How Plato Can Save Your Life

The philosophical path to health and wellness.

Leadership
Video Games Stronger Than Morphine: U.S. Military

Nicholas Kardaras Ph.D. on August 24, 2016

The U.S. military discovered that playing video games can be more effective than morphine in treating combat burn veterans—so what is this digital morphine doing to kids' brains?

The U.S. military discovered that playing video games can be more effective than morphine in treating combat burn veterans—so what is this digital morphine doing to kids' brains?

Cross-Cultural Psychology
The Culture Of Violence and Psychologically Vulnerable Teens

Nicholas Kardaras Ph.D. on December 17, 2012

We sift through all of the disturbing images and the various horrifying news reports about the Newtown massacre trying to make sense of the senseless. Yes, we hear such words as "evil", but that would be too simplistic, Of course this was a monstrous act that defies logical explanation, but what might we, as a society, learn from this almost unimaginable act of violence?

We sift through all of the disturbing images and the various horrifying news reports about the Newtown massacre trying to make sense of the senseless. Yes, we hear such words as "evil", but that would be too simplistic, Of course this was a monstrous act that defies logical explanation, but what might we, as a society, learn from this almost unimaginable act of violence?

Depression
The Greek Miracle: How Plato Can Save Your Life

Nicholas Kardaras Ph.D. on May 4, 2012

Most of us have heard that Plato was a pretty smart and groovy toga-wearing ancient Greek with some pretty trippy ideas, but what life-saving tips can such and old-school philosopher possibly offer the ipod generation?

Most of us have heard that Plato was a pretty smart and groovy toga-wearing ancient Greek with some pretty trippy ideas, but what life-saving tips can such and old-school philosopher possibly offer the ipod generation?

Friends
The Occupy Wall Street Movement: What Would Plato Say?

Nicholas Kardaras Ph.D. on October 21, 2011

Are the Occupy Wall Streeters fulfilling some sort of noble civic responsibility? Are they meaningfully engaged in our democracy in a way that would make the real founding fathers of our political system--the ancient Greeks--proud? In short, what would Plato, the man who literally wrote the book, "The Republic," say about our friends gathered in Zucotti Park?

Are the Occupy Wall Streeters fulfilling some sort of noble civic responsibility? Are they meaningfully engaged in our democracy in a way that would make the real founding fathers of our political system--the ancient Greeks--proud? In short, what would Plato, the man who literally wrote the book, "The Republic," say about our friends gathered in Zucotti Park?

Adolescence
Teenage Wasteland: A Clinician's Front-Line Look at Generation V, The Virtual Generation

Nicholas Kardaras Ph.D. on August 12, 2011

They’re young, plugged in, and tuned out. Alone and isolated with thousands of virtual “friends.” They’re globally connected yet perpetually distracted, self-absorbed rather than self-reflective. Apathetic and cynical, they’re not interesting nor are they interested. Welcome to Generation V.

They’re young, plugged in, and tuned out. Alone and isolated with thousands of virtual “friends.” They’re globally connected yet perpetually distracted, self-absorbed rather than self-reflective. Apathetic and cynical, they’re not interesting nor are they interested. Welcome to Generation V.

Religion
The Scientific Atheism Fallacy: How Science Declares that God Is Dead, But Can't Prove It

Nicholas Kardaras Ph.D. on June 17, 2011

A scientist has to be an atheist; that seems to be the pervading popular wisdom these days. Yahoos, snake handlers and Bible freaks are "true believers," but sober men and women of science can't possibly believe in such fairy tales.

A scientist has to be an atheist; that seems to be the pervading popular wisdom these days. Yahoos, snake handlers and Bible freaks are "true believers," but sober men and women of science can't possibly believe in such fairy tales.

Wisdom
Pythagoras and String Theory: Old Wisdom Validated by New Science

Nicholas Kardaras Ph.D. on June 13, 2011

Philosopher Bertrand Russell believed that the way we understand our world fundamentally shapes the way that we live our lives. Thus, an anarchist lives a very different sort of life than, say, an Orthodox Jew; an eco-warrior marches to a different drummer than a Wall-Street Master of the Universe. I think we all get that.



