Stoicism

[Nott]

Thoughts?

While there are definitely disadvantages to shutting out emotions of any kind, I quite like this philosophy because it gives the individual complete control over his/her perspective.

Unrelated: Does anyone know why there are viking/dwarf runes in the icons box? Not that I'm complaining...

 

[Brontosaurie]

i think stoicism is not so much about shutting out emotions. it's more about achieving emotional homeostasis or equilibrium afaic. and it's also about recognizing that you are not under control, without succumbing to fatalism. this may be wild interpretation on my part.

anyhow it is easily my favorite among the hellenistic ethical schools.

 

[Absurdity]

Yeah my understanding is that it's not so much about being emotionless but rather being in control of your emotional responses to situations. A lot of that has to do with dealing with one's expectations.

Seneca's letters are a great read. Very accessible and well-written. Moses Hadas has a good introductory book of some of Seneca's letters and essays that I read recently and would recommend to anyone looking for an overview of Stoicism. You can also find them on the internet, but the translations might not be the best quality.

 

[Nott]

Yes, I agree on both accounts, but controlling emotion often means subduing it somehow; but maybe I go about it the wrong way. I must admit, I don't know much about stoicism but it recently caught my eye, so I will definitely read Seneca's letters, thanks Absurdity.

After reading very little about it, I found myself thinking I already lead a rather stoic life. My friend thought it might be an INTP thing...

 

[Polaris]

Controlling emotions is hard work.

Knowing why emotions occur (identifying triggers such as value-challenges), and how they manifest gives a birds-eye perspective and thus allows for detachment. When detachment occurs, one tends to engage the more rational faculties.

 

[addictedartist]

; there is nothing better than the world, the world is god. Voluntary resignation to natural law, wisdom prolonging the existence of the soul, comprised of the five senses the imagination, communication and hegemony.

 

[h0bby1]

not sure it's something for me, the part of abnegation of self, and wanting death rather than acting in 'bad' way is not something for me stoicism can be a quality sometime, when faced with some adversity and remaining detached , but sometime also it's a bit inhuman =) there is a bit a side of resignation to suffering and repressing or enduring everything that i'm not really fond of =) i prefer taoism =) there is an aspect of stoicism that separate oneself from it's environment in order to keep moral or rational that is sometime a bit autistic or associal or cold =)

 

[addictedartist]

The earth does not belong to people, we belong to the earth.

 

[Chad]

I should also do some more research on Stoicism. I believe that this comes natural to me now. As a child I had went threw a lot of hardship and somehow threw that process I became detached form my emotions responses for the most part. (There was a phase in my childhood that I went threw some very extreme emotional ups and downs at the slightest incident.) From what I can remember, from the age of 8 to about 12 I was a very angry bitter child (I can't remember any part of my life before age 8, I believe this was another mental defense mechanism.)

After 12 however, I started to realize how destructive my behavior was and I started down the path emotional control (or Stoicism). I am 28 now and I am now in complete control over my emotional responses. I am much happier and my life really has benefited form this process even I come across as cold and unemotional to most people. I rather be emotionally indifferent then miserable.

 

[Nikolaj]

The question in the class was, WILL THE STOIC CRY AFTER THE DEATH OF HIS SON. First reaction of some students was that he won't. Actually, that was not the correct answer. The correct answer was that if he fells like crying he will cry, if not he won't. You'd say, WELL WHAT'S SPECIAL ABOUT THAT? THAT SOUNDS NATURAL. Well, stoics are all about accepting the reality as it is. What is reality for them? It's nous. Living in accordance with nous is expected from stoic, which means simplifying your life. Theodicy (which is a branch of stoic school) assumes that there is a nous that governs the universe, and by living in accordance with your own nous (which is a bit different) your are touching that nous of the universe.

They were teaching logic (rhetoric and dialectics), physics and ethics (which includes theology). They are mostly known for their ethics which is based upon idea of resignation or apathia - accepting your place in the world as reflection of nous.
Idea of nature is that it is finite (ultimate), inclusive category which includes all things: divine, human and subhuman.

Hope that helps.