Philosophy: A Guide to Happiness

S01E04: Montaigne on Self-Esteem

Why do so many people suffer from feelings of low self-esteem? Alain De Botton looks at the problem through the eyes of the French 16th-century philosopher Michel de Montaigne.

Overview

Alain de Botton's psychobabble-free self-help course for the philosophically minded.

Episodes

S01E01 Seneca on Anger

March 26, 2000 24 min
Seneca believed anger flowed from our surprise when things don't turn out how we expect. Can Seneca's advice help angry van driver Wayne and stressed executive Venetia?

S01E02 Schopenhauer on Love

April 2, 2000 24 min
German philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer believed that love was the most important thing in life. His philosophy explains the mystery of why we fall in love with the people we do.

S01E03 Epicurus on Happiness

April 9, 2000 24 min
Alain De Botton considers how the ancient Greek philosopher Epicurus believed there were just three simple things we needed in order to be happy, and money wasn't one of them

S01E04 Montaigne on Self-Esteem

April 16, 2000 24 min
Why do so many people suffer from feelings of low self-esteem? Alain De Botton looks at the problem through the eyes of the French 16th-century philosopher Michel de Montaigne.

S01E05 Socrates on Self-Confidence

April 30, 2000 24 min
Alain demonstrates that ancient Athenian philosopher Socrates can help give us all the intellectual self-confidence we need to work out what we really think and believe

S01E06 Nietzsche on Hardship

May 7, 2000 24 min
Friedrich Nietzsche believed that any worthwhile achievements in life come from the experience of overcoming hardship, and that a comfortable, painless existence wouldn't be worth living

Cast

Alain de Botton
Alain de Botton
Himself

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