy as a rigorous and systematic 16 00:01:12,290 --> 00:01:16,240 examination of life’s important questions. 17 00:01:16,240 --> 00:01:23,299 His philosophy is often referred to as Platonic idealism and his biggest contribution to the 18 00:01:23,299 --> 00:01:29,610 field is the Theory of Forms or Doctrine of Ideas, which is the philosophical view that 19 00:01:29,610 --> 00:01:37,360 what we perceive through our senses are illusions, merely the shadows of a more profound reality. 20 00:01:37,360 --> 00:01:43,610 Plato was part of the trio known today as The Three Great Golden Age Philosophers, together 21 00:01:43,610 --> 00:01:47,220 with Socrates, Plato’s mentor, and Aristotle, Plato’s student. 22 00:01:47,220 --> 00:01:56,299 Plato was the one who founded Academia, or The Academy, the first world’s university. 23 00:01:56,299 --> 00:02:02,409 He was very involved in the educational system of Athens and wrote a great number of books. 24 00:02:02,409 --> 00:02:10,539 Some of his most important books include: The Republic, Phaedo, The Apology of Socrates, 25 00:02:10,539 --> 00:02:17,689 Parmenides, Symposium, Protagoras, Charmides and many others. 26 00:02:17,689 --> 00:02:22,349 In almost all his books, Socrates’ figure is overwhelmingly present. 27 00:02:22,349 --> 00:02:28,150 Socrates didn’t write anything in his life but, through Plato, his philosophy became 28 00:02:28,150 --> 00:02:30,980 heard across the millenia. 29 00:02:30,980 --> 00:02:36,090 That is at least in part because Plato’s way of thinking often coincided with Socrates’. 30 00:02:36,090 --> 00:02:41,650 Plato didn’t provide abstract teachings through his books, but rather had lessons 31 00:02:41,650 --> 00:02:44,349 which anyone can apply to their own lives. 32 00:02:44,349 --> 00:02:48,319 Some of the most basic lessons have to deal with the idea of being a good citizen and 33 00:02:48,319 --> 00:02:54,139 friend without overestimating your own ideas, to hold yourself to the same rigor you hold 34 00:02:54,139 --> 00:03:00,799 others to when you are making assertions, and to always look for intellectual integrity. 35 00:03:00,799 --> 00:03:05,141 Another important lesson is that first you need to take control over your life by first 36 00:03:05,141 --> 00:03:12,659 conquering yourself, your impulses and drives, in order to live a moral and fulfilling life. 37 00:03:12,659 --> 00:03:17,590 To better understand the Platonic philosophy on how we can better take control over our 38 00:03:17,590 --> 00:03:25,049 lives, here are 5 lessons from the philosophy of Plato: 39 00:03:25,049 --> 00:03:26,159 Change your mindset 40 00:03:26,159 --> 00:03:32,370 Plato said: “Reality is created by the mind. 41 00:03:32,370 --> 00:03:37,319 We can change our reality by changing our mind.” 42 00:03:37,319 --> 00:03:43,349 In Plato’s view, what we perceive by our senses is not true reality. 43 00:03:43,349 --> 00:03:48,739 Our perceptions are just the shadows of a world of ideas that we can access through 44 00:03:48,739 --> 00:03:49,739 reasoning. 45 00:03:49,739 --> 00:03:54,919 For Plato, the mind is not simply an instrument to perceive the physical reality we see with 46 00:03:54,919 --> 00:03:56,579 the naked eyes. 47 00:03:56,579 --> 00:04:03,579 Reasoning, using your mind, is the only way to access the world of Ideas, the true reality, 48 00:04:03,579 --> 00:04:07,749 which is beyond all physical objects and natural phenomena. 49 00:04:07,749 --> 00:04:13,339 Thus, the more sound our reasoning is, the closer we are to true reality. 50 00:04:13,339 --> 00:04:19,860 To understand what is truly real, we don’t need to look outside, to the external world, 51 00:04:19,860 --> 00:04:24,790 but inside, into the intricacies of our own mind. 52 00:04:24,790 --> 00:04:30,350 Only when you look inside yourself, when you use philosophy as a tool to clarify what is 53 00:04:30,350 --> 00:04:36,190 right and what is wrong, what makes logical sense or what does not, can you reach the 54 00:04:36,190 --> 00:04:37,820 truth. 