Cost of Glory 113 - Cato and his Stoicism: w/ Johnathan Bi
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Oct 3, 2025 
Johnathan Bi, a philosophy podcaster and lecturer from the Cosmos Institute, discusses the complex legacy of Stoicism through Cato the Younger. He shares his own journey from embracing Stoicism to exploring other philosophies, revealing Nietzsche's critique of Stoicism as merely a coping mechanism. The conversation dives into Stoic contradictions, Cato’s austere persona, his political clashes with Caesar, and how Stoicism’s appeal persists in modern anxiety. Ultimately, they reflect on Cato's legacy and the moral ambiguities of Stoic ideals.
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Personal Entry Into Stoicism
- Johnathan Bi first encountered Stoicism as an angsty, struggling young adult and turned to Seneca and Ryan Holiday for comfort.
- He later moved toward Girard and Buddhism after finding Stoic explanations of suffering too rational and limited.
Stoic Diagnosis Is Overly Rational
- Bi argues Stoics diagnose suffering as mistaken rational assents, which misses social and phenomenological roots.
- He found Girard and Buddhism offered better accounts of desire and lived mental training.
Stoicism As A Coping Mechanism
- Bi suggests modern Stoicism often functions as a low-cost coping mechanism for people recently hit by misfortune.
- Nietzsche’s critique frames Stoicism as consoling the needy without demanding deep life reorientation.
