Using ancient philosophy to cope with your modern problems

The episode explores how ancient Greek philosophy, developed amid political upheaval and uncertainty, offers tools for examining what constitutes a worthwhile life today. Notre Dame professor Megan Sullivan draws on Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle to argue that deliberate questioning and habit formation help people move beyond inherited or socially reinforced ideas of success, especially when facing rapid technological change, economic pressures, and personal vulnerability.

Socrates emerged in Athens during the invention of democracy and widespread public debate. Rather than accept surface-level arguments, he pressed young citizens with questions about truth, courage, and the nature of a good life. This practice challenged those in power and led to his trial and death in 399 BC. Plato, his student, concluded that democracy itself was flawed because it had killed the figure most committed to genuine inquiry. Aristotle, Plato's student, took a different path. He rejected radical political overhaul in favor of systematic training in virtues that support long-term flourishing, which he called eudaimonia.