55 00:04:37,820 --> 00:04:43,760 When you reach then truth, then you can start developing certain life principles, guides 56 00:04:43,760 --> 00:04:49,340 to use to act properly in society and how to treat your fellow human beings. 57 00:04:49,340 --> 00:04:55,140 Moreover, you will start to see what is around you much more clearly, as well as understanding 58 00:04:55,140 --> 00:04:57,600 yourself much better. 59 00:04:57,600 --> 00:05:04,910 Knowing what is good and bad will help you act faster, more decisively and more ethically. 60 00:05:04,910 --> 00:05:10,940 Knowing who you are will change your reality; you will attract like-minded people and start 61 00:05:10,940 --> 00:05:17,070 to live a more fulfilling life, in line with your core principles and values. 62 00:05:17,070 --> 00:05:22,880 However, according to Plato, just because we wish something to happen, does not imply 63 00:05:22,880 --> 00:05:25,030 it will. 64 00:05:25,030 --> 00:05:27,590 Reality does not change according to what we wish. 65 00:05:27,590 --> 00:05:36,210 But what we can change is how clearly we perceive what is truly real if we change our mindset. 66 00:05:36,210 --> 00:05:41,080 Reality can be understood only through deep thinking which helps us understand the most 67 00:05:41,080 --> 00:05:46,420 profound concepts of reality, including what is good and bad. 68 00:05:46,420 --> 00:05:51,870 Plato understood that by changing one’s mindset, we can elevate our minds to a higher 69 00:05:51,870 --> 00:05:54,090 level of understanding. 70 00:05:54,090 --> 00:05:58,030 True change can only come from looking inside. 71 00:05:58,030 --> 00:06:04,230 When we understand ourselves better, the reality around us will change. 72 00:06:04,230 --> 00:06:09,630 According to Plato, our normal lives are spent in a sort of cave and we can see only the 73 00:06:09,630 --> 00:06:14,150 shadows of true realities, projected on its walls. 74 00:06:14,150 --> 00:06:20,350 To see true reality, we need to get out of the cave, in full daylight. 75 00:06:20,350 --> 00:06:25,710 Only when we strengthen our mindset, learn how to control it and focus on reflecting 76 00:06:25,710 --> 00:06:31,330 more on the deepest issues of our existence, will we be able to get out and see a brand 77 00:06:31,330 --> 00:06:32,970 new reality. 78 00:06:32,970 --> 00:06:38,270 The quality of our thinking influences how we feel and how we feel influences how our 79 00:06:38,270 --> 00:06:44,310 body reacts, how we behave, and consequently who we become. 80 00:06:44,310 --> 00:06:50,670 For example, consider you’re unemployed, because of this you develop a negative attitude 81 00:06:50,670 --> 00:06:57,150 and low self-esteem, thinking you are a failure, feeling discouraged and depressed. 82 00:06:57,150 --> 00:07:03,450 Your body will reflect this state of mind, you may slump your shoulders, avoid eye contact, 83 00:07:03,450 --> 00:07:06,610 and generally project no confidence. 84 00:07:06,610 --> 00:07:11,940 If we are to follow Plato, the solution to get out of this helpless state is not to correct 85 00:07:11,940 --> 00:07:17,590 your behavior, apply behavioral psychology or use some psychological tricks to make you 86 00:07:17,590 --> 00:07:23,070 feel better, but rather to reflect deeply on why your way of thinking was wrong in the 87 00:07:23,070 --> 00:07:24,850 first place. 88 00:07:24,850 --> 00:07:29,910 You need to use objective reasoning and try to see yourself from the outside. 89 00:07:29,910 --> 00:07:32,350 Perhaps you can look at other people around you. 90 00:07:32,350 --> 00:07:37,730 Are there people you know who are out of work, but are otherwise extremely skillful? 