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Basic Stoicism: a handy vademecum
May 3, 2016 Massimo Virtue Ethics
I have now studied and practiced Stoicism seriously for
more than a year and a half. I still have a long way to go
on both theory and praxis, but I have gradually
accumulated a number of favorite Stoic reminders, as
well as developed my own summaries of Stoic doctrine
and list of concepts I find particularly useful. Here they
are, presented as a vademecum, a handy reminder that one can bookmark
or print out and keep in one’s pocket. (a downloadable pdf version is here)
Fundamental principles:
Virtue is the highest good, everything else is “indifferent.” The Stoics got
the first part from Socrates, who argued that virtue is the chief good
because it is the only thing that is good under all circumstances, and
indeed helps us make proper use of things like health, wealth, and
education. Everything else is “indifferent” in the specifically Stoic sense
that it is not to be traded against virtue. The Stoic can pursue the
preferred indifferents and try to stay away from the dispreferred ones,
so long as this doesn’t interfere with virtue. In economics, this is called
a system of lexicographic preferences.
Follow nature, that is, apply reason to social life. The Stoics thought that
we should get a hint from the cosmos (studying what they called
physics) to figure out how to live our lives (ethics). Since human beings
are social animals capable of reason (logic), it follows that we
should strive to apply the latter to the former.
Dichotomy of control: some things are under our control, others are not
(though we may be able to influence them). Under our control — if we
are mentally healthy — are our decisions and behaviors. Outside of our
control is everything else. This means that we should concern
Search …
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Basic Stoicism: a handy vademecum
HOW TO BE A STOICan evolving guide to practical Stoicism for the 21st century
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Basic Stoicism: a handy vademecum
May 3, 2016 Massimo Virtue Ethics
I have now studied and practiced Stoicism seriously for
more than a year and a half. I still have a long way to go
on both theory and praxis, but I have gradually
accumulated a number of favorite Stoic reminders, as
well as developed my own summaries of Stoic doctrine
and list of concepts I find particularly useful. Here they
are, presented as a vademecum, a handy reminder that one can bookmark
or print out and keep in one’s pocket. (a downloadable pdf version is here)
Fundamental principles:
Virtue is the highest good, everything else is “indifferent.” The Stoics got
the first part from Socrates, who argued that virtue is the chief good
because it is the only thing that is good under all circumstances, and
indeed helps us make proper use of things like health, wealth, and
education. Everything else is “indifferent” in the specifically Stoic sense
that it is not to be traded against virtue. The Stoic can pursue the
preferred indifferents and try to stay away from the dispreferred ones,
so long as this doesn’t interfere with virtue. In economics, this is called
a system of lexicographic preferences.
Follow nature, that is, apply reason to social life. The Stoics thought that
we should get a hint from the cosmos (studying what they called
physics) to figure out how to live our lives (ethics). Since human beings
are social animals capable of reason (logic), it follows that we
should strive to apply the latter to the former.
Dichotomy of control: some things are under our control, others are not
(though we may be able to influence them). Under our control — if we
are mentally healthy — are our decisions and behaviors. Outside of our
control is everything else. This means that we should concern
Search …
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YOU ARE FOLLOWING
THIS BLOG
You are following this blog,along with 1,673 other amazingpeople (manage).
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Ancient Stoicism (35)Cato's chronicles (7)Cicero (6)Epictetus (22)History & Biographies (17)Larry Becker (14)Logic (3)Marcus (19)Metaphysics (6)Modern Stoicism (28)Psychology (30)Religion (7)Science (6)Seneca (20)Social living (7)Stoicism & pop culture (11)Stoicism for Kids (1)STOICON & Stoic Week (22)Virtue Ethics (24)What Would a Stoic Do? (13)
Basic Stoicism: a handy vademecum
HOW TO BE A STOICan evolving guide to practical Stoicism for the 21st century
# $ %
Home
Home by Massimo Collections Meditations Books Stoicism 101 Stoic Camp NY STOICON
Basic Stoicism: a handy vademecum
May 3, 2016 Massimo Virtue Ethics
I have now studied and practiced Stoicism seriously for
more than a year and a half. I still have a long way to go
on both theory and praxis, but I have gradually
accumulated a number of favorite Stoic reminders, as
well as developed my own summaries of Stoic doctrine
and list of concepts I find particularly useful. Here they
are, presented as a vademecum, a handy reminder that one can bookmark
or print out and keep in one’s pocket. (a downloadable pdf version is here)
Fundamental principles:
Virtue is the highest good, everything else is “indifferent.” The Stoics got
the first part from Socrates, who argued that virtue is the chief good
because it is the only thing that is good under all circumstances, and
indeed helps us make proper use of things like health, wealth, and
education. Everything else is “indifferent” in the specifically Stoic sense
that it is not to be traded against virtue. The Stoic can pursue the
preferred indifferents and try to stay away from the dispreferred ones,
so long as this doesn’t interfere with virtue. In economics, this is called
a system of lexicographic preferences.
Follow nature, that is, apply reason to social life. The Stoics thought that
we should get a hint from the cosmos (studying what they called
physics) to figure out how to live our lives (ethics). Since human beings
are social animals capable of reason (logic), it follows that we
should strive to apply the latter to the former.
