I Tried René Descartes’ Meditation For A Week

I Tried René Descartes’ Meditation For A Week - Here's What I've Learned

Рет қаралды 27,909

Күн бұрын

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A little experiment where I lived like René Descartes and replicated his six-day philosophical meditations + the importance of developing critical thinking
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Chapters:
The Experiment: 00:00
Sponsor: 02:30
Meditation 1: 04:25
Meditation 2: 07:18
Meditation 3: 09:22
Meditation 4: 11:58
Meditation 5: 14:23
Meditation 6: 16:49
Lessons from Descartes: 18:24

Пікірлер: 77

@rjwusher Жыл бұрын

About a decade ago I used to work at the IT and communications department of a psychiatric hospital which was located on the grounds of Endegeest castle (Oegstgeest, The Netherlands), where Descartes lived from 1641 until 1643. The board of directors had its offices in the actual castle. Many times I had to go there and fix the computers. It was very, very cold, especially in the winter, even when the central heating system was pumping continuously. Considering the era Descartes lived in was at the end of a minor ice age and the only heat source of the castle was a fire place in the main hall the poor man had to have been freezing cold all the time.

@RobertGasperson Жыл бұрын

I tried a few weeks ago to give myself a full hour of reading time. This is not just on a book of theology or philosophy but the science fiction books that I’m reading as well. I’ve found that I only read for 10 or 15 minutes at a time throughout my days. Giving myself this for our allows me to really fall into the story or to do research on words I don’t understand or look up meanings and commentaries about what I’m reading and really dive into it. So I like this idea of focusing on the information for a full hour every day. I’m going to try to make it more of a habit for my own life.

@thehoodieguy1341 Жыл бұрын

Very very interesting indeed, throughout watching Robin, this is the second time I've heard him encourage the idea of embracing a little bit of solitude, a little bit of isolation. I believe there's a lot of reflection that can be done in that time, and when you go out into the world to meet people things are more refreshed and clear.

@SevenUnwokenDreams Жыл бұрын

This year I started taking two hours to myself without my phone. I read for a while, journal, and then sit and just be with my thoughts. It's much better than the mindless scrolling I used to do.

@nickjpriore1497 Жыл бұрын

@Steph Breaking a cycle is almost always uncomfortable. Sticking with it is the hard part, but continual adherence to a new habit ensures that it will become easier with time. Soon, you’ll enjoy the new habit and forget the old😊

@nickjpriore1497 Жыл бұрын

@Steph Take your time, you’ll get there 👍

@strawbasket1 Жыл бұрын

Robin's progression in his meditations was wonderful to see

@blackstonefinn3775 Жыл бұрын

Hi Robin, great experiment and would love to hear more about your reflections or takeaways from reading Descartes. As for daily reading & reflecting time, I started my days in January with 30 minutes of reading and reflecting and I found it a great way to start my day. Then in Feb, I experimented with my first activity in the morning being a workout instead of quietly reading. For my little experiment, I certainly found reading to have a more serene energy whereas starting with a run or weights was more of a jumpstart to my day. Putting away all tech and reading before bed I find gets me into deeper sleep cycles.

@nerd26373 Жыл бұрын

Thank you for sharing your insights. We appreciate the fact that you took the time to reflect.

@rattybabby Жыл бұрын

I love these types of videos, really inspiring!

@TheActiveMind1 Жыл бұрын

Love this experiment! It reminds me how much I enjoyed reading Descartes' meditations the first time. Time to re-read it!

@GenericAccountVLR Жыл бұрын

Same.

@ulaneii Жыл бұрын

your videos are always so touching. it's make me feel warmth

@lindamalkas3302 Жыл бұрын

I read the mediations years ago. I’m inspired to go back. Thank you.

@BlushnBlue Жыл бұрын

Very good lesson to think about implementing. Thank you.

@Emilywilson10222 Жыл бұрын

I have super infinite coming in from the library and now I’m going to read it in this structure and see how it goes! Thanks!

@alinktoana Жыл бұрын

I’m really glad you changed the video’s title tbh. I dismissed it the first time I saw it bc I don’t give a damn about how Descartes lived lol but then when you wrote Meditations I was like, oh, there could be some cool journaling prompts there. And that’s exactly what it is! So yeah, I haven’t read Descartes in over a decade but I’m actually gonna try it, thanks for the recommendation (: It’s gonna be interesting given that he’s so focused on god, and im becoming even more of an atheist as my family clings to the idea of ~jesus as we’re dealing with chronic illnesses and aging lol wish me luck!

@tortiedove Жыл бұрын

I love that we can learn so much from the works of pre-existing thinkers.

@BrittanyBWrites Жыл бұрын

I really like this experiment. I might try it out with Chaucer (I'm fighting with me every step of the way for class) to see if I can actually understand him before I throw up my hands and give up. I do some kind of meditation with my journal (I try and journal every single day) but maybe I need to try rgis and find out what I've learned.

