A GUIDE TO STOICISM: The Philosophy For Uncertain Times

Summary

The video script delves into Stoicism, an ancient philosophy advocating for inner strength and self-discipline to overcome destructive emotions amidst life's uncertainties. It suggests practical Stoic practices, such as distinguishing between controllable and uncontrollable matters, negative visualization to foster gratitude, focusing on the journey rather than the destination, and living virtuously through courage, temperance, justice, and wisdom. The script encourages embracing uncertainty for a more meaningful life.

Takeaways

• 💪 Stoicism advocates for strength and self-discipline to overcome destructive emotions like anxiety, anger, and jealousy.
• 🧠 Clear thinking, free from biases and prejudice, is essential to achieve stoic calmness and live according to reason and virtue.
• 🌍 The Stoics emphasize the distinction between the uncontrollable external world and the controllable internal world.
• ✍️ Writing a list of anxieties and categorizing them into controllable and uncontrollable can help manage stress and focus energy effectively.
• 😌 Negative visualization, imagining the loss of things you love, can increase gratitude and reduce fear of change.
• 🛏️ Embracing discomfort, such as occasionally sleeping on the floor, can help appreciate current comforts and prepare for potential hardships.
• 💀 Regularly contemplating death can help contextualize and appreciate life, reducing the fear of the inevitable.
• 🗝️ Setting internal goals detached from specific outcomes helps maintain focus on personal growth despite external uncertainties.
• ⚖️ Living virtuously involves practicing courage, temperance, justice, and wisdom in daily life.
• 📚 Wisdom requires humility and the continuous pursuit of knowledge, understanding what can and cannot be controlled.

Q & A

What is the primary focus of Stoicism as a philosophy?

The primary focus of Stoicism is to cultivate strength and self-discipline to avoid and overcome destructive emotions such as anxiety, anger, and jealousy through clear thinking, logic, reflection, and focus, aiming to live according to reason and virtue, free from suffering.

How does Stoicism suggest we deal with external factors that are beyond our control?

Stoicism suggests that we should understand and accept that we have no power over external things and that the good to be pursued is found within ourselves. It encourages us to limit our imagination and not worry about things we cannot control.

What is the concept of 'ataraxia' in Stoic philosophy?

Ataraxia in Stoicism refers to a state of pure calmness or tranquility that one may achieve by living according to reason and virtue, being in agreement with one's nature and free from suffering.

Who is Epictetus and what is his main argument in Stoicism?

Epictetus was a former slave who became a prominent Stoic philosopher. His main argument is that we have no power over external things and that the good is to be found within ourselves, emphasizing the distinction between the internal and external worlds.

How does Stoicism view the concept of negative visualization?

Negative visualization in Stoicism is a tool used to generate greater optimism by imagining the loss of things one cares about. It helps to embrace the reality of life's impermanence and to appreciate what one has, fostering resilience and gratitude.

What is the role of internal goals in Stoic philosophy?

Internal goals in Stoicism are about focusing on what one can control, detached from outcomes. It's about setting goals that are excuses to do what one truly wants to do, enjoying the process rather than being fixated on the outcome.

How does Stoicism relate to the concept of living virtuously?

Living virtuously in Stoicism involves embracing the four virtues: courage, temperance, justice, and wisdom. It's about doing the right thing, advocating for justice, and always learning and growing as a person.

What advice does Marcus Aurelius give regarding the fear of death?

Marcus Aurelius advises that one should not live in fear of death but rather focus on living a meaningful life. He suggests meditating on death to prepare for the inevitable and to contextualize one's current life, emphasizing that it's the failure to live, not death, that one should fear.

How does Stoicism define the virtue of courage in daily life?

In Stoicism, courage is not only about facing crisis but also about taking small daily actions that require bravery, such as having uncomfortable conversations or standing up for oneself. It's about being free to handle conflict in one's own way.

What is the importance of temperance in Stoic philosophy?

Temperance in Stoicism is important for developing good habits and living a good life. It's about moderation and avoiding excess, which is necessary for maintaining balance and focusing on what truly matters.

How does Stoicism view the relationship between wisdom and the ability to navigate the world?

