I am reading Anna Karenina and have come across a few passages that remind me of the Stoic mindset. The first, describing the landowner Levin, strikes me as a good example of someone drawing on inner strength and outward-directed goals to lead a fulfilling life. Levin is caught in a hailstorm while riding on horseback; while…
It’s been surprising for me to see how much mental energy changing jobs has taken up--and I haven’t even started the new job yet, but am taking some time off in between. I look forward to settling into a new routine so that some mental space can be cleared again for writing. Stoicism helped me…
In his essay “On Cruelty,” Montaigne wrote of Cato and Socrates, “We see in the souls of these two men and their imitators - for I very much doubt whether they had equals - so perfect a habit of virtue that it has become their common complexion.” How can we get to the point where…
From reading the Stoics we notice their emphasis on spiritual "training" to strengthen the character and enable one to endure difficulties with equanimity. What exactly did they mean by this training, also referred to as spiritual exercises? Is it enough to read the Stoics and apply what we learn there to situations as they arise? Or…
Reflecting on basic Stoic precepts as I prepare to develop my practice.
I'm new at this guest-posting thing, but I wanted to let my readers know that Leah Goldrick at Common Sense Ethics has graciously published a post that I wrote on Musonius Rufus' take on the ideal job and the ideal marriage. The post is here. Her blog is terrific and well worth a bookmark.
I am happy to present a guest post this week from one of my favorite bloggers, Leah Goldrick. Leah became a practicing Stoic as a result of her ongoing inquiry into the Western wisdom traditions. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Philosophy and a Masters in Library and Information Science from Rutgers University. She used…
In Book Two, chapter 11 of his Discourses (free online version here), Epictetus describes what he takes to be the purpose of philosophy--to function as a ruler against which we measure our arguments--and explains how it comes about that, given that we all are born with a notion of good and evil, there are conflicting opinions…
As you may be aware, Stoicism is hot these days. Some practicing Stoics appear to be view this as a non-preferred indifferent [1]. Rather than feel threatened or un-stoically irritated by it, modern Stoics should keep their chins up--or better, down, to peruse their Stoic texts and ignore the trend, which will likely die down…
In his discourse “Of Tranquility” (2.2), Epictetus frames his general advice, that we should keep in mind what is up to us and what is not, using the analogy of someone about to litigate a dispute in court. He advises his listeners to “consider . . . what you wish to maintain and what you…