@angelinamatheson2565 Жыл бұрын

This was really fun to watch I love your videos. This last semester I did a class centred on Descartes so I read discourse on method and the meditations very slowly and thoroughly. I thought your interpretations were really fun! I hadn’t thought about using some of the words you did. But. I am curious. I’m not sure you DID live like Descartes this week. It seems you reflected in HIS points of certainty and HIS doubts and reasonings. I feel a really big part of these two publications is about the method, and casting what YOU have found to be certain to doubt. I understand if those were private considerations though, just a wondering I had at the end when thinking about maybe doing it myself

@KatKitty777 10 ай бұрын

Love it!

@yonathanasefaw9001 Жыл бұрын

I have this book, and now you make me want to read this. I just started analysing it but forgot all about it. Let's see what insightfulness it will give me.

@tamzinlittle5295 Жыл бұрын

Great video!

@DeetasDiary Жыл бұрын

I got drawn to Descartes once again, but dude, the six-day meditation made me ask: Isn't the act of meditation (and thinking) an experience in itself? I don't know how far Hume got into his empiricism and experience, but now I found myself reviewing that too, because of this video! P.S. Looking forward to Wittgenstein, maybe Heidegger and Derrida but, definitely Deleuze.

@yac2617 Жыл бұрын

I love it!!!!

@kshitijyadav4208 Жыл бұрын

I'd love more philosophy videos from you- something like 'how to read so and so philospher

@liamjamestaylor Жыл бұрын

I remember hearing David Lynch, when talking about ideas and inspiration, mention taking time just to daydream. There was a metaphor about throwing a fishing line in and waiting for something to bite etc. It’s so hilariously simple and obvious, but how often do we do it?

@himeshwarirathore444 Жыл бұрын

Love you 😍

@dydx_ Жыл бұрын

Out of curiosity, you usually talk about Philosophers but have you ever made a video in which you explored the models within Confucius, Buddhist or Shinto based mindsets? When you were talkin about emptiness my brain just jumped immediately to Sunyata.

@tinahatch7440 Жыл бұрын

Yes, please! I am just beginning to learn philosophy, but I feel like I don't see as much about Eastern thought. I'm not sure where to begin!

@emilychian3785 Жыл бұрын

@@tinahatch7440 or you can go ahead and read Tao Te Ching (written by Lao Zi, the founder of Taoism) but it looks so heavy even I never got a chance to read it yet ^^"

@emilychian3785 Жыл бұрын

@@tinahatch7440 or Art of War by Sun Tzu. It is a shorter read

@dydx_ Жыл бұрын

@@emilychian3785 A lot of eastern philosophy is represented through storytelling as the concept of philosophy didn't and doesn't really exit there in the same way as it does here. Any good novel is a great way to start. Journey to the West, probably the most fun. The five rings, water margin, blue cliff notes would be other references I recommend. Terms to look up could be: The three marks of existence (Anicca, Dukkha, Anatta) or Ensō. More contemporary media I can recommend would be: Houseki no kuni (宝石の国), Vagabond(バガボンド) and Yukio Mishima four part series: The Sea of Fertility(豊饒の海)

@rivexeoa-ph9ul Жыл бұрын

1st from the Philippines

@zetaone2669 Жыл бұрын

Robin, thank you for sharing your many truly insightful and inspiring experiences. If you don't mind sharing, what was that music in the background?

@RCWaldun Жыл бұрын

I got them from Epidemic Sounds. 👌🏻

@valsasmr8315 Жыл бұрын

Off topic but I use the same ringtone for my alarm!! 😄

@normanfranklin4784 Жыл бұрын

Next video. Six days of meditation isolated in a cabin with a blank notebook and a ball of wax.

@richarddewitt3457 Жыл бұрын

Interesting video. This is something I would like to try. Do you think doing this in the morning is more beneficial than at night? Maybe to get you thinking bright and early...?

@rudolfwhicker9841 Жыл бұрын

Hey, Robin! First of all, great video! I was wondering if you could post your notes. I am thinking of starting out on this path and would like to see your thought process and how you make your deductions. Thank you.

@RCWaldun Жыл бұрын

I’ve a note taking video in the works. :) Stay tuned.

@ivanatesic5921 Жыл бұрын

Wonderful video. What is that notebook though?

@deadmqn_ Жыл бұрын

I don't know who Descartes is but I still got very excited to see this video.

@thomasdarling2553 Жыл бұрын

5th from Canada

@RCWaldun Жыл бұрын

6th from Australia.

@DannySabraArt Жыл бұрын

How long would the readings take versus time meditating? I think there would be much to gain from silent contemplation after a reading as opposed to a full hour of solid reading. Great video!

@RCWaldun Жыл бұрын

I spend around 20 minutes reading a chapter and 40 minutes journaling about the content.

@aavaizraza5904 Жыл бұрын

@Robin Waldun this is a great approach. It's habitual to strictly consume, but actually contemplating what you consumed and running it through your own intellect is something that changes the game.