Dichotomy of control: some things are under our control, others are not
(though we may be able to influence them). Under our control — if we
are mentally healthy — are our decisions and behaviors. Outside of our
control is everything else. This means that we should concern
Search …
ARCHIVES
Select Month
YOU ARE FOLLOWING
THIS BLOG
You are following this blog,along with 1,673 other amazingpeople (manage).
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SOCIAL
! "
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Ancient Stoicism (35)Cato's chronicles (7)Cicero (6)Epictetus (22)History & Biographies (17)Larry Becker (14)Logic (3)Marcus (19)Metaphysics (6)Modern Stoicism (28)Psychology (30)Religion (7)Science (6)Seneca (20)Social living (7)Stoicism & pop culture (11)Stoicism for Kids (1)STOICON & Stoic Week (22)Virtue Ethics (24)What Would a Stoic Do? (13)
Basic Stoicism: a handy vademecum
HOW TO BE A STOICan evolving guide to practical Stoicism for the 21st century
# $ %
Home
Home by Massimo Collections Meditations Books Stoicism 101 Stoic Camp NY STOICON
Basic Stoicism: a handy vademecum
May 3, 2016 Massimo Virtue Ethics
I have now studied and practiced Stoicism seriously for
more than a year and a half. I still have a long way to go
on both theory and praxis, but I have gradually
accumulated a number of favorite Stoic reminders, as
well as developed my own summaries of Stoic doctrine
and list of concepts I find particularly useful. Here they
are, presented as a vademecum, a handy reminder that one can bookmark
or print out and keep in one’s pocket. (a downloadable pdf version is here)
Fundamental principles:
Virtue is the highest good, everything else is “indifferent.” The Stoics got
the first part from Socrates, who argued that virtue is the chief good
because it is the only thing that is good under all circumstances, and
indeed helps us make proper use of things like health, wealth, and
education. Everything else is “indifferent” in the specifically Stoic sense
that it is not to be traded against virtue. The Stoic can pursue the
preferred indifferents and try to stay away from the dispreferred ones,
so long as this doesn’t interfere with virtue. In economics, this is called
a system of lexicographic preferences.
Follow nature, that is, apply reason to social life. The Stoics thought that
we should get a hint from the cosmos (studying what they called
physics) to figure out how to live our lives (ethics). Since human beings
are social animals capable of reason (logic), it follows that we
should strive to apply the latter to the former.
Dichotomy of control: some things are under our control, others are not
(though we may be able to influence them). Under our control — if we
are mentally healthy — are our decisions and behaviors. Outside of our
control is everything else. This means that we should concern
Search …
ARCHIVES
Select Month
YOU ARE FOLLOWING
THIS BLOG
You are following this blog,along with 1,673 other amazingpeople (manage).
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Ancient Stoicism (35)Cato's chronicles (7)Cicero (6)Epictetus (22)History & Biographies (17)Larry Becker (14)Logic (3)Marcus (19)Metaphysics (6)Modern Stoicism (28)Psychology (30)Religion (7)Science (6)Seneca (20)Social living (7)Stoicism & pop culture (11)Stoicism for Kids (1)STOICON & Stoic Week (22)Virtue Ethics (24)What Would a Stoic Do? (13)
Basic Stoicism: a handy vademecum
HOW TO BE A STOICan evolving guide to practical Stoicism for the 21st century
# $ %
Home
Home by Massimo Collections Meditations Books Stoicism 101 Stoic Camp NY STOICON
Basic Stoicism: a handy vademecum
May 3, 2016 Massimo Virtue Ethics
I have now studied and practiced Stoicism seriously for
more than a year and a half. I still have a long way to go
on both theory and praxis, but I have gradually
accumulated a number of favorite Stoic reminders, as
well as developed my own summaries of Stoic doctrine
and list of concepts I find particularly useful. Here they
are, presented as a vademecum, a handy reminder that one can bookmark
or print out and keep in one’s pocket. (a downloadable pdf version is here)
Fundamental principles:
Virtue is the highest good, everything else is “indifferent.” The Stoics got
the first part from Socrates, who argued that virtue is the chief good
because it is the only thing that is good under all circumstances, and
indeed helps us make proper use of things like health, wealth, and
education. Everything else is “indifferent” in the specifically Stoic sense
that it is not to be traded against virtue. The Stoic can pursue the
preferred indifferents and try to stay away from the dispreferred ones,
so long as this doesn’t interfere with virtue. In economics, this is called
a system of lexicographic preferences.
Follow nature, that is, apply reason to social life. The Stoics thought that
we should get a hint from the cosmos (studying what they called
physics) to figure out how to live our lives (ethics). Since human beings
are social animals capable of reason (logic), it follows that we
should strive to apply the latter to the former.
Dichotomy of control: some things are under our control, others are not
(though we may be able to influence them). Under our control — if we
are mentally healthy — are our decisions and behaviors. Outside of our
control is everything else. This means that we should concern
Search …
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YOU ARE FOLLOWING
THIS BLOG
You are following this blog,along with 1,673 other amazingpeople (manage).
