/philosophy/ - Philosophy

I'm partially stoic and partially hedonist. I think most people are.

I suppose you could call me pragmatic.

>>2129

How can you reconcile being hedonist and stoic simultaneously? They seem to be opposed. Stoicism itself calls for temperance and practicing asceticism in the face of readily available pleasures.

A philosophy of existence must become a praxis if it is to be adhered to. It is not that one must simply read the Meditations, or Seneca, or Epictetus, but that one must write as well and endeavor to think. A meditation is a compendium of daily thoughts reflecting upon ones own life, to reason out what one should do tomorrow and reflect correctly on what one did today. There is, I think, little else more important than reflection on reason and wisdom for a stoic to truly be so called, and to steel ones self against the cruelties or blessings of fortune.

>>2142

Well that's a given. Stoicism is clearly something you practice and not something you merely read about. However reading all three of those things is immensely helpful and I would even say, in the case of the meditations, required.

There are many texts which are not Stoic which should be reviewed as well such as Pythagoras' Golden verses. The Stoic morning and evening meditations are also required for a disciplined Stoic. Otherwise you'll be aimless.

>>2143

I'm advising you mimic those, though. Keep your own "Meditations" journal, for example. Try to copy the formula with intent to self betterment and control, in this way, to also have record of your own thoughts. Perhaps you later fall away, then realize what an error you've made when something written years ago is wise to you then. Or, you realize the progress you've made in seeing what was written erroneously.

>>2147

I think you'd be hard pressed to call yourself a practicing Stoic if you did not record your journey.

It'd be nice if you contributed something to the thread in regards to the questions I'd posed in the OP, I'm curious.

>>2220

Oops, sorry for the double post.

I've recently started reading the Meditations a bit but for now I have a question to others here: Are there any key disagreements between the stoics (Zeno, Epictetus, Seneca, M. Aurelius, etc.)? Did they have any key differences in their philosophies or interpretations of Stoicism?

>>2235

I wouldn't really begin with the meditations. Considering it's not intended to be read as a treatise its value is as a companion to your own Stoic journey, finding similarities in its practice.

That said, use the texts however you please.

As for your question, none come to me off the top of my head but Seneca has a good quote regarding this (I'm paraphrasing); "I don't follow those who came before as if they were my masters." The whole point of the philosophy is you are a slave to nothing and no one. Interpret the philosophy in the way see fit. The only real requirement is that you heed the things that are in our control; and disregard those that are not.

I dont get this trend with westerns who claims to follow a ascetic philosophy while living a hedonist life style.

>>2249

How do you know what lifestyle anyone lives?

Living in a western country does not automatically include an hedonist life.

Are you trying to say that Imperial Rome was any less hedonist?

If you don't get it why are you in the thread?

>>2254

I know a girl who said Buddhism helped her yet she is a total party girl.

>>2268

What does that have to do with anyone other than that one particular girl that you happen to know?

Are you serious right now?

I see stoicism more as something you do, rather than something you are. In a strong person, the capacity to be stoic is present, but not always acted upon.

>>2281

We've already come to the conclusion that Stoicism is something done. In terms of a "strong" person being able to practice it, that isn't necessarily true. Rationality is inherent in all human beings, some just use it for the wrong reasons and end up on a path away from virtue. There is no such thing as a "sometimes" Stoic. You are either Stoic or you are not. There isn't an in between.

>>2287

>>2281

Do you have any recommended reading for stoicism?

I've only read a few things hear and there and I'm interested.

>>3426

Seneca's Letters, Epictetus' Discourses, and Aurelius' Meditations.

>>3427

Thank you

>I find the Meditations to be the most valuable text of them all from the perspective of a stoic practitioner.

This. I live and breathe Meditations. People have a grave misconception about Stoicism, that's about being unfeeling and servile. But in reality it's about learning to control destructive feelings, do what you do with dedication, leading to a happy productive life.

Stoicism has seriously improved my life. Not just my quality of life, but my happiness, as well. I find Stoicism mixes best with an appreciation for Nature and the simple pleasures.

I am a person who seems very 'cold' by nature. I'm not social but do not sense a lack of anything in so being. I am also asexual. It seems that I literally cannot be a Stoic, even though I strongly sympathise with the mindset (though I may be biased).

>>3432

im more of an echiridion man myself, but the meditations are great as well. i feel as though should remind you of the discourses

>Do you then show me your improvement in these things? If I were talking to an athlete, I should say, "Show me your shoulders"; and then he might say, "Here are my halteres." You and your halteres look to that. I should reply, "I wish to see the effect of the halteres." So, when you say: "Take the treatise on the active powers, and see how I have studied it." I reply, "Slave, I am not inquiring about this, but how you exercise pursuit and avoidance, desire and aversion, how your design and purpose and prepare yourself, whether conformably to nature or not

>>3433

what makes you say that, the asexual thing or the being an antisocial?

>>3433

In what ways would you say you're "cold"?

By not being social you are cutting yourself off from humanity. As Marcus put it, we exist for cooperation like hand, like feet, like eyelids.