@imiikhan Жыл бұрын

🖤🖤🖤

@madinahamid_ Жыл бұрын

I found this channel a week ago and now I can't stop watching all of his videos 🦉🤎

@tharunveeraiah7053 Жыл бұрын

third is a charm

@MichaelCraven485 Жыл бұрын

2nd from New York

@muhammadbilal3605 Жыл бұрын

Hey Robin! Great video as always. I am wrestling with some philosophical ideas. One of which is the idea that in a capitalistic society, it is of no use to read and think about subjects like metaphysics, or other subjects which have no direct impact on my lifestyle or the society. I am really interested in philosophy but whenever I pick up a philosophy book, the above mentioned idea comes to my mind and I put the book down. What's your take on this idea?

@RCWaldun Жыл бұрын

Simone Weil tackled this idea. Under capitalism, thought is the first thing that is eliminated for better control. For me thinking independently is actually the first step towards renouncing unconscious capitalism.

@bluuakhi Жыл бұрын

😮oo😮oo😮seas 🎉🎉eszer😮oooo😮o😮😮o😮o😮o😮😮o😮o😮ooo

@RealSweetTom Жыл бұрын

I have a question. Do you read the introductions and all the background to these books, they put me off philosophy reading, and I wondered if they were necessary. Did you read the mediations without all the notes?

@RCWaldun Жыл бұрын

Sometimes these secondary notes are helpful but they could obscure a first reading. I like to read the source material first, form my own interpretations and compare mine to secondary notes.

@RealSweetTom Жыл бұрын

@@RCWaldun Thanks 👍

@booshkoosh7994 Жыл бұрын

Is it anything like Marcus Aurelius Meditations? I am a Spinoza sort of guy; and yet I haven't gotten into Descartes that much. Would it be a good idea for me be take to thinks, say Descartes and Spinoza, in the form of there best peaces, and act as the bridge between the to. Interpret, or really, imagine a sort of conversation in your head? Thanks for the video, Rob. I've been watching for years; since the beginning.

@RCWaldun Жыл бұрын

It’s not at all like Marcus Aurelius. Descartes established the key foundations for Rationalist philosophy (along with many other Cartesian thinkers) whereas Aurelius was more about the embodiment of stoicism. Spinoza is a whole can of worms and personally I prefer him over Descartes.

@booshkoosh7994 Жыл бұрын

@@RCWaldun Hi Robin. Thanks for the insight! I'm embarking on a crazy reading load this year (I leave 3 hours every day to read and think); and I am always inspired by whatever you end up reading. I know this is an insane amount to ask of you, or anyone, but would you have any tip for me when reading Spinoza? I am reading "Spinoza's Philosophy" (a hefty collection of Spinoza's works; and a garage-sale find from the 20's: the Tudor Publishing Company edition). As an engineering student that has delved into the humanities, I find your insights valuable in such a way that only comes from likemindedness. Sorry to have dragged on so long, but I have one last thing to say: I think you will love Rousseau. I sleep with The Social Contract under my pillow; it's that good. And for fiction (if you don't like it within literally 5 pages, you can chuck it): The Brothers Karamazov by Dostoevsky. Thanks again, Rob! My names Wyatt, I live in SoCal, and I'm rooting for you all the way.😄 (Sorry for the typo on my former post)

@thomasbradley2225 Жыл бұрын

A sunny day and a wood burning stove, and no wars to fight. A soldier fighting his own indolence. He sought Jebbie approve.

@Pun116 Жыл бұрын

Where did you get the 6 days from? I never read anything from Descartes talking about any sort of reading system amounting to what you've done in this video. Was this your implementation or spin on the process? Not saying you've done any wrongdoings; I'm just curious.

@MrOba-rk1qz Жыл бұрын

I thought you knew well the value of solitude, silence and slowness. Writing it's (also) about that.

@farahbilal3895 Жыл бұрын

Great video! I'm gonna try this with the novel I'm reading, I think I'll understand the characters and the message they're delivering better.

@devmanus7563 Жыл бұрын

I dont know why but he looks like David shcrute

@devmanus7563 Жыл бұрын

Dwight I meant

@literarytalha735 Жыл бұрын

I personally feel more connected to philosophers who believe (firmly) in a God. For me, God is the only explanation of everything. So, I'll make sure of reading him.

@SidRandom Жыл бұрын

No technology he says into the microphone in front of a camera

@SplashyCannonBall 6 ай бұрын

Ironically you’re not supposed to think. It’s called meditation for a reason. Wink. Wink.

@AmarieCAN29 Жыл бұрын

I find it insane that your friends ask you where you are if you're offline for only an hour...

@AmarieCAN29 Жыл бұрын

@Trinity M Fair enough. Then I find it insane that people are apparently never offline for even an hour anymore.

@zloisloi 8 ай бұрын

I do not understand what's surprising in contemplating about God. After all, He is the most beautiful idea, the perfect personality and the Good per se, the Song of Songs. A passing adept of the dark, 'Teutonic' philosophy.