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Ancient Stoicism (35)Cato's chronicles (7)Cicero (6)Epictetus (22)History & Biographies (17)Larry Becker (14)Logic (3)Marcus (19)Metaphysics (6)Modern Stoicism (28)Psychology (30)Religion (7)Science (6)Seneca (20)Social living (7)Stoicism & pop culture (11)Stoicism for Kids (1)STOICON & Stoic Week (22)Virtue Ethics (24)What Would a Stoic Do? (13)
Basic Stoicism: a handy vademecum
HOW TO BE A STOICan evolving guide to practical Stoicism for the 21st century
# $ %
Home
Home by Massimo Collections Meditations Books Stoicism 101 Stoic Camp NY STOICON
Basic Stoicism: a handy vademecum
May 3, 2016 Massimo Virtue Ethics
I have now studied and practiced Stoicism seriously for
more than a year and a half. I still have a long way to go
on both theory and praxis, but I have gradually
accumulated a number of favorite Stoic reminders, as
well as developed my own summaries of Stoic doctrine
and list of concepts I find particularly useful. Here they
are, presented as a vademecum, a handy reminder that one can bookmark
or print out and keep in one’s pocket. (a downloadable pdf version is here)
Fundamental principles:
Virtue is the highest good, everything else is “indifferent.” The Stoics got
the first part from Socrates, who argued that virtue is the chief good
because it is the only thing that is good under all circumstances, and
indeed helps us make proper use of things like health, wealth, and
education. Everything else is “indifferent” in the specifically Stoic sense
that it is not to be traded against virtue. The Stoic can pursue the
preferred indifferents and try to stay away from the dispreferred ones,
so long as this doesn’t interfere with virtue. In economics, this is called
a system of lexicographic preferences.
Follow nature, that is, apply reason to social life. The Stoics thought that
we should get a hint from the cosmos (studying what they called
physics) to figure out how to live our lives (ethics). Since human beings
are social animals capable of reason (logic), it follows that we
should strive to apply the latter to the former.
Dichotomy of control: some things are under our control, others are not
(though we may be able to influence them). Under our control — if we
are mentally healthy — are our decisions and behaviors. Outside of our
control is everything else. This means that we should concern
Search …
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Select Month
YOU ARE FOLLOWING
THIS BLOG
You are following this blog,along with 1,673 other amazingpeople (manage).
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SOCIAL
! "
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Ancient Stoicism (35)Cato's chronicles (7)Cicero (6)Epictetus (22)History & Biographies (17)Larry Becker (14)Logic (3)Marcus (19)Metaphysics (6)Modern Stoicism (28)Psychology (30)Religion (7)Science (6)Seneca (20)Social living (7)Stoicism & pop culture (11)Stoicism for Kids (1)STOICON & Stoic Week (22)Virtue Ethics (24)What Would a Stoic Do? (13)
Basic Stoicism: a handy vademecum
HOW TO BE A STOICan evolving guide to practical Stoicism for the 21st century
# $ %
Home
Home by Massimo Collections Meditations Books Stoicism 101 Stoic Camp NY STOICON
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Basic Stoicism a handy vademecum How to Be a Stoic.pdfSalvataggio in Dropbox • 12 dic 2016, 09J12
control is everything else. This means that we should concern
ourselves with the first category, and accept everything else with
equanimity.
Four virtues to practice:
1. (Practical) wisdom, the ability to navigate complex situations in the best
available fashion.
2. Courage, not just physical but moral: we try to do the right thing under
all circumstances.
3. Justice, not in the sense of an abstract theory, but in that of treating
every human being — regardless of his or her stature in life — with
fairness and kindness.
4. Temperance, attempting to exercise moderation and self-control in all
spheres of life.
Key words to remember:
Amathia = ignorance in the sense of lack of wisdom, leads to what is
commonly conceived as “evil” behavior.
Aretê = excellence at one’s function, to be applied both to whatever
one happens to be doing in life and, especially, to the practice of virtue.
Prokoptôn / (pl.) Prokoptontes = someone who is making progress as a
Stoic. Hopefully, we all are.
Prosochē = the practice of attention, the Stoic version of mindfulness.
We live hic et nunc, in the here and now, so we need to pay attention
to it.
Proēgmena / Apoproēgmena = the above mentioned preferred and
dispreferred indifferents.
Pathē / Eupatheiai / Apatheia = unhealthy vs healthy emotions, and the
goal of Stoic practice: tranquillity of mind, or equanimity.
Key sayings on important topics:
(these are topics that particularly resonate with me, of course;
other prokoptontes may have different preferred sayings; here is a much
expanded list to choose from; the list below is in approximate chronological
order)
How to practice self-control: “Mastering one’s appetites for food and drink is
the beginning of and basis for self-control. … When it comes to food,
responsible people favor what is easy to obtain over what is difficult, what
involves no trouble over what does, and what is available over what isn’t.”
(Musonius Rufus, Lectures)
What it means to follow nature: “Bring the mind to bear upon your
problems.” (Seneca, De Tranquillitate Animi X.4)
Seek truths from whoever has it, included other schools of thought: “That
which is true is mine.” (Seneca, Epistle I.12.11)
STOICON
Stoicism 101
Seneca: on theshortness of life
Meditations
Books
What Would a Stoic Do? (13)
TOP POSTS
control is everything else. This means that we should concern
ourselves with the first category, and accept everything else with
equanimity.
