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Professor Jennifer Baker on Understanding Modern Stoicism

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Nov 23, 2022

Guest

Jennifer Baker

In this engaging conversation, Professor Jennifer Baker, a philosophy expert at the College of Charleston, dives into the relevance of Stoicism in modern life. She discusses the ethical dilemmas of luxury car ownership, emphasizing personal identity and societal pressures. Baker also addresses modern challenges in teaching Stoic principles and how they intersect with contemporary moral issues, including environmental ethics. Additionally, she reflects on the importance of practical wisdom and self-discipline in navigating adversity. Her insights bring ancient wisdom into today's ethical dilemmas.

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insights

INSIGHT

Internal vs. External Validation

Stoicism emphasizes internal values over external possessions.
It teaches you to find freedom and contentment within yourself, not in material goods.

question_answer

ANECDOTE

The Stoic Car

Jennifer Baker uses the car example to teach Stoicism.
She argues that nicer cars create dependencies and reduce freedom.

question_answer

ANECDOTE

Cato's Turnips

Ryan Holiday tells a story about Cato's hero boiling turnips in a small house.
This demonstrates the independence gained from rejecting luxuries.

Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode

Luxury Cars and Personal Identity

03:56 • 3min

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Navigating Luxury and Ethics: A Stoic Perspective

07:22 • 16min

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The Complications of Stoicism in Modern Life

23:46 • 3min

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Practical Wisdom and Stoicism

26:56 • 16min

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The Weight of Stoic Expectations

42:31 • 4min

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Stoicism and Personal Productivity

46:47 • 13min

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Cultivating Self-Discipline in Adversity

01:00:01 • 11min

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The Significance of a Memento Mori Coin and Podcast Highlights

01:11:19 • 3min

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Existential Flourishing

A Phenomenology of the Virtues

Irene McMullin

In 'Existential Flourishing', Irene McMullin integrates existential phenomenology with virtue ethics to offer a new perspective on human flourishing. The book argues that flourishing is achieved by balancing responsiveness to self-fulfillment, moral responsibility, and intersubjective answerability. It analyzes virtues like justice, patience, modesty, and courage as solutions to existential challenges.

How children succeed

Paul Tough

In 'How Children Succeed', Paul Tough challenges the conventional wisdom that success is primarily determined by cognitive abilities. Drawing on research in neuroscience, economics, and psychology, Tough argues that non-cognitive skills such as grit, curiosity, conscientiousness, and optimism are crucial for a child's success. The book introduces readers to new research and personal stories of children overcoming adversity, highlighting the importance of early childhood and adolescent interventions in developing these character strengths. Tough also discusses the role of parents, schools, and mentors in teaching and reinforcing these skills, and how programs like OneGoal are making a significant impact on the lives of underprivileged students.

The obstacle is the way

Ryan Holiday

In 'The Obstacle Is the Way', Ryan Holiday presents a framework for turning obstacles into successes. Drawing from the philosophy of Stoicism and the writings of Marcus Aurelius, Holiday outlines three disciplines: perception, action, and will. He illustrates these principles with historical anecdotes from figures such as John D. Rockefeller, Amelia Earhart, Ulysses S. Grant, and Steve Jobs. The book emphasizes the importance of perception in shaping one's response to obstacles, the need for intentional and creative action, and the cultivation of will to persist through challenges. Holiday argues that by adopting these Stoic principles, individuals can transform their obstacles into opportunities for growth and success.

Discipline is Destiny

The Power of Self-Control

Ryan Holiday

In 'Discipline is Destiny', Ryan Holiday explores the Stoic virtue of self-discipline, drawing on historical figures and contemporary examples to illustrate its transformative power. The book emphasizes that discipline is the foundation upon which other virtues such as courage, justice, and wisdom depend. Holiday argues that self-control is essential for personal triumph and fulfillment, and he provides engaging stories and practical advice on how to cultivate discipline in a world filled with distractions and temptations. The book also cautions against the perils of extravagance and hedonism, stressing the importance of balance and self-mastery in achieving success and happiness.

Waging a Good War

A Military History of the Civil Rights Movement, 1954-1968

Thomas Ricks

In this book, Thomas E. Ricks offers a new take on the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s, emphasizing the unexpected use of military strategy and its lessons for nonviolent resistance. Ricks, a Pulitzer Prize-winning war reporter, draws on his deep knowledge of tactics and strategy to argue that the greatest victories for Black Americans were won not by idealism alone, but by attention to recruiting, training, discipline, and organization. The book follows key figures like Martin Luther King Jr., Fannie Lou Hamer, and John Lewis, and highlights lesser-known activists such as James Lawson, James Bevel, Diane Nash, and Septima Clark. It demonstrates that Gandhian nonviolence was a philosophy of active, not passive, resistance and offers vital lessons for social change and confronting attacks on democracy today.

The life you can save

How to Play Your Part in Ending World Poverty

Peter Singer

Peter Singer's "The Life You Can Save" is a compelling argument for effective altruism, urging readers to donate to charities that demonstrably alleviate suffering. Singer challenges conventional thinking about philanthropy, emphasizing the moral obligation to maximize the positive impact of our donations. The book presents a practical framework for identifying and supporting high-impact charities, focusing on cost-effectiveness and measurable results. Singer's work has sparked significant debate and inspired many to re-evaluate their charitable giving. The book's core message is that even small contributions can make a substantial difference in the lives of others.

Ryan talks to Professor Jennifer Baker about her approach to teaching Stoicism, ethics, and political theory at the College of Charleston, what the Stoics might have said about driving a Mercedes instead of a Hyundai (or a Tesla), the challenges of teaching to today’s student population, and more.

Jennifer Baker holds a Ph.D in Philosophy from the University of Arizona and B.A. in Philosophy from Brown. She brings her academic training and passion for understanding ancient wisdom to the courses that she teaches on ethical and political theory, environmental ethics and philosophy, business ethics, bioethics, and American philosophy. Her research is on virtue ethics, and she looks to ancient ethical theories as positive examples of how ethics ought to be done today. She explores philosophical ideas in her blog on Psychology Today: For the Love of Wisdom.

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