91 00:07:37,730 --> 00:07:43,590 Can you know cases in history when highly qualified men or women were refused a good 92 00:07:43,590 --> 00:07:44,590 job? 93 00:07:44,590 --> 00:07:52,220 Take Walt Disney, for example: In 1919, Disney was fired from the Kansas City Star newspaper 94 00:07:52,220 --> 00:07:58,210 because, according to his editor, he: "lacked imagination and had no good ideas”. 95 00:07:58,210 --> 00:08:05,550 Let that sink in a moment: The man behind the most popular entertainment brand for generations 96 00:08:05,550 --> 00:08:11,770 got fired from a local newspaper for his lack of creativity! 97 00:08:11,770 --> 00:08:17,710 If this is true then we can see objectively that being unemployed today doesn’t deny 98 00:08:17,710 --> 00:08:20,610 one the potential for success in the long term. 99 00:08:20,610 --> 00:08:26,900 Thus, by reasoning objectively, you can access the reality behind your fears and you can 100 00:08:26,900 --> 00:08:32,130 start to have a clearer perspective on what is truly possible for you. 101 00:08:32,130 --> 00:08:36,019 Changing your mindset will change your reality. 102 00:08:36,019 --> 00:08:40,990 The more optimistic and confident you become, the more eager you will be to apply for other 103 00:08:40,990 --> 00:08:43,209 jobs on the market. 104 00:08:43,209 --> 00:08:48,160 Deep reasoning will help you understand what is possible for you and will help you change 105 00:08:48,160 --> 00:08:57,620 your mindset, which is the first step in taking control over your life. 106 00:08:57,620 --> 00:09:00,290 Change your habits 107 00:09:00,290 --> 00:09:07,380 According to Plato “We do not act "rightly" because we are "excellent", in fact we achieve 108 00:09:07,380 --> 00:09:09,880 "excellence" by acting ''rightly”.'' 109 00:09:09,880 --> 00:09:16,149 A major aspect of taking control of your life is to take control of your habits. 110 00:09:16,149 --> 00:09:22,329 To reach our goals, we need a plan, which cannot work if we do not follow through. 111 00:09:22,329 --> 00:09:26,360 Habits are those activities which help us progress towards our goals. 112 00:09:26,360 --> 00:09:31,579 To achieve anything worthwhile, we need to prove that we can be excellent in a certain 113 00:09:31,579 --> 00:09:32,579 area. 114 00:09:32,579 --> 00:09:38,779 For Plato, excellence is not a gift but a skill that takes practice. 115 00:09:38,779 --> 00:09:44,730 Talent is not enough, we are not skilled from the moment we are born, and any talent needs 116 00:09:44,730 --> 00:09:47,360 proper work. 117 00:09:47,360 --> 00:09:52,870 Plato was a great example of a person who achieved excellence by acting rightly. 118 00:09:52,870 --> 00:09:57,690 He achieved excellence by becoming one of the greatest philosophers, it can be said 119 00:09:57,690 --> 00:10:02,730 that philosophy is one of the inventions of Plato, as he was one of the first thinkers 120 00:10:02,730 --> 00:10:07,320 who laid down in writing a rigorous philosophical system. 121 00:10:07,320 --> 00:10:14,009 In addition, he was also the founder of the Academy or Academia, the first organized school 122 00:10:14,009 --> 00:10:16,410 in Western Civilization. 123 00:10:16,410 --> 00:10:22,550 None of these were by accident, he chose to make education and philosophy a priority in 124 00:10:22,550 --> 00:10:26,839 his life and he worked to bring his ideas into reality. 125 00:10:26,839 --> 00:10:31,990 He didn’t expect other people’s help to achieve his goals, he took control of his 126 00:10:31,990 --> 00:10:38,459 life and he by himself made the plan to achieve his goals and he followed through with the 127 00:10:38,459 --> 00:10:39,490 plan. 128 00:10:39,490 --> 00:10:44,129 No matter how brilliant he was, he knew that only through the habits of the hard work of 129 00:10:44,129 --> 00:10:48,509 writing and coming up with initiatives could he succeed. 