Four virtues to practice:
1. (Practical) wisdom, the ability to navigate complex situations in the best
available fashion.
2. Courage, not just physical but moral: we try to do the right thing under
all circumstances.
3. Justice, not in the sense of an abstract theory, but in that of treating
every human being — regardless of his or her stature in life — with
fairness and kindness.
4. Temperance, attempting to exercise moderation and self-control in all
spheres of life.
Key words to remember:
Amathia = ignorance in the sense of lack of wisdom, leads to what is
commonly conceived as “evil” behavior.
Aretê = excellence at one’s function, to be applied both to whatever
one happens to be doing in life and, especially, to the practice of virtue.
Prokoptôn / (pl.) Prokoptontes = someone who is making progress as a
Stoic. Hopefully, we all are.
Prosochē = the practice of attention, the Stoic version of mindfulness.
We live hic et nunc, in the here and now, so we need to pay attention
to it.
Proēgmena / Apoproēgmena = the above mentioned preferred and
dispreferred indifferents.
Pathē / Eupatheiai / Apatheia = unhealthy vs healthy emotions, and the
goal of Stoic practice: tranquillity of mind, or equanimity.
Key sayings on important topics:
(these are topics that particularly resonate with me, of course;
other prokoptontes may have different preferred sayings; here is a much
expanded list to choose from; the list below is in approximate chronological
order)
How to practice self-control: “Mastering one’s appetites for food and drink is
the beginning of and basis for self-control. … When it comes to food,
responsible people favor what is easy to obtain over what is difficult, what
involves no trouble over what does, and what is available over what isn’t.”
(Musonius Rufus, Lectures)
What it means to follow nature: “Bring the mind to bear upon your
problems.” (Seneca, De Tranquillitate Animi X.4)
Seek truths from whoever has it, included other schools of thought: “That
which is true is mine.” (Seneca, Epistle I.12.11)
STOICON
Stoicism 101
Seneca: on theshortness of life
Meditations
Books
What Would a Stoic Do? (13)
TOP POSTS
control is everything else. This means that we should concern
ourselves with the first category, and accept everything else with
equanimity.
Four virtues to practice:
1. (Practical) wisdom, the ability to navigate complex situations in the best
available fashion.
2. Courage, not just physical but moral: we try to do the right thing under
all circumstances.
3. Justice, not in the sense of an abstract theory, but in that of treating
every human being — regardless of his or her stature in life — with
fairness and kindness.
4. Temperance, attempting to exercise moderation and self-control in all
spheres of life.
Key words to remember:
Amathia = ignorance in the sense of lack of wisdom, leads to what is
commonly conceived as “evil” behavior.
Aretê = excellence at one’s function, to be applied both to whatever
one happens to be doing in life and, especially, to the practice of virtue.
Prokoptôn / (pl.) Prokoptontes = someone who is making progress as a
Stoic. Hopefully, we all are.
Prosochē = the practice of attention, the Stoic version of mindfulness.
We live hic et nunc, in the here and now, so we need to pay attention
to it.
Proēgmena / Apoproēgmena = the above mentioned preferred and
dispreferred indifferents.
Pathē / Eupatheiai / Apatheia = unhealthy vs healthy emotions, and the
goal of Stoic practice: tranquillity of mind, or equanimity.
Key sayings on important topics:
(these are topics that particularly resonate with me, of course;
other prokoptontes may have different preferred sayings; here is a much
expanded list to choose from; the list below is in approximate chronological
order)
How to practice self-control: “Mastering one’s appetites for food and drink is
the beginning of and basis for self-control. … When it comes to food,
responsible people favor what is easy to obtain over what is difficult, what
involves no trouble over what does, and what is available over what isn’t.”
(Musonius Rufus, Lectures)
What it means to follow nature: “Bring the mind to bear upon your
problems.” (Seneca, De Tranquillitate Animi X.4)
Seek truths from whoever has it, included other schools of thought: “That
which is true is mine.” (Seneca, Epistle I.12.11)
STOICON
Stoicism 101
Seneca: on theshortness of life
Meditations
Books
What Would a Stoic Do? (13)
TOP POSTS
control is everything else. This means that we should concern
ourselves with the first category, and accept everything else with
equanimity.
Four virtues to practice:
1. (Practical) wisdom, the ability to navigate complex situations in the best
available fashion.
2. Courage, not just physical but moral: we try to do the right thing under
all circumstances.
3. Justice, not in the sense of an abstract theory, but in that of treating
every human being — regardless of his or her stature in life — with
fairness and kindness.
4. Temperance, attempting to exercise moderation and self-control in all
spheres of life.
Key words to remember:
Amathia = ignorance in the sense of lack of wisdom, leads to what is
commonly conceived as “evil” behavior.
Aretê = excellence at one’s function, to be applied both to whatever
one happens to be doing in life and, especially, to the practice of virtue.
Prokoptôn / (pl.) Prokoptontes = someone who is making progress as a
Stoic. Hopefully, we all are.
Prosochē = the practice of attention, the Stoic version of mindfulness.
We live hic et nunc, in the here and now, so we need to pay attention
to it.
