The forgotten values of a stoic life | Stoicism Series PART 4 | Nancy Sherman
Jan 17, 2025
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Nancy Sherman, a Georgetown philosophy professor and author of several works on Stoicism, reexamines ancient teachings in a modern context. She critiques the misconception of Stoicism as mere self-reliance, emphasizing the necessity of social connections and emotional engagement. Sherman discusses the philosophy's evolution, highlighting figures like Cicero and Seneca, and the value of humor in navigating mortality. She advocates for vulnerability and the significance of gratitude, illustrating that Stoicism is not just about the self but also about our relationships with others.
Modern Stoicism should embrace community and interpersonal relationships, highlighting collective responsibility over purely individual resilience.
Emotional resilience is cultivated through techniques like cognitive flexibility and pre-rehearsing challenges to navigate life’s uncertainties effectively.
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Revisiting Stoicism's Core Principles
Modern interpretations of Stoicism often lean towards self-centered ideas, emphasizing personal control and emotional regulation. However, the original philosophy advocates for a socially aware perspective, highlighting the importance of community and interpersonal connections. Nancy Sherman argues that Stoicism should foster a sense of collective responsibility rather than solely focus on individual resilience. This broader understanding emphasizes the interconnectedness of individuals and the role relationships play in cultivating true resilience, countering the more limited self-help narratives commonly found today.
Practical Strategies for Emotional Management
Stoicism offers various strategies to manage emotions and navigate life's challenges, advocating for emotional resilience. Techniques such as pre-rehearsing adverse events and maintaining cognitive flexibility empower individuals to handle disappointment and loss better. By framing undesirable outcomes as indifference, Stoics advise placing less emotional weight on external factors beyond one's control. This approach, which includes pausing to consider impulses and establishing realistic expectations, ultimately promotes healthier emotional responses and a more balanced perspective on life's uncertainties.
With the modern revival of stoic philosophy, plenty of ancient wisdom has returned to the modern world - but what ideas have we consigned to history?
These days, we think of stoicism as a philosophy that preaches a fearless self-reliance and detachment from the challenges of the world. However, distinguished philosopher Nancy Sherman argues that this is an incomplete understanding of Stoicism, and that the modern Stoic must also focus on cultivating strong relationships in the outside world.
Nancy Sherman is professor of philosophy at Georgetown University, having previously taught at Yale University, John Hopkins University, and the University of Maryland. Nancy was also the inaugural Distinguished Chair in Ethics at the United States Naval Academy, and she has written six books, including; "Stoic Wisdom: Ancient Lessons For Modern Resilience", "Stoic Warriors: The Ancient Philosophy Behind the Military Mind", and "Afterwar: Healing the Moral Wounds of Our Soldiers".