The Hierarchical Instinct

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We're directing behaviour through culture, i think, which is really interesting. It's magnified in the militaryr the military thrives on hierarchy. You can't have a military organization without rank, because you don't know who to follow. And it also becomes deferential. We have bad notions of whom we need to defer authority. I think to sometimes be wise about the rolls we wear.

What can we learn from the intersection between the fundamental tenets of Stoicism and military heroism? Author and professor Nancy Sherman uses her extensive experience in both subjects to discuss why there’s much to gain from examining ancient Greek and Roman philosophies and how to use their teachings today. On this episode Sherman explores how to gain control of your emotions, Stoic techniques for decision making, building resilience, the difference between honor and virtue, and much more. Sherman is a Distinguished University Professor and Professor of Philosophy at Georgetown University, and she is also the inaugural Distinguished Chair in Ethics at the United States Naval Academy. She has written extensively during her career on the Stoics, and her most recent book is Stoic Wisdom: Ancient Lessons for Modern Resilience.

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