Proēgmena / Apoproēgmena = the above mentioned preferred and
dispreferred indifferents.
Pathē / Eupatheiai / Apatheia = unhealthy vs healthy emotions, and the
goal of Stoic practice: tranquillity of mind, or equanimity.
Key sayings on important topics:
(these are topics that particularly resonate with me, of course;
other prokoptontes may have different preferred sayings; here is a much
expanded list to choose from; the list below is in approximate chronological
order)
How to practice self-control: “Mastering one’s appetites for food and drink is
the beginning of and basis for self-control. … When it comes to food,
responsible people favor what is easy to obtain over what is difficult, what
involves no trouble over what does, and what is available over what isn’t.”
(Musonius Rufus, Lectures)
What it means to follow nature: “Bring the mind to bear upon your
problems.” (Seneca, De Tranquillitate Animi X.4)
Seek truths from whoever has it, included other schools of thought: “That
which is true is mine.” (Seneca, Epistle I.12.11)
STOICON
Stoicism 101
Seneca: on theshortness of life
Meditations
Books
What Would a Stoic Do? (13)
TOP POSTS
control is everything else. This means that we should concern
ourselves with the first category, and accept everything else with
equanimity.
Four virtues to practice:
1. (Practical) wisdom, the ability to navigate complex situations in the best
available fashion.
2. Courage, not just physical but moral: we try to do the right thing under
all circumstances.
3. Justice, not in the sense of an abstract theory, but in that of treating
every human being — regardless of his or her stature in life — with
fairness and kindness.
4. Temperance, attempting to exercise moderation and self-control in all
spheres of life.
Key words to remember:
Amathia = ignorance in the sense of lack of wisdom, leads to what is
commonly conceived as “evil” behavior.
Aretê = excellence at one’s function, to be applied both to whatever
one happens to be doing in life and, especially, to the practice of virtue.
Prokoptôn / (pl.) Prokoptontes = someone who is making progress as a
Stoic. Hopefully, we all are.
Prosochē = the practice of attention, the Stoic version of mindfulness.
We live hic et nunc, in the here and now, so we need to pay attention
to it.
Proēgmena / Apoproēgmena = the above mentioned preferred and
dispreferred indifferents.
Pathē / Eupatheiai / Apatheia = unhealthy vs healthy emotions, and the
goal of Stoic practice: tranquillity of mind, or equanimity.
Key sayings on important topics:
(these are topics that particularly resonate with me, of course;
other prokoptontes may have different preferred sayings; here is a much
expanded list to choose from; the list below is in approximate chronological
order)
How to practice self-control: “Mastering one’s appetites for food and drink is
the beginning of and basis for self-control. … When it comes to food,
responsible people favor what is easy to obtain over what is difficult, what
involves no trouble over what does, and what is available over what isn’t.”
(Musonius Rufus, Lectures)
What it means to follow nature: “Bring the mind to bear upon your
problems.” (Seneca, De Tranquillitate Animi X.4)
Seek truths from whoever has it, included other schools of thought: “That
which is true is mine.” (Seneca, Epistle I.12.11)
STOICON
Stoicism 101
Seneca: on theshortness of life
Meditations
Books
What Would a Stoic Do? (13)
TOP POSTS
control is everything else. This means that we should concern
ourselves with the first category, and accept everything else with
equanimity.
Four virtues to practice:
1. (Practical) wisdom, the ability to navigate complex situations in the best
available fashion.
2. Courage, not just physical but moral: we try to do the right thing under
all circumstances.
3. Justice, not in the sense of an abstract theory, but in that of treating
every human being — regardless of his or her stature in life — with
fairness and kindness.
4. Temperance, attempting to exercise moderation and self-control in all
spheres of life.
Key words to remember:
Amathia = ignorance in the sense of lack of wisdom, leads to what is
commonly conceived as “evil” behavior.
Aretê = excellence at one’s function, to be applied both to whatever
one happens to be doing in life and, especially, to the practice of virtue.
Prokoptôn / (pl.) Prokoptontes = someone who is making progress as a
Stoic. Hopefully, we all are.
Prosochē = the practice of attention, the Stoic version of mindfulness.
We live hic et nunc, in the here and now, so we need to pay attention
to it.
Proēgmena / Apoproēgmena = the above mentioned preferred and
dispreferred indifferents.
Pathē / Eupatheiai / Apatheia = unhealthy vs healthy emotions, and the
goal of Stoic practice: tranquillity of mind, or equanimity.
Key sayings on important topics:
(these are topics that particularly resonate with me, of course;
other prokoptontes may have different preferred sayings; here is a much
expanded list to choose from; the list below is in approximate chronological
order)
How to practice self-control: “Mastering one’s appetites for food and drink is
the beginning of and basis for self-control. … When it comes to food,
responsible people favor what is easy to obtain over what is difficult, what
involves no trouble over what does, and what is available over what isn’t.”
(Musonius Rufus, Lectures)
What it means to follow nature: “Bring the mind to bear upon your
problems.” (Seneca, De Tranquillitate Animi X.4)
Seek truths from whoever has it, included other schools of thought: “That
which is true is mine.” (Seneca, Epistle I.12.11)
STOICON
Stoicism 101
Seneca: on theshortness of life
Meditations
Books
What Would a Stoic Do? (13)
TOP POSTS
control is everything else. This means that we should concern
ourselves with the first category, and accept everything else with
equanimity.
