Why Indifference is Power | Priceless Benefits of Being Indifferent
Many centuries ago, Alexander the Great decided to visit a philosopher named Diogenes, who lived in the city of Corinth. At the time, many philosophers and statesmen were eager to visit the ancient Greek king of Macedon, but Diogenes didn’t show the slightest interest in him and rather enjoyed relaxing in his barrel, surrounded by his best friends: dogs.
Perhaps, his sheer indifference was the reason why Alexander was so curious about this philosopher. When he looked for him in a suburb of Corinth, Alexander found Diogenes lying in the sun. The king greeted him and asked: “Is there anything you want from me?”
“Yes,” answered the Cynic philosopher, “stand a little out of my sun.” Alexander the Great was deeply impressed by Diogenes’ haughtiness and aloofness, especially toward a man of his stature and stated to his followers shortly afterward: “But truly, if I were not Alexander, I wish I were Diogenes.”
By being indifferent to Alexander’s status and wealth, Diogenes maintained his independence and authenticity. His demeanor didn’t change a bit in the presence of the mighty king. Unlike many others, he didn’t desire his approval, nor did he fear his disapproval. So even though Alexander the Great was one of the most powerful figures in the world at that time, he had no power over Diogenes. Why? Indifference.
Diogenes simply didn’t care, and so nobody could affect him. Indifference is often viewed as a negative trait, something associated with a lack of empathy or concern for others. However, as the examples in this essay will illustrate, indifference can be a powerful and versatile tool.
This video explores the power of indifference, unfolding five benefits of being indifferent.
(1) Freedom and authenticity. Most people are sheep. They conform to the herd, behave how others behave, and follow the roadmap others have laid out for them. This approach is not inherently wrong, as it can provide safety and security. Moreover, it can prevent criticism and rejection from the masses—however, those who deviate from this path risk being criticized, ridiculed, or even ostracized.
People are generally anything but indifferent toward the opinions of others and how they perceive them. They fear not belonging, being rejected, or falling by the wayside. But as philosophers such as Arthur Schopenhauer and the Stoics have pointed out: the opinions of others are not as significant as we tend to think. If we want to pursue our dreams or display a persona that’s more congruent with who we are, we need to be indifferent to certain social conventions and the opinions of others.
In his essay “Self-Reliance,” Ralph Waldo Emerson argues that even though society often pressures us to conform, we should strive to be true to ourselves and independent thinkers. We should not rely on the opinions of others but have faith in ourselves. Emerson supports the idea of indifference toward the views of others while having confidence in oneself.
However, he also cautions against separating ourselves from the world entirely if we want to live authentically. Emerson writes: “It is easy in the world to live after the world’s opinion; it is easy in solitude to live after our own; but the great man is he who in the midst of the crowd keeps with perfect sweetness the independence of solitude.”
End quote. Regarding freedom and authenticity, the power of indifference lies in the freedom we create by being true to ourselves and not relying on the opinions of others. Doing so allows us to pursue our dreams and live authentically, even if it means deviating from societal norms. The story about Diogenes at the beginning of this video is a good example of someone disregarding other people’s opinions and living life on his own terms.
(2) Emotional resilience. In the ancient Greek city of Nicopolis, a man once visited Epictetus’ school and voiced his concern that his life was in danger. He feared that the emperor would throw him into prison or banish him from Rome. However, Epictetus argued that such events are not within our control; th...