130 00:10:48,509 --> 00:10:53,610 The habits that we choose to apply in daily life will take the form of our character in 131 00:10:53,610 --> 00:10:54,990 the end. 132 00:10:54,990 --> 00:11:00,019 The more you practice certain habits, the more they will become a part of yourself, 133 00:11:00,019 --> 00:11:02,480 the more they will define you. 134 00:11:02,480 --> 00:11:07,350 Therefore, it is important to have a vision of the goal you want to reach, of the person 135 00:11:07,350 --> 00:11:13,269 you want to become, then you can construct a system of habits to help you take you there. 136 00:11:13,269 --> 00:11:17,210 The bigger your goal is, the more careful you need to be with the kind of habits that 137 00:11:17,210 --> 00:11:18,619 you have. 138 00:11:18,619 --> 00:11:22,829 If you want to be a great salesperson, for example, you need to practice being in front 139 00:11:22,829 --> 00:11:27,410 of the clients as much as possible, you need to have the habit of making many phone calls 140 00:11:27,410 --> 00:11:33,490 per day and have the habit to learn from other successful salespeople before you, either 141 00:11:33,490 --> 00:11:38,050 by directly asking them about their sales strategies, or by reading books written by 142 00:11:38,050 --> 00:11:39,260 them. 143 00:11:39,260 --> 00:11:43,579 If the habits that you have now don’t reflect the habits of a successful person you want 144 00:11:43,579 --> 00:11:48,959 to be someday, then you need to change those habits and make sure you adopt the right ones 145 00:11:48,959 --> 00:11:51,240 on a daily basis. 146 00:11:51,240 --> 00:11:55,379 You cannot be in control of your life if you cannot control the kind of activities you 147 00:11:55,379 --> 00:11:59,319 do every day. 148 00:11:59,319 --> 00:12:03,499 Be in control of your emotions and behavior 149 00:12:03,499 --> 00:12:09,800 To quote Plato “The first and best victory is to conquer self. 150 00:12:09,800 --> 00:12:16,899 To be conquered by self is, of all things, the most shameful and vile.” 151 00:12:16,899 --> 00:12:22,309 According to Plato, to be in control of your life is to also make rational thinking a way 152 00:12:22,309 --> 00:12:23,450 of life. 153 00:12:23,450 --> 00:12:28,879 This means that whatever you do, you need to guard your behavior, the words you say 154 00:12:28,879 --> 00:12:34,869 and the emotions you feel, and act only after you filtered all your impulses through your 155 00:12:34,869 --> 00:12:36,709 capacity of reasoning. 156 00:12:36,709 --> 00:12:43,670 Although it sounds like common sense, in reality it takes a huge amount of willpower and discipline. 157 00:12:43,670 --> 00:12:49,910 Plato compared the human soul to a person driving a chariot pulled by two flying horses: 158 00:12:49,910 --> 00:12:55,930 one horse is white and beautiful and represents our thumos or “spiritedness”, emotions 159 00:12:55,930 --> 00:13:01,869 which are justified by a spirit of justice or other noble sentiments, the other horse 160 00:13:01,869 --> 00:13:07,920 is black, ugly and bad and it represents our destructive emotions. 161 00:13:07,920 --> 00:13:13,910 The white horse is the part of our soul which gives us the rational and moral impulses and 162 00:13:13,910 --> 00:13:18,430 the ugly horse is the one who pushes us towards irrational passions. 163 00:13:18,430 --> 00:13:25,389 The white horse is immortal, temperate, modest and well-behaved, not needing any whips, while 164 00:13:25,389 --> 00:13:31,950 the black horse is mortal, deformed and stubborn, and does not follow commands. 