Philosopher Bertrand Russell believed that the way we understand our world fundamentally shapes the way that we live our lives. Thus, an anarchist lives a very different sort of life than, say, an Orthodox Jew; an eco-warrior marches to a different drummer than a Wall-Street Master of the Universe. I think we all get that.



Self-Help
The Ancient Greek Path to Wellness

Nicholas Kardaras Ph.D. on June 2, 2011

You can't turn on a TV or flip through a magazine today without being bombarded by a variety of so-called "self-help" messages meant to show us ways to either feel better, look younger or love longer; no matter where we turn the dial or flip the page, we see screaming infomercials promising 7 minute solutions to problems that took a lifetime to develop.


You can't turn on a TV or flip through a magazine today without being bombarded by a variety of so-called "self-help" messages meant to show us ways to either feel better, look younger or love longer; no matter where we turn the dial or flip the page, we see screaming infomercials promising 7 minute solutions to problems that took a lifetime to develop.


Depression
The Ancient Greek Cure for Depression and Anxiety

Nicholas Kardaras Ph.D. on May 27, 2011

As far as societies go, we’re one stressed out, anxious, depressed and self-medicating mess. Those of us who work on the front-lines in the mental health field know this all too well; others need only to take a careful look around the social-cultural landscape to appreciate that our collective mental health is not too, well, healthy.

As far as societies go, we’re one stressed out, anxious, depressed and self-medicating mess. Those of us who work on the front-lines in the mental health field know this all too well; others need only to take a careful look around the social-cultural landscape to appreciate that our collective mental health is not too, well, healthy.

Philosophy
Life After Death: The Great Mystery

Nicholas Kardaras Ph.D. on May 13, 2011

What happens to us after we die? Human beings have been asking that great, big matzo ball of an existential question since we stood upright and stopped dragging our knuckles in the primordial goo.

What happens to us after we die? Human beings have been asking that great, big matzo ball of an existential question since we stood upright and stopped dragging our knuckles in the primordial goo.

Happiness
Keys to Happiness: Feeling Good or Doing Good?

Nicholas Kardaras Ph.D. on April 29, 2011

Oh, yeah. That decadent all-the-toppings Ben and Jerry's double fudge brownie is really going to taste good as you let it go from spoon to joy-spot. Mmm-hmmm. Yes indeed, that chocolaty good-taste is really going to make you feel very, very nice-but for how long? More importantly, will the feel-good effects of that yummy ice cream make you happy?

Oh, yeah. That decadent all-the-toppings Ben and Jerry's double fudge brownie is really going to taste good as you let it go from spoon to joy-spot. Mmm-hmmm. Yes indeed, that chocolaty good-taste is really going to make you feel very, very nice-but for how long? More importantly, will the feel-good effects of that yummy ice cream make you happy?

Genetics
Reality Cubed: Jersey Shore, the Empirical Sciences and Plato

Nicholas Kardaras Ph.D. on April 22, 2011

Sure it's not that often that you utter the words "Snooki", "Science" and "Plato" in the same breath. And hopefully you'll never have to again. But each can illuminate a thing or two about this concept that we call "reality". I'll explain. The Jersey Shore, in all of its tan-in-a-can, embrace your inner-guido vulgarity, has become a national phenomenon.

Sure it's not that often that you utter the words "Snooki", "Science" and "Plato" in the same breath. And hopefully you'll never have to again. But each can illuminate a thing or two about this concept that we call "reality". I'll explain. The Jersey Shore, in all of its tan-in-a-can, embrace your inner-guido vulgarity, has become a national phenomenon.

Back
Back
Find a Therapist
Back
Get Help
Back
Magazine
May 2026 magazine cover
May 2026
The Best Ways to Begin Again

The best way to begin something new—in love, work, and life.

Subscribe Issue Archive
Back
Tests
Self Tests
Self Tests

Self Tests are all about you. Are you outgoing or introverted? Are you a narcissist? Does perfectionism hold you back? Find out the answers to these questions and more with Psychology Today.

Self Assessments
Quizzes