Stoicism is a philosophy that emphasizes living in the present moment rather than dreaming about the future. It is a daily practice that focuses on minimizing negative emotions and maximizing gratitude and joy. The Stoics believed that life was complex and exhausting, and it is not just a set of teachings but a way of life.
The core of Stoicism is developing an internal locus of control, which is associated with virtue and being rational. This philosophy helps individuals to minimize negative emotions and face adversity with grace and tranquility. Stoicism is a practical philosophy that offers followers a way to live life rationally without becoming victims to their emotions or circumstances.
The Stoics identified four virtues in everyday life: wisdom, courage, temperance or moderation, and euaimonia. A Stoic sees no meaning in their life and tries their best to live in accordance with nature by acting out on virtues to reach a state of euaimonia.
A Stoic lifestyle is an expression of the Stoic’s attitude toward practical affairs. It is eudaimonist in structure, positing happiness (eudaimonia) as the rational aspect of life. Stoicism is about focusing on what is within our control and letting go of what is not. It teaches us to accept the inevitable ups and downs of life and strive for a well-lived, flourishing life.
In summary, Stoicism is an ancient philosophy that emphasizes the importance of living in the present moment and focusing on virtue, self-control, and acceptance. By adopting Stoicism, individuals can navigate life’s challenges and find greater contentment.
📹 Ryan Holiday of Daily Stoic on the Fascinating Life of Marcus Aurelius
Taken from JRE #1836 w/Ryan Holiday: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3VbGyix7GOozgg8sry2Tmr?si=0237c639d95a4ebd.
Is Stoic a good or bad trait?
The practice of Stoicism offers a mental health tool that encourages the acceptance of circumstances beyond one’s control and the focus on those that can be influenced, thereby reducing stress and anxiety. Furthermore, it cultivates a sense of gratitude and contentment, providing a valuable perspective on life. However, it is not without its own set of challenges, as it acknowledges the inherent imperfections of humans.
What is the Stoic rule 1?
It is advisable to streamline and remove superfluous components. One must consider whether the motivation to engage in a particular action is derived from external influences or from an intrinsic desire to perform the action.
Do Stoic people get angry?
Stoics, known for their aversion to strong emotions, often view anger as a form of madness. Seneca, a prominent Stoic from ancient Rome, famously described anger as a form of madness. To update their view of anger, David Ashton suggests that Stoics’ best response to anger is to control it through methods such as taming, domesticating, or modulating it. This approach, as described by Seneca, can help individuals manage their emotions and cope with their emotions more effectively.
What makes a Stoic happy?
The Stoics emphasize that the key to a good life is our character, which is what creates happiness. To achieve happiness, we must first recognize that all we need is ourselves. While there are basic necessities, many of us have cluttered our lives with unnecessary things. To achieve happiness, we must cut down on material things, thoughts, and actions, and focus on creating a more fulfilling life.
How does a Stoic person talk?
Stoics are known for their clarity, objectivity, and character. They believe in shared reality based on verifiable facts, rather than subjective opinions. Character is a Stoic’s currency, and they avoid value judgments, similar to mindfulness practices. Labels of good and bad are incompatible with non-attachment and flow, and Stoic speech is about being an instrument for the truth. A person’s moral character is their most important asset, and lying risks this valuable asset.
To speak like a Stoic, one must think and speak with balance and fairness, adhering to the truth and never relying on exaggeration to convince or persuade others or themselves. This approach is similar to mindfulness, where labels of good and bad are avoided. By adhering to these principles, Stoics can convey their messages effectively and without risking their moral character.
What are the 4 rules of Stoicism?
The Stoics developed a detailed taxonomy of virtue, dividing it into four main types: wisdom, justice, courage, and moderation. Wisdom is divided into good sense, good calculation, quick-wittedness, discretion, and resourcefulness. Justice is divided into piety, honesty, equity, and fair dealing. Courage is divided into endurance, confidence, high-mindedness, cheerfulness, and industriousness. Moderation is divided into good discipline, seemliness, modesty, and self-control.
The Stoics maintained that the virtues are inter-entailing and constitute a unity. To have one is to have them all, and the same virtuous mind is wise, just, courageous, and moderate. The Stoics offered an analogy: just as someone is both a poet and an orator and a general but is still one individual, so too the virtues are unified but apply to different spheres of action.
A human being’s function is to perform “appropriate acts” or “proper functions”. Appropriate acts are actions that are persuaded by reason and admit reasonable justification. Examples include maintaining one’s health and sacrificing one’s property under certain circumstances. The performance of appropriate acts is necessary for virtuous action, as the agent must have the correct understanding of the actions they perform. Each deed represents the totality and harmony of their moral integrity.
