Introduction

I'm not a philosopher,
I'm not a book,
Nor am I an app, but a person hiding behind the words you read. The role of the person I try to be in your eyes is that of a friend.

I could be your brother, a parent.
I think I understand you, because you and I've a lot more in common than we think.

So like a friend, a brother or a parent, I'm not trying to give advice, I'm trying to share advice.

Take what you like and throw away what you don't like.
Create your own philosophy.

Philosophy {{username}} is "Adult Education.” ¹

Philosophy is also about learning to read. Reading philosophy means learning to understand texts at a deep level and to recognize the practical and ethical implications of philosophical ideas. This means grasping not only the literal but also the implicit meaning of texts. In other words, sometimes you have to move on to text interpretation.

The original texts I am highlighting here may not be easy for some to read, especially at first glance.
Even I, who do not come from a literary background, was initially repelled by these texts, but with time I’ve come to enjoy deciphering the messages they contain. They are sometimes far too complex, because in order to understand their true content, these texts need to be examined in their historical context, in terms of what their authors want to say, need to say and can say ². However, we are not historians of philosophy:

Our approach is more pragmatic: engaging with texts, understanding their deep meaning (and thus learning to read them) is what learning philosophy is all about: sharpening our thinking, making connections between concepts, absorbing a thought in order to transform our own.

This transformation of thinking discussed in this program is about the way you view others. About the temptation to compare ourselves that most of us succumb to.

We compare ourselves to others.
What they have, what they do.
How big their apartment is.
With their partner.
Their apparent happiness.

It is indeed difficult not to compare ourselves; comparing ourselves with others is anchored in our DNA ³.

From an evolutionary point of view, comparison is the most important survival mechanism. It allows us to assess where we stand in a group and develop strategies to ensure our reproduction and safety.

From an anthropological perspective, comparison can help maintain social order and strengthen group cohesion by establishing clear norms and expectations.

Finally – and this is the point that interests us, from a social and psychological point of view, self-comparison satisfies our need for self-assessment: it helps us to define our own social identity and validate our choices and beliefs. As we often compare ourselves with people who are similar to us (the greater the similarity, the more relevant the comparison), comparison can have a strong influence on our self-esteem and psychological well-being:

>> It stimulates personal growth and well-being when it is perceived positively,
>>> but it also leads to feelings of devaluation when we feel inferior.

The goal of this program is to work on the tendency to self-deprecation, but it does not deny the motivating component of comparison with others.

The Stoics were very productive in examining the effects that measuring ourselves against others can have on our psyche. In this program, I have compiled (and will continue to do so) writings from our ancestors on comparison with others. But I also appreciate more recent studies on this topic and will also share some analysis that seems relevant to me through the lens of the philosophical system we have adopted.

Let's begin.