Many centuries ago, Alexander the Great decided
to visit a philosopher named Diogenes, who lived in the city of Corinth. At the time, many philosophers and statesmen
were eager to visit the ancient Greek king of Macedon, but Diogenes didn’t show the
slightest interest in him and rather enjoyed relaxing in his barrel, surrounded by his
best friends: dogs. Perhaps, his sheer indifference was the reason
why Alexander was so curious about this philosopher. When he looked for him in a suburb of Corinth,
Alexander found Diogenes lying in the sun. The king greeted him and asked: “Is there
anything you want from me?” “Yes,” answered the Cynic philosopher,
“stand a little out of my sun.” Alexander the Great was deeply impressed by
Diogenes’ haughtiness and aloofness, especially toward a man of his stature and stated to
his followers shortly afterward: “But truly, if I were not Alexander, I wish I were Diogenes.” By being indifferent to Alexander’s status
and wealth, Diogenes maintained his independence and authenticity. His demeanor didn’t change a bit in the
presence of the mighty king. Unlike many others, he didn’t desire his
approval, nor did he fear his disapproval. So even though Alexander the Great was one
of the most powerful figures in the world at that time, he had no power over Diogenes. Why? Indifference. Diogenes simply didn’t care, and so nobody
could affect him. Indifference is often viewed as a negative
trait, something associated with a lack of empathy or concern for others. However, as the examples in this essay will
illustrate, indifference can be a powerful and versatile tool. This video explores the power of indifference,
unfolding five benefits of being indifferent. (1) Freedom and authenticity Most people are sheep. They conform to the herd, behave how others
behave, and follow the roadmap others have laid out for them. This approach is not inherently wrong, as
it can provide safety and security. Moreover, it can prevent criticism and rejection
from the masses—however, those who deviate from this path risk being criticized, ridiculed,
or even ostracized. People are generally anything but indifferent
toward the opinions of others and how they perceive them. They fear not belonging, being rejected, or
falling by the wayside. But as philosophers such as Arthur Schopenhauer
and the Stoics have pointed out: the opinions of others are not as significant as we tend
to think. If we want to pursue our dreams or display
a persona that’s more congruent with who we are, we need to be indifferent to certain
social conventions and the opinions of others. In his essay “Self-Reliance,” Ralph Waldo
Emerson argues that even though society often pressures us to conform, we should strive
to be true to ourselves and independent thinkers. We should not rely on the opinions of others
but have faith in ourselves. Emerson supports the idea of indifference
toward the views of others while having confidence in oneself. However, he also cautions against separating
ourselves from the world entirely if we want to live authentically. Emerson writes: It is easy in the world to live after the
world’s opinion; it is easy in solitude to live after our own; but the great man is
he who in the midst of the crowd keeps with perfect sweetness the independence of solitude. End quote. Regarding freedom and authenticity, the power
of indifference lies in the freedom we create by being true to ourselves and not relying
on the opinions of others. Doing so allows us to pursue our dreams and
live authentically, even if it means deviating from societal norms. The story about Diogenes at the beginning
of this video is a good example of someone disregarding other people’s opinions and
living life on his own terms. (2) Emotional resilience In the ancient Greek city of Nicopolis, a
man once visited Epictetus’ school and voiced his concern that his life was in danger. He feared that the emperor would throw him
into prison or banish him from Rome. However, Epictetus argued that such events
are not within our control; the only thing that belongs to us is our will or, put differently,
our attitude towards these events. Why is this important? According to the Stoics, how we feel about
our circumstances depends on our attitude. The quality of our thoughts determines how
we deal with adversity. Suppose we believe that being imprisoned or
banished is terrible. In that case, we’ll be horrified when it
happens and turn into emotional wrecks as a consequence. But suppose we believe such events are simply
the workings of the universe, which we don’t have control over, and are neither good nor
bad in themselves. In that case, we’ll be emotionally resilient
and able to cope when they occur. The Stoics believe that regardless of our
hardships, we have the choice of attitude. We should approach all things that are not