The scale of actions from vicious to virtuous can be divided into three categories: actions done “against the appropriate act”, intermediate appropriate actions where the agent’s disposition is not suitably consistent, and perfect acts performed with an absolutely rational, consistent, and formally perfect disposition, which is virtue.
What are stoic habits?
Habits and routine are essential aspects of the Stoics, who believed that we become what we repeatedly study and focus on. Epictetus, a philosopher, believed that capability is confirmed and grows in its corresponding actions, and that to achieve happiness, success, and greatness, we must develop the capability and day-to-day habits that allow this to occur. This means that impressive results or enormous changes can be achieved without herculean effort or magic formulas.
Epictetus believed that philosophy should be kept at hand every day and night, with the title of his book Enchiridion meaning “small thing in hand”. Marcus Aurelius’s power as a philosopher and philosopher king was based on this lesson, as he would have read Epictetus’s advice to keep thoughts at hand every day and night. Seneca, on the other hand, advocated for repeatedly diving back into the great texts of history, rather than chasing every new or exciting thing published. He believed that lingering among a limited number of master-thinkers and digesting their works would lead to ideas that would win firm hold in one’s mind.
Are Stoic people happy?
Stoicism is a practical philosophy aimed at living a meaningful life and becoming one’s best self. The Stoics believed in living a virtuous life that can bring personal happiness and fulfillment. To achieve happiness, one must pursue virtue and good character. A good character is the only guarantee of everlasting, carefree happiness. Acting virtuously means striving towards one’s ideals and becoming the best version of oneself. By becoming the person we want to be, we will be happy.
The Stoics also teach that happiness is a personal responsibility. The first step is to take ownership of who we are and the state of our lives. Only then can we become the people we want to be and find fulfillment and happiness in our lives.
Is being Stoic a bad trait?
Stoicism, a philosophy that emphasizes mental fortitude, is often praised for its ability to help individuals navigate stressful situations with a level-headed perspective. However, critics argue that stoicism may encourage emotional suppression, leading to issues like detachment from emotions and difficulty in forming empathetic connections. Stoicism’s focus on self-control and personal responsibility can be beneficial in both personal and professional spheres, as it helps individuals stay committed to their goals and act ethically.
However, an overemphasis on self-reliance can be isolating, discouragering people from seeking help or sharing their burdens with others. This can exacerbate feelings of loneliness and disconnect from the community. Overall, stoicism’s emphasis on mental fortitude and self-control can be both beneficial and detrimental.
What is the dark side of Stoicism?
Stoicism, an ancient philosophy, offers wisdom but also has potential pitfalls. Extreme stoicism can lead to emotional suppression, detachment, and a disregard for genuine emotions. This blog post explores the origins of stoicism, the lives of influential stoics, and the book “The Obstacle Is the Way” by Ryan Holiday. It aims to understand the fundamental principles of stoicism and how to incorporate them into our daily lives. The author shares their journey into Stoicism, starting when they were 40 years old and moved to Sweden when their ex was pregnant.
They discovered Ryan Holiday’s book “The Obstacle Is The Way” while listening to a Tim Ferriss podcast about Stoicism. By understanding the potential pitfalls of taking stoicism to the extreme, readers can navigate the power of Stoicism and find resilience and fulfillment in today’s fast-paced world.
📹 9 Stoic Rules For A Better Life (From Marcus Aurelius)
00:00 – Intro 01:12 – 1. Put people first 02:12 – 2. Another path is always open 03:28 – 3. Take it step by step 04:23 – 4. Discard your …
I was going through a shitty time. Both events and mental stuff. I picked up Meditations, a good translation, and read. I cannot describe how much it changed my life, for the better. It built in me an inner fortress, and handed me the keys, telling me nothing could breach it unless I let someone or something do it. I can not recommend it more. Thanks Marcus. I will carry your words with me as long as I live.
my favorite messaging of the book was him describing himself sitting in his chair, perusal the business go by in the palace, where there were non-stop ass kissers, adulterers, sexual deviants all out for themselves wasting their lives away while theres this colorful and rich nature happening outside and nobody ever stops to listen to it. He was literally the smartest man in the room most of the time.
I’m Italian and they made me read and translate (parts of) Meditations in high school (classical studies kind of school). Well, back then I didn’t find it as great as I was told it would be. But I picked it up again later in life and I was amazed. So I realized that you have to be kinda ready, well disposed to the depth of thought you’re going to be through. In other words, there’s a time in your life where you’re more inclined to it. I was not ready at 17 while I was instead at 35. Because in the time between the two readings a lot had happened in my life that had vastly broadened my comprehension of the world and the layers and nuances that make it up.
I named my son Marcus after Marcus Aurelius. I could’ve gone with a Spanish/Portuguese name had I consulted our heritage and roots. Yet I was so inspired by Marcus’ literary work that I felt it would permeate my sons thinking once he grew up to also read his work. My son is 17 and I couldn’t be any prouder of his stoic approach to life.
