It doesn't have to be this way
Humans have a collective misbelief about our ability to think and act rationally. In reality, our thinking and decision-making are influenced by so-called cognitive biases.
10 cognitive biases that distort our thinking during the corona crisis
We, humans, have a collective misbelief about our ability to think and act rationally. In reality, our thinking and decision-making are influenced by so-called cognitive biases. It is some of these systematic thinking traps I describe in this article: How 10 cognitive biases affect the way we think, decide, and act during the corona crisis.
Stoicism in a time of pandemic: how Marcus Aurelius can help
The Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius Antoninus was the last famous Stoic philosopher of antiquity. During the last 14 years of his life he faced one of the worst plagues in European history. The Antonine Plague, named after him, was probably caused by a strain of the smallpox virus. It’s estimated to have killed up to 5 million people, possibly including Marcus himself.
The emergence of Covid-19 dramatically changed what I do. I now call 10 to 20 patients a day to inform them of their positive Covid-19 test results. It isn’t a one-way flow of information. The patients almost always tell me about themselves and ask questions, some that are difficult to answer.
Please forward and share this email with your friends and family.