The Reason Interview With Nick Gillespie

Robert Rosenkranz: How To Use Stoicism To Build a Meaningful Life

13 snips
May 16, 2025
Robert Rosenkranz, author of The Stoic Capitalist and founder of Open To Debate, shares his journey from a modest New York upbringing to billionaire status. He discusses how Stoicism fosters personal and financial success through rational thinking. The conversation touches on the challenges of embracing change in capitalism and the necessity of civil discourse in political debates. Rosenkranz explores the connections between Stoic philosophy, resilience, and personal growth, highlighting its relevance in today's fast-paced world.
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INSIGHT

Core Stoic Principles

  • Stoicism prioritizes rationality and managing destructive emotions like anger and fear.
  • It values conscious use of time, embracing impermanence, focused action, and societal benefit.
ANECDOTE

Childhood Insecurity as Motive

  • Rosenkranz grew up in a tiny, insecure apartment where financial worries were constant.
  • This insecurity taught him early self-reliance, a stoic way where obstacles become the path forward.
INSIGHT

Facing Prejudice Stoically

  • Prejudice was widespread, but wasting energy on it is fruitless, a classic Stoic acceptance.
  • Assimilation was Rosenkranz's adaptive strategy in a discriminatory society.
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