In my last newsletter, I wrote a somewhat scathing piece about Martin Seligman, the man behind the US Army’s $140 million resilience training course, in which I argued that Seligman’s model of the good life shirked any clear concept of moral goodness. I was amazed by his suggestion that Osama bin Laden lived a ‘flourishing life’, and suggested that, if this was the case, there must be something very wrong with his model of flourishing.
Positive Psychology (and indeed the Cognitive Behavioural Therapy on which it is largely based) takes therapeutic techniques from ancient Greek philosophy, but separates them from their moral context and tries to turn them into non-moral skills or techniques. It gets quite dangerous, I think, when you start to use public policy to teach CBT and Positive Psychology in schools and armies, as Martin Seligman is now, because essentially you are teaching young people that the good life has nothing to do with any particular values. We’re trying to teach ‘the good life’ to young people while preserving the liberal idea that the government should not back any particular moral or ethical philosophy. So policy makers argue they’re not teaching values or morals (which sounds elitist or paternalistic), but instead are teaching ‘skills’.
But I fear that is trying to have your cake and eat it.
This is not a new argument, by the way. Plato, in his dialogues, considers two different types of government, both of them attempts to bring happiness to the people. One model of government, described in The Statesman, is a model of what JS Mill enthusiastically called ‘scientific management’. The ideal statesman is an expert in the science or techne of statescraft. What he designs is, essentially, a highly efficient value-less technocracy which makes people happy. This is basically what Martin Seligman is trying to sell us – and it’s also what Max Weber and JS Mill seemed to think social science could provide us.
The other model of government, described in The Republic, The Laws and elsewhere, insists that such a science of statescraft would be an empty and spiritually bankrupt technocracy if it is not deeply informed and guided by an idea of the good.
Regarding this debate – between a technocracy of wellbeing and a moral philosophy of wellbeing – you might enjoy this talk by the person who designed the US Army’s first resilience-training course, Major Thomas Jarrett. Like Seligman’s Comprehensive Soldier Fitness course, Jarrett’s Warrior Resilience Training course, which he first taught in Iraq in 2005, is based on the therapeutic principles of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. But Jarrett also embraces and includes Stoic philosophy, and the Stoic principles of virtue, honour and courage. In other words, his vision of resilience and well-being is a moral vision, not purely a technocratic one.
I personally think this is far more appropriate for soldiers – who after all are willing to die for their country – than Seligman’s amoral technocratic vision, although the US Army ended up backing Seligman’s amoral version rather than Jarrett’s moral version of resilience. See what you think.
Do you know if Tom is still pursuing the Resilience training model? I would like to pass on some of that information to so ex-mil friends of mine.
Im not sure where he is right now – tried to get in contact with him a couple of weeks ago and no reply yet so he may be deployed somewhere. But yes, he still teaches resilience etc.
Jules- I appreciate you posting some of the ideas from that great gathering of Stoics. Must say my comments do not represent those views of the U.S. Army or U.S. Department of Defense, having spoken here as a civilian though I serve as an Army Officer. The Warrior Resilience was a pilot program 2005-2009. Currently those interested can learn more about the ever evolving and improving Army Master Resilience Program at: https://www.resilience.army.mil/MRTfacilitators.html or contact me directly at stoicwisdom@earthlink.net
Cordially, Thomas A. Jarrett, LCSW/DCSW/BCD Albert Ellis Fellow
Hi Thomas
Great to hear from you, glad you like the video, comments noted.
Look forward to speaking soon,
Jules
Just came across. A fan of your writings. But this characterization of Seligman runs counter to at least one of his notable works – https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/100130.Character_Strengths_and_Virtues
Just came across this. A fan of your writings. But this characterization of Seligman runs counter to at least one of his notable works – https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/100130.Character_Strengths_and_Virtues
Sir
It is with the upmost respect I thank you for you service to our country on this special day set to honor men and women like you. Because of your service I have the freedom to be me and enjoy the life i have.
Every time I hear a small plane overhead I stop and look up and remember the day i was honored to go up in your plane . It was one of the highlights of my life that I will never forget.
I hope your Goldwing is running well. Allow me to correct that and say I’m sure your Goldwing is running well. My daughter got her first motorcycle last srpring when we talked about it even though I am hardcore Old Skool Harley ( not because I say they are better than everything else but because it’s just what I like ) I recomended a Honda as her first bike. She found a sweet 2007 750 Honda Shadow with only 3,500 miles on it. I’m sure it will serve here well.
I would very much love to take you and your son fishing. One of my greatest joys is seeing kids get excited catching fish. I enjoy that more than catching one myself. We have done a lot of work down at the river and I would also like for you and son do a overnight camp out and fishing. Every kid should have a chance to fish, camp out and sit around a camo fire tellimg jokes and eating hotdogs cooked over the fire.
I hope all is well with you and yours and would very much enjoy you coming to a visit. I’ve done many new projects around the house that I’m excited about. I almost forgot I have been given a LOT of tools and I’m setting up a really nice workshop. You are very welcom to use it and bring your son to do father son projects.
Please give me a call at (443) 221-3387
Regards Turtle
God Knows Stuff