within our control with an indifferent stance. Epictetus spoke of “contempt” toward things
not in our control, in contrast to those in our control, such as our opinions, pursuits,
and other actions originating from our ability to choose. The power of indifference in the Stoic sense
is the power to distinguish between things that are within our control and those that
are not and to care less about the latter. This enables our minds to be tranquil in all
circumstances, as Epictetus called it, “in a state conformable to nature.” By being indifferent to things not in our
control, we take away the fuel that causes us to be emotionally disturbed. So, if you’re thrown into prison, it is
what it is. What’s up to you is how you spend your time
there. Likewise, a romantic partner cheating on you
can be expected, as it’s fairly common for human beings to put their desires above their
integrity. Some people don’t have integrity at all. You cannot force them to act otherwise. From a Stoic perspective, what’s up to you
is focusing on your well-being (and the well-being of others, for that matter), partly by distancing
yourself from someone who doesn’t align with your values. It’s worth noting that being indifferent
to something doesn’t automatically imply that it’s bad. Some things benefit us, such as healthy food
and money to cover our living expenses, while others are harmful, such as sickness and certain
illegal activities. Toward external things, the Stoic art of indifference
lies in pursuing what’s beneficial and avoiding what’s harmful in any situation while not
letting our equanimity depend on these external factors. (3) Better performance Long ago in China, a young woman participated
in an archery contest. As she was nervous, her hands were visibly
shaking. Nevertheless, she was determined to win the
tournament, as the prize money could help her family survive. Unfortunately, she performed awfully. Devastated by the loss, she told herself:
“in practice, I rarely miss the mark. But in a competition, I do nothing but miss.” When the young woman participated in a tournament,
her nervousness held her back from winning, even though she could have won purely based
on skills. She was attached to the outcome of the competition
because of the prize money, which would help her family survive. This attachment clouded her performance. The nervous archer shows us how our attachment
to specific outcomes can lead to emotional distress and self-doubt. We experience a need (sometimes desperate
need) to achieve a particular outcome, which in itself evokes anxiety. We might think: “What if I don’t win and
don’t obtain the prize money? What will happen to my family? I have to win. I can’t afford to lose.” Such thoughts eventually create tremendous
pressure under which our performances collapse. Instead of performing well, which happens
in the present in ‘the act’ itself, we fearfully try to perform well, which is more
directed at the future in which our actions take place. Unfortunately, in many cases, the more we
try, the worse it gets, as we’ve explored in a previous video about the Law of Reversed
Effort. In contrast, we are less likely to become
emotionally attached to specific outcomes when we approach situations with an indifferent
mindset. Instead, we focus on the process and the effort
we put in rather than the result itself. By being indifferent to outcomes, we can cultivate
a sense of detachment from external events, so there’s less anxiety that holds us back,
which allows us to be more present ‘in the moment’ and enjoy the process of ‘acting’
rather than becoming fixated on the outcome. By doing so, we can experience more inner
peace, reduce our risk of emotional distress, and ultimately perform better in various situations. (4) Affordable contentment A previous video about minimalism showed how
a Taoist sage named Xu You sat by the riverside and refused to accept the throne of the kingdom. He argued that he didn’t need ‘all under
heaven,’ as it wouldn’t allow him to live a simple and quiet life. Xu You’s indifference toward an opportunity
for power that most people could only dream of (and often chase after) was rooted in his
desire for a life of simple pleasures and contentment. As a Taoist sage, he believed that the pursuit
of power and wealth would only serve to complicate his life and disrupt his inner peace. In essence, Xu You valued affordable contentment
through the enjoyment of simple pleasures over material abundance and status. This perspective is not unique to Taoism;
the ancient Greek philosopher Epicurus held a similar view. Epicurus believed in focusing on simple, natural,
necessary pleasures rather than vain and excessive ones. “If you want to make a man happy, add not
unto his riches but take away from his desires,” he stated. In other words: by cultivating indifference
to all the glitter and glamour that the world has to offer, we’re better off than trying