165 00:13:31,950 --> 00:13:37,610 The chariot intends to lead the horses to the heavens, in the world of pure Ideas or 166 00:13:37,610 --> 00:13:43,230 Forms, but the main challenge is to control the black horse that causes problems and pulls 167 00:13:43,230 --> 00:13:45,649 us towards the earth. 168 00:13:45,649 --> 00:13:50,819 To be able to climb to the heavens, or in other words, to access true reality or to 169 00:13:50,819 --> 00:13:56,869 reach enlightenment, the driver has to learn how to control the black horse, and they can 170 00:13:56,869 --> 00:14:03,370 control it only when they focus on heaven, on the world of forms, on the abstract concepts 171 00:14:03,370 --> 00:14:08,130 behind the physical objects we see in our physical world. 172 00:14:08,130 --> 00:14:14,490 However, we cannot throw our irrational passions overboard, so we should try to apply them 173 00:14:14,490 --> 00:14:19,309 in a constructive way, to cooperate with the voice of reason. 174 00:14:19,309 --> 00:14:24,730 If we don’t, they can backfire and cause extreme damage to our life. 175 00:14:24,730 --> 00:14:29,119 Nothing is more rewarding than to know you conquered yourself, that you can drive your 176 00:14:29,119 --> 00:14:34,239 actions in the direction you consciously want them to go, not in the way your emotions and 177 00:14:34,239 --> 00:14:36,290 impulses demand. 178 00:14:36,290 --> 00:14:40,730 If however you make decisions impulsively, nothing else would matter much, because you 179 00:14:40,730 --> 00:14:46,029 would always be in danger of destroying everything you are trying to build. 180 00:14:46,029 --> 00:14:50,589 Consider you love your job and want to rise up the ranks in your company, but you find 181 00:14:50,589 --> 00:14:55,350 out your boss took one of your ideas and claimed to his bosses that he thought of the whole 182 00:14:55,350 --> 00:14:56,420 thing. 183 00:14:56,420 --> 00:15:01,540 Now he really needs your help to stay and work overtime in order to work on the project 184 00:15:01,540 --> 00:15:06,989 and you, because you feel angry with him for stealing your thunder, refused him. 185 00:15:06,989 --> 00:15:12,079 Instead of seeing the big picture of the situation, you just followed your first emotional urge 186 00:15:12,079 --> 00:15:14,730 to punish your boss. 187 00:15:14,730 --> 00:15:19,430 Or it might be the case that you have a drinking problem, the need to drink dominating your 188 00:15:19,430 --> 00:15:21,540 daily life. 189 00:15:21,540 --> 00:15:26,199 In this case, alcohol has conquered you and to gain your control back, you might need 190 00:15:26,199 --> 00:15:29,379 to begin therapy sessions to address the problem. 191 00:15:29,379 --> 00:15:34,589 No matter how big your problem is, there might be some ways to improve your situation and 192 00:15:34,589 --> 00:15:40,769 to increase your willpower to resist the destructive emotions and control your behavior. 193 00:15:40,769 --> 00:15:45,920 You need to learn to control your emotions and behavior if you want to be in control 194 00:15:45,920 --> 00:15:47,550 of your life. 195 00:15:47,550 --> 00:15:52,699 If you don’t control your emotions and behavior, you will damage all of your personal and professional 196 00:15:52,699 --> 00:15:58,050 relationships, your career, your wellbeing and you could find yourself in a downward 197 00:15:58,050 --> 00:16:02,970 spiral from which it will be very difficult to climb back. 198 00:16:02,970 --> 00:16:07,639 The more you learn to control your emotions and behavior, the more in control of your 199 00:16:07,639 --> 00:16:10,959 life you will be. 200 00:16:10,959 --> 00:16:15,980 Pursue your deepest passions 201 00:16:15,980 --> 00:16:21,939 In the words of Plato “To the degree that I cease to pursue my deepest passions, I will 202 00:16:21,939 --> 00:16:26,709 gradually be controlled by my deepest fears.” 