Stoic Meditations

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374. No need to be Cato in order to practice virtue May 28, 2019

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Seneca discusses the grand example of Cato the Younger, his favorite role model. But even in ordinary life we can be courageous and just, if we pay attention to what we are doing and why.

373. The answer is always going to be "it depends" May 24, 2019

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Cicero reminds us that in virtue ethics the answer to moral questions is always going to depend on circumstances, a striking contrast with modern - and arguably less useful - universalist frameworks like deontology and consequentialism.

372. Spend some time with Zeno and Socrates instead May 23, 2019

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Want to become a better person? Forget about traveling, since you will bring with you the same problems you are trying to flee. Read a good book instead, enter in conversation with the best minds humanity has produced across time.

371. The problem is that you are travelling with your emotions and are followed by your afflictions May 22, 2019

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Seneca continues his analysis of the relationship between traveling and self-improvement. While there are good reasons to travel (leisure and learning), self-improvement isn't one of them, because that requires critical reflection, wherever one happens to be.

370. If you travel in order to escape yourself, don't May 21, 2019

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As Socrates said to someone who was complaining that traveling brought him no benefits: "It serves you right! You travelled in your own company!"

369. We must suffer for the sake of those we love May 20, 2019

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Seneca dispels the stereotype of Stoics going through life with a stiff upper lip by explicitly advocating suffering for those we love. What marks the Stoic is not that she doesn't suffer, but how she handles suffering.

368. Theory is fine, but useless if you don't practice May 17, 2019

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Epictetus complains about something that hasn't changed much in two millennia: people who are happy to discuss the fine logical points of ethical dilemmas, but are apparently not that interested in becoming better human beings.

367. Remember what you should offer and what you should withhold May 16, 2019

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Seneca reminds us how to behave with fellow human beings, but also that, from a Stoic perspective, what is and is not to be valued (one's good and bad judgments) is not quite what most people value, focused as they often are on externals.

366. Humanity is what it is, not what we would like it to be May 15, 2019

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Seneca reminds us that our fellow human beings aren't always trustworthy or well intentioned. Nevertheless, we have a duty to treat others, and ourselves, with forgiveness, to be helpful when we can, and to endure when we cannot.

365. Your role model may be closer than you think May 14, 2019

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In which I compare my adoptive grandfather to Cato the Younger. Not because he fought battles against tyrants, but because he was a decent and kind human being.

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