You may have noticed that the study of Stoicism involves a drastic reduction in what one needs to focus on or worry about. The practicing stoic needn’t obsess about the future or the past. They don’t need to be made insecure about the material possessions or successes of others, or have to submit to the […]
The three most prominent stoics in Roman history led lives on opposite ends of the social spectrum. Epictetus was a slave, banished at one point from Rome by order of the Emperor Domitian. Marcus Aurelius, found himself suddenly ascended to the throne as Emperor of Rome—the most powerful man on earth. Seneca managed to experience […]
I’m an aspiring Stoic. Emphasis on the word aspiring. When I share this burgeoning desire with friends or show family members I’m reading a book on Epictetus, the response is universal: “A Stoic? But you’re so friendly.” When most people hear the word ‘Stoic’ they conjure up a mental cliche of an unsmiling, unexpressive, stiff. […]
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Most people’s introduction to the so-called “Southern Stoicism” is in the writings of one of the great novelists, Walker Percy (Percy happened to come from a long line of Stoics as you’ll see). And anyone interested in this specific offshoot of Stoic philosophy and American history inevitably find themselves drawn to Peter Lawler who has […]