Stoicism in a Nutshell
Explaining the philosophy of stoicism can be difficult. Dictionary definitions focus on “indifference to pleasure or pain”. Some think Stoics sit around in hair shirts whipping themselves and then rubbing salt in the wounds.
This is not stoicism.
Stoicism is a philosophy that tries to understand the nature human satisfaction in the world as it truly exists, and in so doing gain a sense of tranquility, appreciation, and perhaps even happiness.
However, understanding stoicism is made difficult in part by how the ancient Stoics taught. Stoics established schools that taught a wide variety of subjects. Philosophy was just one part of what students were required to master after much difficult study. Also most of what we have from the Stoics are personal correspondence in the form of Dear Abbey type responses to a wide variety of personal questions. Reading anything from the ancient Stoics often seems like reading a collection of fortune cookie sayings.
The exception to this is a great modern book, “A Guide to the Good Life: The Ancient Art of Stoic Joy” by William B. Irvine. If you are interested in Stoicism I strongly suggest you read it.
So here is my version of stoicism in 3 parts:
- Live in the Now — you must learn to let go of past pain. It does nothing to help you, and may…
