1. Stoic phase: My Stoic phase ended 2 years ago after lasting about 3 years. This extract from Epictetus’s “Fragments” (1-2AD) exemplifies my problems with Stoicism, particularly that it can encourage people to be victims.pic.twitter.com/oCBOWes6TV
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8. Epictetus also appeals to the wisdom of God/Nature, but we can’t see nature in this way anymore. We moderns can’t see Nature as being purposeful as Epictetus does. As with Lovecraft, we know it’s chaotic and that barely understand it.
9. We can’t go back to the comforting Roman view where Nature had a set purpose that we could adhere to. This undermines Stoicism, because the notion of Nature being ordered in a particular way is key to Stoicism.
10. Marcus Aurelius? Why did write his books. Was it because he thought that the Stoical doctrines would make for a docile population? Why has Stoicism been sold as a lifestyle brand (like Hygge) over the last few years? Why is it in CBT?
11. Stoicism is quite a good doctrine to teach to slaves...”Don’t complain. Accept your lot. Be kind to people who hit you.” It is, in a sense, the source of ressentiment. On the other hand, it has useful techniques to deal with pain. But my experience was the ultimately...
12. ...the self-abnegation turns in on you and eats you. You have to strike out and strike back. Stoicism can teach you to do this without caring, but actually following Sotical advice makes you small-souled and a self-hater.
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