Wisdom in Stoicism is crucial for understanding what one can and cannot control, and for making informed decisions. It requires humility and a lifelong commitment to learning, as it's through wisdom that one can act virtuously and navigate the world effectively.

Outlines

00:00

🛡 Embracing Stoicism Amidst Uncertainty

The first paragraph introduces the concept of Stoicism as a means to deal with the uncertainty and potential chaos of life. It emphasizes the importance of self-discipline and mental clarity to manage emotions such as anxiety and anger. Stoicism advocates for living according to reason and virtue, leading to a state of ataraxia, or tranquility. The paragraph suggests four practical ideas for adopting Stoic principles, including focusing on what is within one's control and understanding the distinction between external and internal worlds. The story of Epictetus, a Stoic philosopher who started as a slave, illustrates the philosophy's relevance to overcoming adversity.

05:00

💭 Negative Visualization and Gratitude

The second paragraph delves into the Stoic practice of negative visualization, which involves imagining the loss of loved ones or possessions to cultivate gratitude and resilience. It discusses how this exercise can lead to a greater appreciation for what one has and a deeper understanding of life's impermanence. The paragraph also touches on the importance of setting internal goals that are not solely dependent on outcomes, and the value of virtues such as courage, temperance, justice, and wisdom in living a meaningful life. It highlights the Stoic belief in focusing on the journey rather than the destination, and the necessity of continuous learning and self-improvement.

10:03

🌟 Living Virtuously and the Pursuit of Wisdom

The final paragraph reinforces the Stoic virtues discussed earlier and emphasizes the importance of wisdom in navigating life's challenges. It explains that wisdom helps in understanding what is within one's control and what is not, allowing for a more focused and effective approach to problem-solving. The paragraph encourages embracing discomfort and uncertainty as a means to discover one's internal strength and to live in accordance with nature. It concludes with the idea that being a Stoic is about managing one's reactions to the external world, focusing on the internal world where true control lies, and continuously striving for growth and understanding.

Keywords

💡Stoicism

Stoicism is an ancient Greek school of philosophy that emphasizes strength of mind and self-discipline to overcome destructive emotions. It advocates living according to reason and virtue, which leads to a state of ataraxia, or tranquility. In the video, Stoicism is presented as a relevant approach to deal with the uncertainty and anxieties of modern life, with Epictetus being highlighted as a key figure who, despite his hardships, promoted the idea of focusing on internal control over external circumstances.

💡Ataraxia

Ataraxia, derived from the Greek word 'ataraxia,' means a state of tranquility or freedom from distress. It is a by-product of Stoic philosophy, where one lives in harmony with nature and reason, leading to a calm and undisturbed state of mind. The video discusses ataraxia as an ideal state that can be achieved through Stoic practices, which help individuals to deal with the chaos of the external world.

💡Epictetus

Epictetus was a former slave and a prominent Stoic philosopher who emphasized the importance of focusing on what is within one's control. He argued that external things are beyond our power, and true good lies within ourselves. In the script, his life story and teachings are used to illustrate the Stoic principle of internal control and the insignificance of external events to one's happiness and peace of mind.

💡Internal and External

The distinction between internal and external is a fundamental concept in Stoicism. The internal world refers to our thoughts, emotions, and will, which we can control. The external world includes everything outside of us, which we cannot control. The video script uses this concept to suggest that understanding and accepting this division can help reduce anxiety and focus our efforts on what we can influence.

💡Anxiety

Anxiety is a feeling of worry, nervousness, or unease, typically about an imminent event or something with an uncertain outcome. The video discusses how Stoic practices can help alleviate anxiety by focusing on what is within one's control and accepting what is not, thereby promoting a clear and rational approach to life's challenges.

💡Negative Visualization

Negative visualization is a Stoic technique where one imagines losing what they value most, to appreciate what they have and to understand that life is impermanent. The video script describes this practice as a way to generate optimism and gratitude, as well as to prepare for potential losses, using the example of Marcus Aurelius who practiced sleeping on the floor to appreciate his bed.

