Stoicism - The Noblest Act

The Noblest Act

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Stoicism

A collection of 14 posts

Criticizing an Objectivist Lecture on Stoicism

Criticism of an Objectivist lecture on Stoicism by Aaron Smith.

You Can't Want Both, #2

A passage in Epictetus' Discourses reminded me of the line in The Fountainhead I mentioned in this post. Here's a quote (bold added): To this topic you ought to devote yourself before every other, how, namely, you may avoid ever being so intimately associated with some one of your acquaintances

A Stoic Morning Meditation

Some discussion of a Stoic morning meditations from How to Think Like A Roman Emperor: Regarding the morning meditation, Galen says that as soon as you rise from bed and begin considering each of the tasks ahead, you should ask yourself two questions: 1. What would the consequences be if

Being Thought Foolish

Enchiridion by Epictetus, Chapter 13: If you would improve, be content to be thought foolish and dull with regard to externals. Do not desire to be thought to know anything; and though you should appear to others to be somebody, distrust yourself. For be assured, it is not easy at

You Can't Want Both

Enchiridion by Epictetus, Chapter 13: For be assured, it is not easy at once to keep your will in harmony with nature and to secure externals; but while you are absorbed in the one, you must of necessity neglect the other. The Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy defines "external" in the

Cognitive Distancing & Stoicism Comments

Some comments on a Stoicism book's discussion of cognitive distancing

Decatastrophizing Practice

A bit of practice on dealing with negative situations.

More Counterrhetoric Practice

More practice on the idea of counterrhetoric.

Counterrhetoric Practice

Practicing the Idea of Stoicism as a Form of Counter-Rhetoric

Selling Your Soul

From Seneca's Letters From a Stoic, Letter 42, "On Values": Therefore, with regard to the objects which we pursue, and for which we strive with great effort, we should note this truth; either there is nothing desirable in them, or the undesirable is preponderant. Some objects are superfluous; others are

Stoicism on Emotions

A dialog on the Stoic attitude towards emotions.

Worrying About a Promotion

From How to be a Stoic by Massimo Pigliucci: The Stoic dichotomy of control applies throughout our lives. Let’s say you are up for a promotion at your job. You think it is reasonable that you will get it, given how many years you have been with the company,

Preferred Indifferents & Objectivism

A post on applying the Stoic idea of preferred indifferents to a couple of passages of Ayn Rand's novels.

Counterrhetoric

A dialog on Stoicism as a kind of counterrhetoric.