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An introduction to Stoic philosophy and resilience-building [video]

learn.donaldrobertson.name

31–40 of 73 posts

Re: An introduction to Stoic philosophy and resilience-building [video]

#31

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why, though? What has produced that effect?

My opinion is that the popularity of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy has brought the attention to Stoicism. I reached Stoicism by reading about CBT, and started reading about CBT because I wanted a proven tool to improve and modify my psychological state. I would not call myself Stoic but there is a lot of wisdom there. I particularly like Seneca and Epictetus. The best modern book for me is "A New Stoicism" by Lawrence…

This is also how I got interested in stoicism. This isn't about becoming some Ubermensch. It is about meaningfully improving one's ability to meet the commitments one makes and the obligations one has to loved ones.

Re: An introduction to Stoic philosophy and resilience-building [video]

#32

Why is Stoicism the philosophical flavor of the month amongst tech people?

Because being in tech is life-ruining and only can only be propped up by ascetic myth-making, lol. I suspect stoicism also appeals strongly to a personality that enters tech at a disproportionate rate -- like bodybuilding, nootropics, hackathons and life-hacks, it presents rigid, rationalized mastery of the self as both desirable and achievable. I'm hesitant to attempt to characterize the personality order to which t…

Easy fix: instead of Stoicism and weightlifting, choose Catholicism and BJJ. Similar benefits, but with much more human interaction.

Re: An introduction to Stoic philosophy and resilience-building [video]

#33

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The stoicism movement has been going strong for more than a year (on HN and elsewhere).

Why, though? What has produced that effect?

At the modern core, stoicism is self-therapy. It is about handeling set-backs by tempering one's emotions. Considering the amount of hype and bubbles in tech, this probably seems reasonable. Especially when you think the hype is nothing but empty hype.

It also just seems more sustainable than constant jubilee, and more honest for considering the possibility of failure.

Re: An introduction to Stoic philosophy and resilience-building [video]

#34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Because being in tech is life-ruining and only can only be propped up by ascetic myth-making, lol. I suspect stoicism also appeals strongly to a personality that enters tech at a disproportionate rate -- like bodybuilding, nootropics, hackathons and life-hacks, it presents rigid, rationalized mastery of the self as both desirable and achievable. I'm hesitant to attempt to characterize the personality order to which t…

Easy fix: instead of Stoicism and weightlifting, choose Catholicism and BJJ. Similar benefits, but with much more human interaction.

hahahahahaha

Re: An introduction to Stoic philosophy and resilience-building [video]

#36
post #33

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why, though? What has produced that effect?

At the modern core, stoicism is self-therapy. It is about handeling set-backs by tempering one's emotions. Considering the amount of hype and bubbles in tech, this probably seems reasonable. Especially when you think the hype is nothing but empty hype. It also just seems more sustainable than constant jubilee, and more honest for considering the possibility of failure.

Well, a certain sort of therapy.

It's pretty insightful to connect the increased interest in stoicism to the boom-and-bust cycle. As the specter of a bust looms larger (hallucinatory or not), I can imagine that people who would be affected by the bust might find themselves seeking out ways of psychologically weathering the storm. Stoicism ain't it, in my book, but it certainly presents itself as if it were.

Re: An introduction to Stoic philosophy and resilience-building [video]

#39

My favorite Stoic book is called A Guide to the Good Life: The Ancient Art of Stoic Joy. Extremely accessible compared to original Stoic texts and honestly changed my outlook on life for the better, especially how I view expectation and disappointment.

I came here to mention this. You beat me to it.

This is the third time I've seen this book recommended this week, time to download I think!

Re: An introduction to Stoic philosophy and resilience-building [video]

#40

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The stoicism movement has been going strong for more than a year (on HN and elsewhere).

Why, though? What has produced that effect?

I don't think it's limited to just tech, I think it's become popular because of this guy Tim Ferriss and his TED Talks.

https://www.cnbc.com/amp/2017/06/14/tim-ferriss-simple-strat...

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