💡Virtue

Virtue, in Stoicism, refers to moral excellence or the quality of being good. It is achieved by living in accordance with reason and nature. The script outlines four cardinal virtues: courage, temperance, justice, and wisdom, which are essential for a Stoic to navigate life and contribute to a meaningful existence.

💡Courage

Courage, as discussed in the video, is one of the four virtues in Stoicism. It is not just about facing danger or fear but also about taking small daily actions that require bravery, such as having difficult conversations or standing up for oneself. Courage is developed through these actions and is essential for living a virtuous life.

💡Temperance

Temperance, in the context of Stoicism, is the virtue of moderation and self-control, especially in the face of excess and indulgence. The video contrasts modern lifestyles with the Stoic practice of temperance, suggesting that it is necessary for developing good habits and living a balanced life.

💡Justice

Justice is a key virtue in Stoicism, emphasizing the importance of fairness, truth, and doing what is right. The video script suggests that practicing justice involves making ethical decisions and standing up for what is right, even when it is uncomfortable or challenging.

💡Wisdom

Wisdom, the final of the four cardinal virtues in Stoicism, is the ability to make sound judgments and understand the world. It is crucial for navigating life and making ethical decisions. The video script highlights wisdom as a lifelong pursuit that requires humility and a willingness to learn and adapt.

Highlights

Stoicism promotes strength and self-discipline to overcome destructive emotions like anxiety and anger.

Stoics believe in living according to reason and virtue, leading to a state of ataraxia or pure calmness.

Epictetus emphasizes that we have no power over external things and true good is found within ourselves.

Understanding the difference between what we can and cannot control relieves anxiety.

Seneca suggests that we suffer more from imagination than from reality, due to worrying about uncontrollable things.

The Stoics advise limiting our imagination to manage anxiety and focus on what we can control.

Viktor Frankl highlights the freedom to choose one's attitude in any given set of circumstances.

Stoicism encourages active living within the boundaries of what we can control.

Epictetus advises identifying and separating matters into externals and choices we control.

Negative visualization is a Stoic tool for generating optimism and gratitude for what we have.

Seneca explains that visualizing loss can strip present ills of their power and foster resilience.

Marcus Aurelius practiced sleeping on the floor to appreciate his present comforts and prepare for loss.

The Stoics argue that living a meaningful life reduces the fear of death, as it is an inevitable part of life.

Focusing on the journey rather than the destination is a key Stoic principle for embracing uncertainty.

Stoicism connects the idea of setting internal goals detached from outcomes to personal development.

The Stoics identified four virtues: courage, temperance, justice, and wisdom, essential for living virtuously.

Wisdom in Stoicism involves understanding what we can and cannot control and acting virtuously within our sphere of influence.

To be a Stoic is to embrace uncertainty and focus on truth, justice, and personal growth.

