Stoicism 101 | Nancy Sherman

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Nov 4, 2024

Nancy Sherman, a Professor of Philosophy at Georgetown University and expert in ethics and Stoicism, dives deep into the philosophy often misunderstood as emotional suppression. She clarifies that true Stoicism involves understanding emotions rather than ignoring them. Sherman introduces practical techniques like 'premeditation of evils' and stresses the importance of vulnerability and community in resilience. The discussion reveals how ancient teachings can enhance modern emotional awareness and support, making Stoicism relevant in today’s fast-paced world.

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INSIGHT

Stoicism Defined

Stoicism is an ancient Greco-Roman philosophy focused on navigating vulnerability and uncertainty.
It emphasizes virtue and interconnectedness, not just individual resilience.

INSIGHT

Misinterpretations of Stoicism

Modern interpretations often misrepresent Stoicism as suppressing emotions and valuing self-reliance.
True Stoicism emphasizes emotional intelligence, social connection, and community support.

ADVICE

Nightly Journaling

Practice Stoicism through nightly journaling.
Reflect on daily emotional triggers and sticky attachments to understand personal patterns.

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What ancient Greeks and Romans figured out about stress reduction.

You may have heard about stoicism, in the common parlance, as having a stiff upper lip, sucking it up, grinning and bearing it, suppressing your emotions, etcetera. Or you may have heard of Stoicism, the ancient Greco/Roman philosophy, that has become the de rigeur set of life hacks among millennial self-optimizers.

In this episode, guest Nancy Sherman argues that Stoicism is way deeper than any of that. She will argue that, in fact, Stoicism is kind of the opposite of all the above. It’s a way to truly know your patterns of thought and emotion.

Nancy Sherman is a Professor of Philosophy at Georgetown University. She is an expert in ethics, the history of moral philosophy, moral psychology, military ethics, and emotions. Her most recent book is called Stoic Wisdom: Ancient Lessons for Modern Resilience.

This episode is a rebroadcast from 2021: it’s one of our most-listened episodes, and we thought it might be particularly useful in this time of election-related stress.

In this conversation, we:

cover the basics of Stoicism,
how and why capital “S” Stoicism is often misinterpreted,
a meditation practice called “premeditation of evils,” which is far more practical than it may sound,
and another practice designed to make you feel “at home in the world”.