Stoicism is considered the best practical philosophy due to its utility and coherence, adapting to the modern world while maintaining its emphasis on character and virtue.
Stoicism's primary focus on personal responsibility and individual virtue overlooks the need for political action and collective efforts to address social challenges and structural issues.
Social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook have negative effects, manipulating human behavior, fueling anger and polarization, and emphasizing the importance of mindful engagement and critical thinking.
Deep dives
Stoicism as the Best Practical Philosophy
The speaker asserts that Stoicism is the best practical philosophy in the world, surpassing all others in terms of utility and coherence. While acknowledging the need for Modern Stoics to adapt the philosophy to the 21st century, Stoicism's focus on character and virtue remains central. Stoicism emphasizes rational thinking and pro-social behavior, rooted in the fundamental traits of rationality and cooperation inherent in human nature. The resurgence of Stoicism in recent decades can be attributed to its practicality and relevance in navigating crises, similar to the turmoil experienced in the Hellenistic period. The popularity of Stoicism can also be attributed to figures like Pierre Hado and the renewed interest in practical philosophy. However, the speaker acknowledges the need for Stoics to refine the application of Stoicism to the complexities of the modern world.
Deficiency of Stoicism in Political Action
While Stoicism is highly regarded for personal responsibility and agency, it tends to undervalue political action and structural issues. Stoicism primarily emphasizes individual virtue and character, and the political system is considered a preferred indifferent. Thus, the Stoics lack a comprehensive political program or guidance for addressing environmental problems, inclusivity, misogyny, or other social challenges. This deficiency is contrasted with philosophers like Cicero, who recognized the importance of compromise and the practicality of navigating politics without compromising overall virtue. While acknowledging that individuals must draw their own lines, Stoicism's emphasis on personal responsibility should not ignore the need for structural change and collective action.
The Pitfalls of Social Media
The speaker highlights the negative impacts of social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook. These platforms are designed to manipulate human behavior and engage users in addictive and divisive interaction. They have fueled anger, toxicity, and polarization, as demonstrated by the speaker's experience with provocative tweets receiving heightened engagement. The influence of these platforms on individuals and society has raised concerns, leading some to leave them in favor of smaller, more private online communities. While the speaker acknowledges that changing these dynamics may be challenging, through regulation or decentralization, they advocate for a critical approach towards social media and emphasize the importance of mindful reading and engagement.
Choosing What to Read
The speaker shares their approach to selecting books to read. They advise seeking book recommendations from trusted sources, such as reputable publications or individuals with a proven track record for suggesting valuable reading material. Rather than reading a wide range of authors, they encourage focusing on a select number of authors and thoroughly engaging with their works. Mindful reading involves taking notes, reflecting on the material, and resisting the competitive mindset that can arise from certain reading platforms. Additionally, the speaker emphasizes the importance of being open to abandoning books that fail to captivate or provide value, allowing for a more fulfilling reading experience.
The Freedom to Abandon a Book
The speaker challenges the notion that one must finish every book they start. They argue that it is acceptable and even beneficial to abandon a book that does not meet expectations or fail to engage the reader. Devoting time to books that do not hold interest can prevent one from discovering more meaningful and impactful reads. The freedom to set aside books allows for a selective and enriching reading experience, ensuring that time and effort are dedicated to works that genuinely resonate with the reader.
Massimo is one of the key figures behind the Renaissance of modern stoicism. They discuss how Stoicism has made a difference to Massimo's life, Stoicism and politics, and end with a discussion of the proper attitude towards social media.
This is an excellent conversation for thinking about how Stoicism can fit into a life – and why there open questions with the philosophy even if it is the best practical philosophy available.
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Stoa Conversations is Caleb Ontiveros and Michael Tremblay’s podcast on Stoic theory and practice.
Caleb and Michael work together on the Stoa app. Stoa is designed to help you build resilience and focus on what matters. It combines the practical philosophy of Stoicism with modern techniques and meditation.
Caleb Ontiveros has a background in academic philosophy (MA) and startups. His favorite Stoic is Marcus Aurelius. Follow him here: https://twitter.com/calebmontiveros
Michael Tremblay also has a background in academic philosophy (PhD) where he focused on Epictetus. He is also a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. His favorite Stoic is Epictetus. Follow him here: https://twitter.com/_MikeTremblay
Thank you to Michael Levy for graciously letting us use his music in the conversations: https://ancientlyre.com/
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