The Via Stoica Podcast What is Stoicism? Discovering the True Nature of This Ancient Wisdom
Jul 7, 2025
Uncover the essence of Stoicism, a philosophy focused on inner freedom, resilience, and purpose. Dive into the four cardinal virtues: wisdom, justice, courage, and temperance, essential for personal growth and ethical living. Explore how Stoicism navigates emotions through reason and the powerful concept of the dichotomy of control, which can reduce stress. Embrace mortality as a motivator and learn about preferred indifference, helping you cultivate emotional stability and detach from external influences.
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Core Nature of Stoicism
- Stoicism is an ancient philosophy focused on virtues and living in accordance with nature.
- It seeks self-improvement and contributing to the collective good rather than selfish goals.
Stoicism Compared to Buddhism
- Stoicism is like a Western, pragmatic Buddhism focused on achieving tranquility (eudaimonia).
- It emphasizes reason, logic, and self-mastery, inspiring modern therapies like cognitive behavioral therapy.
The Four Stoic Virtues
- The four Stoic virtues are wisdom, justice, courage, and temperance.
- Courage means doing the right thing despite fear or danger, not just bravery for its own sake.
