Author and philosophy professor William Irvine goes in-depth on Stoicism, and why the fundamental tenets of this ancient philosophy can provide answers to some of the toughest problems in today’s society. On this episode Irvine offers a definition and some useful background on Stoicism and its origins, the original Stoics, their thoughts on failure, their advice on decision making, and how we can train ourselves to be more stoic.   Irvine has written seven books including the wildly popular 2008 release A Guide to the Good Life: The Ancient Art of Stoic Joy, and the 2019 follow-up, The Stoic Challenge: A Philosopher's Guide to Becoming Tougher, Calmer, and More Resilient. Irvine also teaches philosophy and logic courses at Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio.   Go Premium: Members get early access, ad-free episodes, hand-edited transcripts, searchable transcripts, member-only episodes, and more. Sign up at: https://fs.blog/membership/   Every Sunday our newsletter shares timeless insights and ideas that you can use at work and home. Add it to your inbox: https://fs.blog/newsletter/   Follow Shane on Twitter at: https://twitter.com/ShaneAParrish Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

William Irvine, a professor at Wright State University, thinks, teaches, and writes about philosophy. He is the author of many books and publications including the one he and Eric discuss in this episode, The Stoic Challenge: A Philosopher’s Guide to Becoming Tougher, Calmer, and More Resilient.In this episode, Eric and Bill discuss what it means to live and practice Stoicism.But wait – there’s more! The episode is not quite over!! We continue the conversation and you can access this exclusive content right in your podcast player feed. Head over to our Patreon page and pledge to donate just $10 a month. It’s that simple and we’ll give you good stuff as a thank you!Professor William B. Irvine and I Discuss Applied Stoicism and…His book, The Stoic Challenge: A Philosopher’s Guide to Becoming Tougher, Calmer, and More ResilientThree sources from which your desires can arise The limitations of our rational brainTechniques for harnessing negative emotions and using them for good purposesThe practice of stoicismThat as humans, no matter what we have we will take it for grantedRemembering that for everything we do, there will be a last timeA better goal in life than being happyThe role and benefit of having a grand goalThe trichotomy of controlWilliam Irvine links:Bill’s WebsiteBill’s WritingsWhen you purchase products and/or services from the sponsors of this episode, you help support The One You Feed. Your support is greatly appreciated, thank you!If you enjoyed this conversation with William Irvine, you might also enjoy these other episodes:Everyday Courage with Ryan HolidayConscious Leadership with Eric KaufmannSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Life is often filled with hardships and tragedies. For thousands of years, philosophers have come up with strategies to help us cope with such hardship. This week, we revisit a 2020 conversation with philosopher William Irvine about ancient ideas — backed by modern psychology — that can help us manage disappointment and misfortune.If you like this show, please check out our new podcast, My Unsung Hero! And if you'd like to support our work, you can do so at support.hiddenbrain.org.

Life is filled with hardships and tragedies — a fact that 2020 has made all too clear for people across the globe. For thousands of years, philosophers have come up with strategies to help us cope with such hardship. This week on Hidden Brain, we talk with philosopher William Irvine about ancient ideas — backed by modern psychology — that can help us manage disappointment and misfortune.

William Irvine, a professor of philosophy and author of notable works on Stoicism, shares his journey into Stoicism and its vital role in shaping a fulfilling life. He discusses the perils of ‘Enlightened Hedonism’ and presents Stoicism as an antidote to societal pressures. Irvine explores how techniques like negative visualization foster gratitude and how embracing virtues leads to resilience. He contrasts modern life with historical struggles, urging appreciation for current privileges and emphasizing the transformative power of adversity in personal growth.