Four virtues to practice:
1. (Practical) wisdom, the ability to navigate complex situations in the best
available fashion.
2. Courage, not just physical but moral: we try to do the right thing under
all circumstances.
3. Justice, not in the sense of an abstract theory, but in that of treating
every human being — regardless of his or her stature in life — with
fairness and kindness.
4. Temperance, attempting to exercise moderation and self-control in all
spheres of life.
Key words to remember:
Amathia = ignorance in the sense of lack of wisdom, leads to what is
commonly conceived as “evil” behavior.
Aretê = excellence at one’s function, to be applied both to whatever
one happens to be doing in life and, especially, to the practice of virtue.
Prokoptôn / (pl.) Prokoptontes = someone who is making progress as a
Stoic. Hopefully, we all are.
Prosochē = the practice of attention, the Stoic version of mindfulness.
We live hic et nunc, in the here and now, so we need to pay attention
to it.
Proēgmena / Apoproēgmena = the above mentioned preferred and
dispreferred indifferents.
Pathē / Eupatheiai / Apatheia = unhealthy vs healthy emotions, and the
goal of Stoic practice: tranquillity of mind, or equanimity.
Key sayings on important topics:
(these are topics that particularly resonate with me, of course;
other prokoptontes may have different preferred sayings; here is a much
expanded list to choose from; the list below is in approximate chronological
order)
How to practice self-control: “Mastering one’s appetites for food and drink is
the beginning of and basis for self-control. … When it comes to food,
responsible people favor what is easy to obtain over what is difficult, what
involves no trouble over what does, and what is available over what isn’t.”
(Musonius Rufus, Lectures)
What it means to follow nature: “Bring the mind to bear upon your
problems.” (Seneca, De Tranquillitate Animi X.4)
Seek truths from whoever has it, included other schools of thought: “That
which is true is mine.” (Seneca, Epistle I.12.11)
STOICON
Stoicism 101
Seneca: on theshortness of life
Meditations
Books
What Would a Stoic Do? (13)
TOP POSTS
control is everything else. This means that we should concern
ourselves with the first category, and accept everything else with
equanimity.
Four virtues to practice:
1. (Practical) wisdom, the ability to navigate complex situations in the best
available fashion.
2. Courage, not just physical but moral: we try to do the right thing under
all circumstances.
3. Justice, not in the sense of an abstract theory, but in that of treating
every human being — regardless of his or her stature in life — with
fairness and kindness.
4. Temperance, attempting to exercise moderation and self-control in all
spheres of life.
Key words to remember:
Amathia = ignorance in the sense of lack of wisdom, leads to what is
commonly conceived as “evil” behavior.
Aretê = excellence at one’s function, to be applied both to whatever
one happens to be doing in life and, especially, to the practice of virtue.
Prokoptôn / (pl.) Prokoptontes = someone who is making progress as a
Stoic. Hopefully, we all are.
Prosochē = the practice of attention, the Stoic version of mindfulness.
We live hic et nunc, in the here and now, so we need to pay attention
to it.
Proēgmena / Apoproēgmena = the above mentioned preferred and
dispreferred indifferents.
Pathē / Eupatheiai / Apatheia = unhealthy vs healthy emotions, and the
goal of Stoic practice: tranquillity of mind, or equanimity.
Key sayings on important topics:
(these are topics that particularly resonate with me, of course;
other prokoptontes may have different preferred sayings; here is a much
expanded list to choose from; the list below is in approximate chronological
order)
How to practice self-control: “Mastering one’s appetites for food and drink is
the beginning of and basis for self-control. … When it comes to food,
responsible people favor what is easy to obtain over what is difficult, what
involves no trouble over what does, and what is available over what isn’t.”
(Musonius Rufus, Lectures)
What it means to follow nature: “Bring the mind to bear upon your
problems.” (Seneca, De Tranquillitate Animi X.4)
Seek truths from whoever has it, included other schools of thought: “That
which is true is mine.” (Seneca, Epistle I.12.11)
STOICON
Stoicism 101
Seneca: on theshortness of life
Meditations
Books
What Would a Stoic Do? (13)
TOP POSTS
Keep an open mind, you haven’t figured everything out yet: “Let us be
satisfied with what we have discovered, and leave a little truth for our
descendants to find out.” (Seneca, Natural Questions VII.16)
So much for Stoics as joyless fellows: “It does good also to take walks out of
doors, that our spirits may be raised and refreshed by the open air and fresh
breeze: sometimes we gain strength by driving in a carriage, by travel, by
change of air, or by social meals and a more generous allowance of wine: at
times we ought to drink even to intoxication, not so as to drown, but merely
to dip ourselves in wine: for wine washes away troubles and dislodges them
from the depths of the mind, and acts as a remedy to sorrow as it does to
some diseases.” (Seneca, On the Tranquility of Mind XVII)
When the going gets tough: “Bear and forbear.” (Epictetus, Discourses, IV.8)
Practice the evening philosophical diary: “Admit not sleep into your tender
eyelids till you have reckoned up each deed of the day — How have I erred,
what done or left undone? So start, and so review your acts, and then for
vile deeds chide yourself, for good be glad.” (Epictetus, Discourses III.10)
Be realistic but compassionate toward fellow humans: “Begin the morning
by saying to yourself, I shall meet with the busybody, the ungrateful,
arrogant, deceitful, envious, unsocial. All these things happen to them by
reason of their ignorance of what is good and evil. … I can neither be injured
by any of them, for no one can fix on me what is ugly, nor can I be angry
with my kinsman, nor hate him.” (Marcus Aurelius, Meditations II.1)
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The Stoic spectrum and the
thorny issue of preferred
indifferents
Cicero’s De Finibus and the
nature of Stoic philosophy —
Part II
What Would a Stoic Do? The
Stoic's decision making
algorithm
In "Ancient Stoicism" In "Ancient Stoicism" In "What Would a Stoic Do?"