203 00:16:26,709 --> 00:16:32,679 In Plato’s works, it can often be seen that Plato wanted to puzzle his readers by revealing 204 00:16:32,679 --> 00:16:36,299 some truths contrary to common sense. 205 00:16:36,299 --> 00:16:41,160 For example, one might think that when you pursue your deepest passions, you would face 206 00:16:41,160 --> 00:16:45,809 difficult obstacles, that you would always be fearful of failing, and that you would 207 00:16:45,809 --> 00:16:48,730 eventually end up facing your deepest fears. 208 00:16:48,730 --> 00:16:52,220 However, Plato argues that the opposite is true. 209 00:16:52,220 --> 00:16:57,299 It is when you stop pursuing your deepest passions that you end up being controlled 210 00:16:57,299 --> 00:16:59,449 by those fears. 211 00:16:59,449 --> 00:17:04,500 Although in some books like Phaedo, through the voice of Socrates, Plato emphasized the 212 00:17:04,500 --> 00:17:09,920 danger of being controlled by extreme and destructive emotions, in other works Plato 213 00:17:09,920 --> 00:17:14,850 recognized the huge importance of following constructive and noble passions. 214 00:17:14,850 --> 00:17:20,940 For Plato, only the soul is immortal in us and our soul is trapped in our body which 215 00:17:20,940 --> 00:17:22,120 is mortal. 216 00:17:22,120 --> 00:17:27,200 During our life, there is always a conflict between the soul who is concerned with what 217 00:17:27,200 --> 00:17:32,990 is good and rational and the body, which is driven by irrational passions. 218 00:17:32,990 --> 00:17:38,270 If we are oriented towards pleasures like food, drink and sex, we would keep our soul 219 00:17:38,270 --> 00:17:43,880 imprisoned in the body and it will not be able to express itself in this world. 220 00:17:43,880 --> 00:17:48,520 Moreover, pursuing such common pleasures keeps us in fear. 221 00:17:48,520 --> 00:17:54,240 The more concerned we are about living a lavish life, the more we fear we will lose our job, 222 00:17:54,240 --> 00:17:58,080 not measure up to our peers, or lose our status in society. 223 00:17:58,080 --> 00:18:05,060 A life focused on pleasures and security brings more anxiety. 224 00:18:05,060 --> 00:18:10,900 By contrast, if we orient ourselves towards intellectual pleasures like philosophy, education, 225 00:18:10,900 --> 00:18:16,570 the desire to contribute to society, to innovate and create, we will see ourselves as parts 226 00:18:16,570 --> 00:18:17,760 of something greater. 227 00:18:17,760 --> 00:18:23,880 We will be more inclined to take more risks and in doing so, achieve greater success and 228 00:18:23,880 --> 00:18:29,120 fulfillment, because we pursue our deepest and most elevated passions. 229 00:18:29,120 --> 00:18:36,530 In this case, we fear less, because our identity is not defined by what we lack or could lose. 230 00:18:36,530 --> 00:18:40,650 Instead it is now defined by our positive contribution to the world. 231 00:18:40,650 --> 00:18:47,230 Something we have already achieved, something immutable, locked into history. 232 00:18:47,230 --> 00:18:52,930 Pursuing our deepest and most elevated passions helps us in reducing the fears in our life 233 00:18:52,930 --> 00:18:57,300 and thus increases the sense of being in control. 234 00:18:57,300 --> 00:19:02,110 Being less attached to worldly pleasures, like living in a big house, having expensive 235 00:19:02,110 --> 00:19:08,480 cars, or over-indulging in physical pleasures, we can experience a greater sense of freedom, 236 00:19:08,480 --> 00:19:14,630 allowing us to be more in control of our lives. 237 00:19:14,630 --> 00:19:20,310 Be the leader of your life In our final quote from Plato for this video, 238 00:19:20,310 --> 00:19:29,230 he says “He who refuses to rule is liable to be ruled by one who is worse than himself.” 239 00:19:29,230 --> 00:19:34,180 Plato often talked about the importance of getting involved in politics. 