to satisfy our many desires, which are often insatiable. Both approaches ultimately share the same
goal: contentment or a state of tranquility, also called ataraxia, which we experience
when our desires are satisfied. Hence, the fewer desires we have, the easier
it becomes to be satisfied. If we experience a bottomless pit of desire,
however, then satisfaction becomes almost impossible. So, which one is the most affordable and sustainable
option? Indifference to vain pleasures, such as extreme
wealth and power, grants us the opportunity to be content with less and appreciate the
simple pleasures of life. (5) Rational and objective decisions When we are indifferent to our emotional states
and biases, we can better analyze situations and make decisions based on facts and logic
rather than being influenced by our feelings or preconceived notions. Our biases and emotional states can prevent
us from making rational and objective decisions by clouding our judgment and leading us to
make decisions based on our desires or emotions rather than what’s best for the situation. For example, if we are emotionally attached
to a particular outcome, we may make decisions that aren’t in our best interest. Alternatively, if we are biased towards a
specific group or idea, we may not consider all available options, leading us to make
irrational decisions. When we approach a situation with an indifferent
mindset, we are more likely to consider all available information and make a decision
based solely on facts and logic, as we are not swayed by our emotions and biases. By being indifferent, we prevent ourselves
from being misguided in our decision-making. For example, imagine you’re a manager deciding
which employee to promote. Suppose you are biased towards a particular
employee (because of their characteristics). In that case, you may be more likely to encourage
them over another employee who is more qualified for the job. However, if you approach the decision indifferently
to bias, personal or perhaps, social preference, you are more likely to consider each employee’s
qualifications objectively and decide based on their merit. Indifference is a paradoxical concept: it
appears empty yet holds great power. It’s a subtle but mighty force that allows
us to let go of what doesn’t matter, so the things that do shine through. Thank you for watching.
Hmm. This video has a Cynic perspective to be sure. (Edit: but I don’t know a lot about it. So all this is opinion based on incomplete information)
As far as Stoicism is concerned. My understanding is that its not about “being indifferent” but rather that its externals that are indifferent.
Diogenes probably cared, but when he found himself caring he revoked assent and acted contrary to his desire.
Did he not desire for the sun to shine on his face when Alexander stood in his way? The sun is indifferent to virtue.
If Diogenes followed his own philosophy he would’ve asked Alexander for nothing at all, because everything good is already available to his own will or as providence intended.
So Stoicism, whether the sun rays fall on my face or not is indifferent to virtue, to the only thing that is good. But that it shines on my face would be a preferred indifferent. The cynics don’t have that option is my understanding.
The Stoics at least don’t pretend there’s externals that are preferred.
I really like people making content like this on youtube though.
Also, I wonder how much of Diogenes was just personality versus actually representative of lived philosophy.
I really really encourage you to read more Diogenese. Here is a free way to read Lives of Eminent Philosophers
http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0258
Edit Diogenese is under cynics and here is the popular chapter that talks about his run ins with Alexander the great among other things, however I think the entire book is fantastic and worth reading.
https://sourcebooks.fordham.edu/ancient/diogeneslaertius-book6-cynics.asp
Stoicism isn’t really about being indifferent to emotion and cognitive bias—we should care very much about these things, as they are “up to us.”
It looks like Epictetus wrote the book "The subtle art of how not to give a f***". For the ancient Stoics, indifferences were helpful in living a life of virtue. Living a life of virtue is what resulted in eudiamondia, or a life well lived. Indifferences were not pop psychology techniques that helped them win and be successful. Indifferences were a way of looking at the world to help them live a life of virtue.
The guy who made the video is selling pop psychology techniques on how to be successful in life and he starts out by using an example of a guy who may very well have been mentally ill and had absolutely no aspirations for any success in his own life, even to the extreme place of not owning his own drinking cup.