&
Keep an open mind, you haven’t figured everything out yet: “Let us be
satisfied with what we have discovered, and leave a little truth for our
descendants to find out.” (Seneca, Natural Questions VII.16)
So much for Stoics as joyless fellows: “It does good also to take walks out of
doors, that our spirits may be raised and refreshed by the open air and fresh
breeze: sometimes we gain strength by driving in a carriage, by travel, by
change of air, or by social meals and a more generous allowance of wine: at
times we ought to drink even to intoxication, not so as to drown, but merely
to dip ourselves in wine: for wine washes away troubles and dislodges them
from the depths of the mind, and acts as a remedy to sorrow as it does to
some diseases.” (Seneca, On the Tranquility of Mind XVII)
When the going gets tough: “Bear and forbear.” (Epictetus, Discourses, IV.8)
Practice the evening philosophical diary: “Admit not sleep into your tender
eyelids till you have reckoned up each deed of the day — How have I erred,
what done or left undone? So start, and so review your acts, and then for
vile deeds chide yourself, for good be glad.” (Epictetus, Discourses III.10)
Be realistic but compassionate toward fellow humans: “Begin the morning
by saying to yourself, I shall meet with the busybody, the ungrateful,
arrogant, deceitful, envious, unsocial. All these things happen to them by
reason of their ignorance of what is good and evil. … I can neither be injured
by any of them, for no one can fix on me what is ugly, nor can I be angry
with my kinsman, nor hate him.” (Marcus Aurelius, Meditations II.1)
Share this:
Twitter Facebook 94 Google Pocket Email Press This
Edit
Related
The Stoic spectrum and the
thorny issue of preferred
indifferents
Cicero’s De Finibus and the
nature of Stoic philosophy —
Part II
What Would a Stoic Do? The
Stoic's decision making
algorithm
In "Ancient Stoicism" In "Ancient Stoicism" In "What Would a Stoic Do?"
&
Keep an open mind, you haven’t figured everything out yet: “Let us be
satisfied with what we have discovered, and leave a little truth for our
descendants to find out.” (Seneca, Natural Questions VII.16)
So much for Stoics as joyless fellows: “It does good also to take walks out of
doors, that our spirits may be raised and refreshed by the open air and fresh
breeze: sometimes we gain strength by driving in a carriage, by travel, by
change of air, or by social meals and a more generous allowance of wine: at
times we ought to drink even to intoxication, not so as to drown, but merely
to dip ourselves in wine: for wine washes away troubles and dislodges them
from the depths of the mind, and acts as a remedy to sorrow as it does to
some diseases.” (Seneca, On the Tranquility of Mind XVII)
When the going gets tough: “Bear and forbear.” (Epictetus, Discourses, IV.8)
Practice the evening philosophical diary: “Admit not sleep into your tender
eyelids till you have reckoned up each deed of the day — How have I erred,
what done or left undone? So start, and so review your acts, and then for
vile deeds chide yourself, for good be glad.” (Epictetus, Discourses III.10)
Be realistic but compassionate toward fellow humans: “Begin the morning
by saying to yourself, I shall meet with the busybody, the ungrateful,
arrogant, deceitful, envious, unsocial. All these things happen to them by
reason of their ignorance of what is good and evil. … I can neither be injured
by any of them, for no one can fix on me what is ugly, nor can I be angry
with my kinsman, nor hate him.” (Marcus Aurelius, Meditations II.1)
Share this:
Twitter Facebook 94 Google Pocket Email Press This
Edit
Related
The Stoic spectrum and the
thorny issue of preferred
indifferents
Cicero’s De Finibus and the
nature of Stoic philosophy —
Part II
What Would a Stoic Do? The
Stoic's decision making
algorithm
In "Ancient Stoicism" In "Ancient Stoicism" In "What Would a Stoic Do?"
