The Knowledge Project #123 William Irvine: How To Live a Stoic Life
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Nov 2, 2021 
William Irvine, a philosophy professor at Wright State University and author of several books on Stoicism, discusses the relevance of this ancient philosophy in today’s world. He emphasizes the importance of self-discipline and decision-making for a meaningful life. Irvine shares his own journey from Zen Buddhism to Stoicism, highlighting strategies like negative visualization and the dichotomy of control. The conversation also explores teaching Stoicism to foster resilience in children, navigating difficult relationships, and embracing failure as part of personal growth.
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Negative Visualization
- Practice negative visualization by imagining the loss of things you value.
- This cultivates gratitude and appreciation for what you have.
Trichotomy of Control
- Use the trichotomy of control: focus on what you can control, accept what you can't, and strategically manage what you partially control.
- Don't waste energy on uncontrollable things.
Managing Anger
- Reframe anger-inducing situations as tests of your Stoic practice.
- Limit exposure to people who consistently trigger negative emotions.
