A Stoicism Primer

[mickmle1]

So, Stoicism in two words = Get Real (???) In fact, after watching this vid, I realise I had a very stoic insight about 20 years ago. It was the usual thing, "Why didn't she call?" "She said she'd call" etc. Then I suddenly decided - no more! If ever I hear myself doing this again, I'm going to turn the question round and ask not, "What is she doing wrong?" but "What am I doing wrong?" After all, women (and men) are like that - so I need to learn how to deal with it. Like I say... Get Real.

[cmaxrnwr]

Thank you for your impressive videos.



[briandubster]

Great Video!!! I have a few books that spoke of stoicism in brief. However you really put it all together in a way that is very easy to understand. Thanks!

[meinevvelten]

Thanks for this! I've got a Bantam paperback edition of Essential Works of Stoicism with me and I can't wait to get started, but I prioritized watching your videos first. Now it's on to "Stocism: Grateful Indifference."

[toblakai]

Just finished William B Irvine's The ancient art of Stoic joy.

I like your the circle of influence take on Stoicism. How would you tie this in with Ayn Rand's rational selfishness concept, if at all?

[Professoranton]

@toblakai There is some insight to selfishness: without it people are dangerous, but systems theory is perhaps more insightful: Please see my book Sources of Significance.

[Professoranton]

@toblakai /watch?v=R05To4czJnM

[toblakai]

@Professoranton :) Already did that. Also grabbing your book. You should consider Kindle editions for the stinted by location Africans like myself.

[letheal]

@toblakai

Did you go to wright state and have Bill as a professor or did you pick up the book from another source?

[toblakai]

@letheal I'm in South Africa. Just picked up the book from Amazon.

[StayClassyAmerica]

I just wanted to tell you I really enjoyed this video. In fact, my interest was piqued so much that I read the Enchiridion. This is my first exposure to Stoicism but I really like the concepts.

Quick Question. It says that one should never reveal/say they are a philosopher but become conformable which I'm assuming this relates directly to the "actor" example. Does this mean one is supposed to be like a chameleon depending on the audience? Almost adjusting levels of engagement and topic?

[tkullervo]

Brilliant

[Spdoug123]

im finding it wierd that not only am I a stoic too, but I have the same escher print in my office

[qaplatlhinganmaH]

Thomas Jefferson's letter to William Short

"As you say of yourself, I TOO AM AN EPICUREAN. I consider the genuine doctrines of Epicurus as containing everything rational in moral philosophy which Greece and Rome have left us. Epictetus, indeed, has given us what was good of the Stoics" Thomas Jefferson

"Christianity is the most perverted system that ever shone on man." Thomas Jefferson

[Professoranton]

Thanks.  Great stuff

[anujdasgupta]

tastingmytongue(dot)blogspot(d­ot)com/2009/11/stoicism-avec-j­-krishnamurti.html

[KosmicCitizen]

I enjoy your videos.

Btw. where can I find the translation you use for the "Hymn to Zeus"?

[Professoranton]

This came from Jason L. Saunders edited book called Greek and Roman Philosophy after Aristotle

[KosmicCitizen]

Thank you. It's a nice version, at least from the fragment you provided.

[robbwindow]

Fascinating video, never heard of the stoics and am unsure about NeoPlatonism. I'm definitely out my league on this one Corey however I hope to enrich my terminology and ideology with all of these objectives premises you submit. Just got pick up some books and read. However you explain it so well the curiosity to read will I'm sure come back into play. I mean Uni starts in about a month. I gotta pull my socks up. The music is great is that Dada.

[CousinoMacul]

I like that first passage. I have a kind of similar philosophy for avoiding stress. Don't worry about things you that can't control because you can't control them. Don't worry about the things that you can control: do something about it!

[jedimasterbooboo]

This is what I got out of that Philosophy::

Things are beyond me, but I strive to take responsiblity for what is not beyond me, and learning what is not beyond me is continual, trial error and taking full repsonsiblity.

[alchemistra]

Fascinating topic...I'm reading Marcus Aurelius' Meditations currently, so this was very timely for me!

[alchemistra]

mmm, now this is very interesting! Corey, could you help me with something? Please explain the relationship between 3rd century NeoPlatonism (like Plotinus) and the Stoics of the same period. Was Stoicism an outgrowth of Neoplatonism? And are you aware of any particular philosophy that is a healthy blend of the two?

[Professoranton]

One of the best sources of this is Pierre Hadot. Here is an authority on such things. But I would say not really,. There were four major schools: The Platonists, the Peripatetics (Aristotles), The stoics and the Epicrueans (then also the also the Cynics and skeptics). Plotinus was influenced by stoicism, certainly, but was more fulfilling Platonism.

[alchemistra]

Thank you, Corey, should make interesting reading if I can obtain any of his writings on ancient philosophy. The reason I asked is, my philosophic outlook is, indeed, a blend of

the two, but with a distinctly mystical bent.  Ethical considerations are largely determined by my own living experience, some of which may be drawn in seemingly irrational ways! lol