&
Keep an open mind, you haven’t figured everything out yet: “Let us be
satisfied with what we have discovered, and leave a little truth for our
descendants to find out.” (Seneca, Natural Questions VII.16)
So much for Stoics as joyless fellows: “It does good also to take walks out of
doors, that our spirits may be raised and refreshed by the open air and fresh
breeze: sometimes we gain strength by driving in a carriage, by travel, by
change of air, or by social meals and a more generous allowance of wine: at
times we ought to drink even to intoxication, not so as to drown, but merely
to dip ourselves in wine: for wine washes away troubles and dislodges them
from the depths of the mind, and acts as a remedy to sorrow as it does to
some diseases.” (Seneca, On the Tranquility of Mind XVII)
When the going gets tough: “Bear and forbear.” (Epictetus, Discourses, IV.8)
Practice the evening philosophical diary: “Admit not sleep into your tender
eyelids till you have reckoned up each deed of the day — How have I erred,
what done or left undone? So start, and so review your acts, and then for
vile deeds chide yourself, for good be glad.” (Epictetus, Discourses III.10)
Be realistic but compassionate toward fellow humans: “Begin the morning
by saying to yourself, I shall meet with the busybody, the ungrateful,
arrogant, deceitful, envious, unsocial. All these things happen to them by
reason of their ignorance of what is good and evil. … I can neither be injured
by any of them, for no one can fix on me what is ugly, nor can I be angry
with my kinsman, nor hate him.” (Marcus Aurelius, Meditations II.1)
Share this:
Twitter Facebook 94 Google Pocket Email Press This
Edit
Related
The Stoic spectrum and the
thorny issue of preferred
indifferents
Cicero’s De Finibus and the
nature of Stoic philosophy —
Part II
What Would a Stoic Do? The
Stoic's decision making
algorithm
In "Ancient Stoicism" In "Ancient Stoicism" In "What Would a Stoic Do?"
&
Keep an open mind, you haven’t figured everything out yet: “Let us be
satisfied with what we have discovered, and leave a little truth for our
descendants to find out.” (Seneca, Natural Questions VII.16)
So much for Stoics as joyless fellows: “It does good also to take walks out of
doors, that our spirits may be raised and refreshed by the open air and fresh
breeze: sometimes we gain strength by driving in a carriage, by travel, by
change of air, or by social meals and a more generous allowance of wine: at
times we ought to drink even to intoxication, not so as to drown, but merely
to dip ourselves in wine: for wine washes away troubles and dislodges them
from the depths of the mind, and acts as a remedy to sorrow as it does to
some diseases.” (Seneca, On the Tranquility of Mind XVII)
When the going gets tough: “Bear and forbear.” (Epictetus, Discourses, IV.8)
Practice the evening philosophical diary: “Admit not sleep into your tender
eyelids till you have reckoned up each deed of the day — How have I erred,
what done or left undone? So start, and so review your acts, and then for
vile deeds chide yourself, for good be glad.” (Epictetus, Discourses III.10)
Be realistic but compassionate toward fellow humans: “Begin the morning
by saying to yourself, I shall meet with the busybody, the ungrateful,
arrogant, deceitful, envious, unsocial. All these things happen to them by
reason of their ignorance of what is good and evil. … I can neither be injured
by any of them, for no one can fix on me what is ugly, nor can I be angry
with my kinsman, nor hate him.” (Marcus Aurelius, Meditations II.1)
Share this:
Twitter Facebook 94 Google Pocket Email Press This
Edit
Related
The Stoic spectrum and the
thorny issue of preferred
indifferents
Cicero’s De Finibus and the
nature of Stoic philosophy —
Part II
What Would a Stoic Do? The
Stoic's decision making
algorithm
In "Ancient Stoicism" In "Ancient Stoicism" In "What Would a Stoic Do?"
&
Keep an open mind, you haven’t figured everything out yet: “Let us be
satisfied with what we have discovered, and leave a little truth for our
descendants to find out.” (Seneca, Natural Questions VII.16)
So much for Stoics as joyless fellows: “It does good also to take walks out of
doors, that our spirits may be raised and refreshed by the open air and fresh
breeze: sometimes we gain strength by driving in a carriage, by travel, by
change of air, or by social meals and a more generous allowance of wine: at
times we ought to drink even to intoxication, not so as to drown, but merely
to dip ourselves in wine: for wine washes away troubles and dislodges them
from the depths of the mind, and acts as a remedy to sorrow as it does to
some diseases.” (Seneca, On the Tranquility of Mind XVII)
When the going gets tough: “Bear and forbear.” (Epictetus, Discourses, IV.8)
Practice the evening philosophical diary: “Admit not sleep into your tender
eyelids till you have reckoned up each deed of the day — How have I erred,
what done or left undone? So start, and so review your acts, and then for
vile deeds chide yourself, for good be glad.” (Epictetus, Discourses III.10)
Be realistic but compassionate toward fellow humans: “Begin the morning
by saying to yourself, I shall meet with the busybody, the ungrateful,
arrogant, deceitful, envious, unsocial. All these things happen to them by
reason of their ignorance of what is good and evil. … I can neither be injured
by any of them, for no one can fix on me what is ugly, nor can I be angry
with my kinsman, nor hate him.” (Marcus Aurelius, Meditations II.1)
Share this:
Twitter Facebook 94 Google Pocket Email Press This
Edit
Related
The Stoic spectrum and the
thorny issue of preferred
indifferents
Cicero’s De Finibus and the
nature of Stoic philosophy —
Part II
What Would a Stoic Do? The
Stoic's decision making
algorithm
In "Ancient Stoicism" In "Ancient Stoicism" In "What Would a Stoic Do?"
&
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