Another theory could be that since his first 7 children died, he most likely over protected and spoiled the only one that actually had survived. In his mind he probably thought he would not make it either, so why not give him the best time alive before he goes away like the others. Truly heartbreaking
As someone who studies history I find it absolutely mind blowing that we, in the 21st century, can read the inner thoughts of a man who was Roman Emperor. I really think this makes ‘Meditations’ one of the most important and fascinating documents in history. That it gives an insight into the mind of the most powerful man in one of history’s most powerful empires, in a time so distant, is truly amazing.
When you grow up spoiled and in the shadow of a parent who is loved and adored, you are under extreme pressure and high expectations are placed upon you. Some children respond negatively to that dynamic, feeling as if their life is predetermined and laid out against any will to determine their own outcome. It forced many royals to go the extremes to set their own destiny far removed from the stereotype of expectations.
I have had ‘The Meditations of Marcus Aurelius’ in my library for many,many years. Found it at my public library at age 17 and took the bus into town each time I had to renew my taking it out. He was the perfect example of a man, strong and deeply spiritual. A true treasure to us all. It was years before I found another in Viktor Frankle. He too, took my heart and mind to places I never new existed. All teens should have these two men’s books in their summer reading program.
“The Five Good Emperors” are Nerva (96-98) Trajan (98-117) Hadrian (117-138) Antoninus Pius (138-161) Marcus Aurelius (161-180) They weren’t the ONLY good emperors – Augustus, Vespasian, Aurelian, Constantine, Majorian, Justinian and Heraclius are others – but they reigned one after the other and oversaw the empire’s golden age. It’s just a rarity in Roman history to get so many good emperors reigning so close to one another. In fact Nerva wasn’t even that great; adopting Trajan as his heir was the best thing he did.
Yes! Ryan Holiday’s “The Obstacle is The Way” changed my mindset. Three years ago, everything changed for me in my 40s. My life has improved 1000x. I went from a nihilistic slacker to a proactive entrepreneur; from an unemployed drunk to a successful business owner. It is all about changing your perception and applying it to your life.
Really like Ryan’s work – just wanted to correct a few historical inaccuracies: firstly rich people definitely did have toilets in Ancient Rome. Secondly, Ryan refers to ‘the five good emperors’ stating that they were the only good emperors in Roman history. Whilst these Emperors are undoubtedly amongst the best, the undisputed ‘best’ was Augustus, the first Emperor, with others such as Diocletian or Aurelian having a look in as well. Finally, when Ryan states that co-emperors hadn’t happened before or since, this is just plain wrong, Diocletian introduced the Tetrachy, a system where there were 4 Emperors all ruling at the same time, and there are multiples examples, especially in later Roman history, of multiple emperors ruling at the same time. The senior Emperor would be take the title Augustus whilst the junior partner would take the title of Caesar. Really appreciate Ryan’s work and I’m sure he mostly misspoke on these points but wanted to clarify regardless. For anyone interested, Mike Duncan’s History of Rome Podcast is an awesome overview of Roman history.
Loved this talk. I’m also fascinated by “Meditations”. Just one small correction dear Joe, the actor that did an outstanding characterization of Marcus Aurelius in the Ridley Scott movie “Gladiator” was the amazing irish actor RICHARD HARRIS, not the also amazing actor Peter O’Toole. Richard Harris was also outstanding in movies like: “Unforgiven”, “Count of Montecristo” and as the first “Dumbledore” on the “Harry Potter” movies.
I’m an Independent Latino. WOW, Rogan this is one of the Best episode. Thank you for stressing on someone’s (kids) up bring. Many, Many people don’t understand this, only the ones that have gone through trials and tribulations. I’m happy that many people overcame this issue but never forgot being in that state…..Si Bueno. I wish you had your podcast in different languages – Spanish Please.
One correction, Commodus was not kill by a gladiator. When Marcia found a list of people Commodus intended to have executed, she discovered that she, the prefect Laetus and Eclectus were on it. The three of them plotted to assassinate the emperor. On 31 December, Marcia poisoned Commodus’ food, but he vomited up the poison, so the conspirators sent his wrestling partner Narcissus to strangle him in his bath. – Dio Cassius 73.22.3. Also it was pretty common to adopt a son, and that son to inherit the Empire. The Claudio-Julian dynasty was entirely pass by adopted sons or nephews, or uncles. Augustus -> Tiberius (adopted son) -> Caligula (grandson of Augustus) -> Claudius (Caligula’s uncle) -> Nero (Claudius adopted son); the entire 5 good emperors were pass to adopted sons, it was a common thing to pass it to a more capable man (meritocracy) than to a person just because of blood relations.