Introduction

The study of philosophy, as we see it, aims to change your way of seeing and living by subjecting it to the laws of reason. It is about anchoring great principles in your own mind that you can repeat like mantras:

Only the wise are free.
Only the wise are rich.
The moral good is the only good.

These principles should guide your conduct; this is what Marcus Aurelius engages in when he writes his Meditations.

Philosophy emerged on the periphery of the Greek world, in the colonies of Asia Minor, which in turn were influenced by the ancient wisdom of Egypt and the Near East  ¹ .With the rise of Athenian democracy in the 5th century BC, an intellectual activity began to permeate Greek thought, largely through the movement of the Sophists. These scholars, for a fee, passed on their teachings to young people eager to master the arts of argumentation and persuasion, aiming to one day rule. They were the first professors of our civilization, and it was during this time that the concept of philosophy was born.

Socrates marks the true point of rupture with the sophists. He made wisdom not just a doctrine, but a way of life:

"Socrates was not a theorist; he claimed to know nothing, and if he questioned others, it was only to force them to examine themselves and change their lives. In the end, his only true teaching was his life:
‘i never cease to show what seems right to me; if not by words, then by my actions’ ²
From now on, true philosophy is no longer understood as mere knowledge, a skill or a culture, but as a way of life, a way of being in the world that embraces the whole of life, a practice of life and a 'practice of death', as Plato put it.
This does not mean that philosophical discourse no longer exists. But despite appearances, it is never purely theoretical; it is always subordinated to the philosopher's fundamental decision to choose a particular way of life.
[…]
In general, philosophical discourse aims less to inform than to educate; it is less a presentation than an intellectual or spiritual exercise aimed at transforming man." ³

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Why am I taking the time to share this genesis with you?
Are you not here because you're looking for a quick solution to your problems?
I can understand you.
Let me give you two explanations:

First, because it seems to me that explaining where our doctrine comes from is interesting in terms of knowledge. It gives substance, context and depth to our teaching – and for me, it adds an extra interest in my own transformation. It’s a window into the past and I find certain pleasure in diving into it. But also, and most importantly, because it reminds us that the program you're about to start titled 'Eliminate Negative Thoughts’ is a program that aims to transform your way of thinking.
Transforming oneself is not about reading a very profound and ancient quote and then resuming your activities. Sometimes it is necessary to explore the roots of a system, dissect it and try to understand the underlying aspects as well as possible so that your mind can make the neural connections that will gradually shape your view of the world.

Negative thoughts are the fruit of the orientation of your mind, the view you have of the world, and if you manage to change the latter, then negative thoughts will decrease in frequency and intensity.

I like to start my programs with little digressions. This one was a bit historical. In the continuation of the course, we will return to the core of our topic: negative thoughts.

You will discover texts from our ancestors. Try to immerse yourself in them to understand them.

I wish you a good read, {{username}},

and if you have any comment to pass on, don't hesitate to use the feedback buttons you'll find throughout the app. It is also thanks to your feedback that my content will be more refined and my app, better designed.

Thank you in advance! Let’s begin the course. Like all our programs, the content will unlock gradually, and you’ll receive a notification when the next section is ready for you.