Transcripts

whether it's an impending economic

depression contagious plague or alien

invasion

month after month of apocalypse bingo

can and will start to drink even the

most stoical among us why sculpture

physique into an amazing beach bod if

the beach might be closed in a month why

keep studying all these stupid useless

facts if you're graduating into one of

the worst job markets of all time why do

anything at all if nothing is certain

and life is just one painful day after

the other

well one well-known an ancient school of

thought that a name crowds the titles of

self-help articles motivational videos

and mental health conversations also

holds serious relevance to these

unprecedented times stoicism the school

of thought above all argues for strength

and self-discipline in order to avoid

and overcome destructive emotions such

as anxiety anger and jealousy to do so

one must be a clear thinker mentally

free from biases and prejudice this

would be achieved through logic

reflection and serious focus overall the

goal of stoicism is to live according to

reason and virtue free of suffering and

fully an agreement with one's nature as

a by-product one may live in the state

of ataraxia or pure calmness the

question then is how we could go about

living like a stoic well here are four

practical ideas that one could adopt and

their journey to deal with uncertainty

certainly one could argue that the

Stoics living centuries ago are far

removed from the suffering at the modern

individual however one would have not

yet met Epictetus born as a slave he had

a leg deliberately broken by his master

at a young age just as he gained freedom

he was then banished from Rome he died

with few possessions Epictetus argued

first and foremost that we have no power

over external things and the good that

ought to be the object of our earnest

pursuit is to be found only within

ourselves this is an important point in

stoicism the Stoics there is the

external world and the internal world

the external cannot be controlled the

internal can be controlled the stock

market government policy whether that

person you like feels the same way these

are very much out of your influence you

can even take it to the extreme and

imagine someone imprisoned or enslaved

such as epictetus with practically

nothing in their control

understanding that we have very little

control over a whole lot should be an

anxiety relieving insight as Seneca

States we suffer more imagination than

in reality and this is a fact largely

due to our inability to realize that we

worry about things that we cannot

control

in this regard the Stoics advised us to

limit our imagination well what about

the internal can we control anything

importantly as the psychologist Viktor

Frankl points out everything can be

taken from a man but one thing the last

of the human freedoms to choose ones

attitude in any given set of

circumstances this is the internal world

that stoicism values where one may still

choose how they will confront reality

notably understanding what we can and

cannot control does not mean we should

just accept the world as it is if you

aren't currently enslaved you likely

stole the pocket of control over your

present reality whether it's the ability

to join a policy group in your local

government participating more in your

community or even pick up a new skill

you still can and should live actively

understanding the border between what

you can and cannot control is if

anything and exercise to focus your time

and energy on what you can influence and

accept that which you cannot to

summarize epictetus rights the chief

tasks in life is simply this to identify

and separate matters so that I can see

clearly to myself which are externals

not under my control and which have to

do with the choices I actually control

where then do I look for good and evil

not to uncontrollable externals but

within myself to the choices that are my

own one advisable exercises to write a

list of everything you are anxious about

and then to divide them into the

internal and external that which you

cannot control you can learn to accept

not which you can control should be

given a concrete action plan the cheesy

and usually regret Laden comment you

don't know what you have until it's gone

is actually a pretty useful insight if

you wish to become a modern stoic

negative visualization is one of the

more well-known tools than the Stoics

journey to become virtuous this method

although arguably very pessimistic on

the surface is actually a very useful

generator of greater optimism one only

has to imagine the things they love

ripped away from them their car their

home their fantasy team their loved ones

look at your son or daughter partner or

parent

and for a brief instant imagine them

suddenly taken from your life why should

I do this

this sounds depressing weird however

Seneca writes he Rob's present ills of

their power who is perceived there

coming before it in this sense one is

simply embracing the reality that life

changes people leave your life and

nothing is permanent through visualizing

losing everything that you care about

you ask yourself if nonetheless you can

carry on the internal freedom you

possess to confront the chaotic shifts

of the external world can really hold up

to a life lived without someone or

something that you love if the answer is

no that's perfectly fine the other

brilliant thing about this exercise is

that you quickly become very grateful

for what you have in your life after

sometime we can treat those around us

and what we have is a guarantee from

this we tend to forget exactly why we

loved them exactly what it is about them

that enhances our lives take the most

basic form of this for example we love

our bed we probably have spent very few

nights not sleeping on a bed in fact

it's probably a little strange to

imagine what it would be like if our bed

didn't exist if for example we were

homeless Roman stoic and Emperor Marcus

Aurelius from a young age supposedly

would sleep on the floor from time to

time in order to practice this very

exercise that is until his mother

convinced him to sleep in a bed

this practice likely helped him in two

ways he knew that even if he had no bed

