Think of some key phrases in Meditations 3.11 Always make a figure or outline of the imagined object as it occurs, in order to see distinctly what it is in its essence, naked, as a whole and parts; and say to yourself its individual name and the names of the things of which it was compounded and into which it will be broken up. One way to think of this is to analyze things in life break it down to its simplest components and identify these aspects of life.

For nothing is so able to create greatness of mind as the power methodically and truthfully to test each thing that meets one in life. Look at things logically and for what they are to make the most of decisions you make.

Why do we take an approach like this? To become better by knowing ourselves.