Stoa Conversations: Stoicism Applied The Discipline of Action (Episode 87)
Oct 17, 2023
The podcast delves into the discipline of action in Stoicism, including fulfilling duties, navigating indifferent factors, and acting purposefully. They explore the challenges of balancing exploration and commitment. They discuss the importance of ethics in decision-making and balancing desires with external factors. They explain premeditatio molarum as a negative counterpart to purpose setting. The challenge of maintaining equanimity while giving back is explored. Renouncing desire and historical examples are discussed.
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Action As The Ethical Domain
- The discipline of action is Stoic ethics: how to fulfill duties and act rightly in social life.
- It focuses on choosing among externals (health, wealth, status) without sacrificing virtue.
Indifferents Still Matter
- 'Indifferents' are externals that never outweigh virtue but still shape choices and outcomes.
- Stoics stress using these external goods rightly while keeping virtue supreme.
Care And Accept Outcomes
- Care about external events but accept outcomes caused by others; focus on justice in your actions.
- Let your impulses aim to serve the human community as your natural role commands.