Stoa Conversations: Stoicism Applied Stoicism, Freedom, and Ernst Jünger with Sam Alaimo (Episode 204)
Oct 7, 2025
Sam Alaimo, a former U.S. Navy SEAL and co-founder of Zero Eyes, dives into fascinating discussions on Stoicism and its relevance in affluent societies. He shares how Stoicism helped him transition from military life and critiques AI as a potential threat to human reasoning. Alaimo also explores the complex philosophy of Ernst Jünger, examining his wartime experiences and literary contributions. The dialogue traverses ancient philosophy, the essence of freedom, and the tension between virtue and practicality, making for an intriguing listen.
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Stoicism For Affluent Societies
- Stoicism developed as a response to affluence and existential boredom in wealthy societies.
- Sam Alaimo argues Stoicism reminds privileged people of hardship and grounds them in reality.
AI Can Cripple Critical Thinking
- Large language models can replace student thinking by doing research and drafting arguments for them.
- Sam Alaimo calls this a potential war on human reason if used as a substitute for thinking.
Maintain Your Power To Judge
- Practice withholding immediate assent and dissent by training your own judgment skills.
- Avoid outsourcing your reasoning to AI so you can evaluate arguments yourself.