240 00:19:34,180 --> 00:19:40,170 He was of the opinion that society should be composed of three groups - first the plebs, 241 00:19:40,170 --> 00:19:46,360 the most inferior, then the ‘soldiers’ to keep society under control and the third, 242 00:19:46,360 --> 00:19:50,330 the rulers who should always be philosophers. 243 00:19:50,330 --> 00:19:55,240 Plato thought that philosophers, the most intelligent in his time, should govern over 244 00:19:55,240 --> 00:19:57,800 the less educated ones. 245 00:19:57,800 --> 00:20:03,310 Democracy meant that political decisions should be made by the “demos”, meaning all people 246 00:20:03,310 --> 00:20:05,210 in a state. 247 00:20:05,210 --> 00:20:10,460 Plato was against this idea as he considered that making political decisions requires the 248 00:20:10,460 --> 00:20:16,960 judgment and skills that only experts have, experts being in his view, philosophers. 249 00:20:16,960 --> 00:20:22,430 However, his view that people should be proactive and should strive to lead those who are less 250 00:20:22,430 --> 00:20:26,580 knowledgeable than them deserves consideration. 251 00:20:26,580 --> 00:20:32,290 Many of us have had moments when, instead of assuming leadership in uncertain situations, 252 00:20:32,290 --> 00:20:36,940 we felt scared and we let people less qualified than us lead us. 253 00:20:36,940 --> 00:20:43,080 When we do this we leave them control over us, and this can have damaging consequences. 254 00:20:43,080 --> 00:20:47,650 When we repeat this pattern of not taking initiative and leadership, other people will 255 00:20:47,650 --> 00:20:51,060 take advantage of us and will rule over us. 256 00:20:51,060 --> 00:20:57,060 To take back control of your life, you need to learn to make your voice heard, to analyze 257 00:20:57,060 --> 00:21:03,280 each situation objectively, to recognize those situations in which you have the most expertise 258 00:21:03,280 --> 00:21:06,650 and to take control of them when needed. 259 00:21:06,650 --> 00:21:10,850 For example, it might be the case that you need to say something in a work meeting when 260 00:21:10,850 --> 00:21:15,480 you see a problem, even if your position in the company is very junior. 261 00:21:15,480 --> 00:21:20,910 Your courage for speaking up leads to the issue being addressed, and improving the company. 262 00:21:20,910 --> 00:21:24,140 This may be rewarded and may even lead to a promotion. 263 00:21:24,140 --> 00:21:28,820 However, if you just keep quiet when others around you make mistakes and you follow along 264 00:21:28,820 --> 00:21:34,810 with bad decisions for an easy life, you will continue being ruled by them and as such, 265 00:21:34,810 --> 00:21:38,270 they will have control over you. 266 00:21:38,270 --> 00:21:43,580 According to Plato, the person with the most knowledge in a situation should call the shots, 267 00:21:43,580 --> 00:21:45,700 no matter the position of that person. 268 00:21:45,700 --> 00:21:51,810 Do not let yourself be intimidated by the hierarchy of the team you are part of. 269 00:21:51,810 --> 00:21:57,150 You are the leader of your own life: Do not allow anyone to make decisions instead of 270 00:21:57,150 --> 00:22:00,990 you if they have less knowledge than you in matters at hand. 271 00:22:00,990 --> 00:22:07,410 Choose to be the ruler of your own life, to take control of your mindset and find true 272 00:22:07,410 --> 00:22:10,440 happiness. 273 00:22:10,440 --> 00:22:14,110 If you enjoyed this video, please make sure to check out our full philosophies for life 274 00:22:14,110 --> 00:22:19,110 playlist and for more videos to help you find success and happiness using ancient philosophical 275 00:22:19,110 --> 00:22:22,070 wisdom, don’t forget to subscribe. 276 00:22:22,070 --> 00:22:24,320 Thanks so much for watching.