Living like an ancient stoic
Living like an ancient stoic
Stoicism is more than just a personal philosophy--it's an operating system for life. And like any good operating system, it has the ability to change the world.
Stoicism is more than just a personal philosophy--it's an operating system for life. And like any good operating system, it has the ability to change the world.
Stoicism was founded by a group of ancient Greek philosophers who believed that the key to a happy and fulfilled life was the development of self-control and fortitude. Over time, Stoicism has been embraced by some of history's greatest men, including Emperor Marcus Aurelius, politician George Washington, and entrepreneur Andrew Carnegie. These men understood that Stoicism is not about holding oneself back or denying oneself pleasure-- rather, it's about focus and discipline. As a result, they were able to channel their energies into achieving great things. Thanks to Stoicism, the world is a better place.
Marcus Aurelius was a Roman Emperor who is best known for his philosophical writings. Marcus was born into a wealthy and powerful family, and he received the best education available at the time. Marcus became Emperor in 161 AD, and he ruled for 19 years. Marcus was considered to be a "philosopher king," because he believed that philosophy could help to improve society. Marcus wrote a diary that became the book called "Meditations," which contains his thoughts on ethics, morality, and politics. Marcus also believed that humans should strive to be virtuous, and he encouraged others to live in harmony with nature. Marcus Aurelius was one of the most influential philosophers of his time, and his ideas are still studied and debated today.
Marcus famously said, "Death smiles at us all, all a man can do is smile back." This phrase has become known as "memento mori," or "remember your mortality."
Marcus' acceptance of death helped to change the way that death was viewed in the Roman world. Prior to Marcus, death was seen as something to be feared and avoided. However, Marcus' stoic view of death helped to change this perception, and death came to be seen as a natural part of life. Marcus' acceptance of death has had a lasting impact on the way that death is viewed in the Western world, and his legacy continues to inspire people to live their lives with purpose and meaning.
Stoicism is the philosophy that teaches us to accept what is beyond our control, and to focus on what is within our control.
This doesn't mean that we should passively accept everything that happens to us, but rather that we should strive to find a peaceful acceptance of fate. This philosophy is known as amor fati, or "love of fate." Stoics believed that by accepting what isoutside of our control, we can find inner peace and tranquility. The Stoics articulate this idea in the famous phrases, "Live according to nature," and "Let go of what you cannot control." In other words, we should live in accordance with the way things naturally are, and not try to impose our own judgement on reality. Instead, we should try to see things as they truly are, without any judgement or opinion. This Stoic principle of radical acceptance can be difficult to apply in practice, but it is a powerful tool for finding peace and contentment in life. This means that we can never be truly in control of anything, but we can always control our reactions. As a result, Stoicism provides a way to deal with the chaos of the world in a calm and rational manner. In fact, Stoicism may even help us to understand the chaos, as we force ourselves to accept that which we cannot control.
Stoics like me are thriving quite well in the modern world.
Stoicism is a philosophy that emphasizes the importance of self-control, resilience, and living in harmony with others. These are all qualities that are highly valued in the modern world. Of course, there would be some areas of adjustment. For instance, stoics believed that material possessions are not important, so they would need to learn to live without all the material comforts that we take for granted. Additionally, they would need to get used to the fast pace and constant stimulation of the modern world. But overall, I think the stoics would do quite well in today's world. So this is why I will continue to be one.
Originally published in my old blog on July 26, 2022.
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