and was sleeping on the streets he could

still get by secondly he came to a

greater appreciation of his present

comfort we can take this a step further

imagine losing something most of us take

pretty seriously our own lives death is

probably the only thing we feel the

least prepared for however the Stoics

argue that if one is truly living a

meaningful life they would not live in

fear of death after all it's kind of the

only certain thing about life we should

meditate about our own deaths more

regularly for one it prepares us for the

inevitable time when we do have to leave

secondly it contextualizes our current

lives why are we scared of death are you

afraid of the discomfort of what lies

beyond Marcus Aurelius right stop

whatever you're doing for a moment and

ask yourself am i afraid of death

because I won't be able to do this

anymore if it's the latter

and keep doing what you're doing that

usually means that you're living and not

merely passing time until yours is up it

is not death that a man should fear but

rather he should fear never beginning to

live rates Aurelius

are you afraid because there is so much

left to see and do well good news you're

still alive and in this little time you

have make the most of it as a really

advises don't behave as if you're

destined to live forever

what's faded hangs over you as long as

you live and well you can become good

now how does one become good now what

important idea is strongly connected to

the first point of embracing the

internal over the external this can mean

first of all to set internal goals that

are detached from outcomes that sounds

somewhat paradoxical in this day and age

usually we set goals in order to reach a

certain outcome a specific amount of

money or a weight-loss goal the Stoics

recognized the uncertainty of extremely

a luyties that a recession can hit or a

fast food chain could open up right next

to your workplace instead focusing on

what you can control despite all else

you want a relationship don't go on and

end the stream of dates in the hopes

that it will work instead focus on

making yourself a catch imagine each

goal is an excuse to do what you really

want to do the happy mountain climber

doesn't set the goal of climbing to get

to the top of the mountain

instead they set the goal of getting to

the top is an excuse to go mountain

climbing whether you get to the top or

not isn't certain nonetheless the

climber gets to enjoy the climb that's

not enough however the Stoics also

believed in living clearly and in accord

with nature what exactly does this mean

stoicism to a certain degree treats the

matter as if it's entirely obvious waste

no more time arguing what a good man

should be be one rights Aurelius however

they also had a clear notion of what

being good meant as a really a social

road you should come across anything

better than justice truth self-control

courage you must be an extraordinary

thing indeed there are four virtues

courage temperance justice at wisdom

regarding courage note that this isn't

only in times of crisis courage is

developed in small daily actions as well

whether it's finally having that

uncomfortable conversation with someone

close or standing up for yourself one

may not be free to

avoid conflict but they are nonetheless

free and how they decide to handle the

conflict with temperance we find a

virtue that is far less favorable in

this day and age mass consumption

exuberant in-your-face lifestyles and

the ease at which people voice radical

and visceral anger at others modern

living welcomes those who seldom pay any

attention to the virtue of moderation

nonetheless the stoic suggests that

temperance is necessary if one wants to

live a good life largely because

temperance is needed in order to develop

good habit

Epictetus traits capability is confirmed

and grows in its corresponding actions

walking by walking and running by

running therefore if you want to do

something make a habit of it

justice is perhaps the most important

virtue in fact the Stoics argue that

doing the right thing

advocating for justice for what is right

is the core of all other virtues how can

this be practiced Aurelius tells us that

if it is not right do not do it if it is

not true do not say it easy enough but

doing the right thing must allow for

uncomfortable change and growth to

realize that what one first felt was

right may not remain so if anyone can

refute me show me I'm making a mistake

or looking at things from the wrong

perspective I'll gladly change it's the

truth I'm after and the truth never

harmed anyone this final point leads us

to the virtue of wisdom wisdom above all

tells us what we need to know in order

to navigate the world it tells us that

which we can and cannot control for

example climate change might be an issue

that one feels entirely unable to solve

alone however one may research the issue

as well as discover certain outlets of

change within their community that well

smaller than the issue itself allows

someone to act virtuously this cannot be

achieved without wisdom however it

should be noted that wisdom requires the

humility of being a lifelong student you

cannot learn that which you think you

already know rights Epictetus to be a

stoic is to embrace uncertainty for the

cause of Greater truth to understand

xenos observation that we are born with

two eyes two ears and one mouth for a

reason in summary to be a stoic one must

firstly understand the great divide

between the external world that lives

out of one's control in the internal

world

that which one can still control doing

so will manage ones anxieties and orient

their energies to their sphere of

influence I note that sometimes this

area of control may be nothing more than

one's response to the external world

secondly one must embrace discomfort

whether they imagine the loss of that

which they love or the loss of their own

lives

doing so will lead to a more emphatic

love of what they have rather than a

longing for what they want thirdly

weather how cliche it is focus on the

journey rather than destination and

fourthly live virtuously be courageous

when necessary practice moderation do

the right thing and always keep learning

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