I’m unexpectedly bonding easily with the Stoics — “to such a person, glasses are amazing; to everyone else, a glass is just a glass, and it is half empty to boot.”pic.twitter.com/aBnJYHCuKx
Show this thread
-
Stoicism is a possible answer to Peter Thiel's prompt ("tell me something that's true that nobody agrees with") — that life isn't the linear acquisition of more accomplishments, friends, things & likewise more status, safety, comfort. You may fail. You may *die* in a "fail" state
Show this thread
On its face, Stoicism seemed to me like a possible complacency-enabler. If you fully grok how ephemeral ALL things are, from your car to your job to your love and right down to your sight... ability to walk... mind... do you keep white-knuckling it through 80-hour work weeks?
-
-
And maybe you *don't*, but if you don't, it's probably because whatever the lived experience + material product of those 80-hour weeks is *isn't actually something that you want for the sum output of your life*. You're trying to buy a new job title + raise or whatever.
Show this thread -
Not trying to dismantle the career ladder here, but after a year or two of this nonsense you're not going to walk away from the promotion when something interesting lands at your feet. Sunk costs are anchors. Any philosophy that frees you of this makes you *broadly more free*
Show this thread -
FWIW, the Roman Stoics Irvine writes about were living out various manifestations of a legit OG *rock & roll lifestyle*, contributing significantly to the political, cultural & academic scenes between periods of severe illness or banishment to dismal rocks off the coast
Show this thread
End of conversation
New conversation -
-
-
Many short-lived things are becoming longer-lived every day. Humans themselves, for instance. It’d be odd to base a life philosophy on the ephemeral state of today’s technology.
-
Plus, lots of things are worthwhile even though ephemeral. Again, human life is itself an example.
End of conversation
New conversation -
Loading seems to be taking a while.
Twitter may be over capacity or experiencing a momentary hiccup. Try again or visit Twitter Status for more information.