Though hope plays a central role in activism, as it has in the history of philosophy, there are ethical resources for moving beyond hope. Stoic philosophers, existentialists, some theorists working in the Black intellectual traditions, as well as other scholars, …
The Stoic Meditations Podcast: Philosophy Outside Academia
And wisdom to know the difference. The theory can be approached from a number of angles, depending on which Stoic author one finds most congenial: Seneca talks about the four cardinal virtues of practical wisdom, courage, justice, and temperance. Epictetus …
Stoics Should be Vegetarian
What about Stoicism? A recent article by Jeremy Corter over at Modern Stoicism summarizes the situation as far as the ancient texts are concerned. I will not repeat Jeremy’s points here, since he does a superb job of it. After parsing several …
What Are You Reading…On Post-Aristotelian Philosophy
After Aristotle’ death there was much to dissect and sort through. Some focused on his ethics, and multiple Hellenistic schools (like the Epicureans and Stoics) elaborated on several of the virtues he discussed. Others, like Islamic philosopher Avicenna and medieval …
Why Stoicism Is Being Updated
On the scholarly and historical side of things, this resurgence (at least in English) seems to have started in the late 1960s among specialists in ancient Greek and Roman philosophy. You would have to ask those folks for an explanation …
APA Member Interview: Lawrence Becker
I seem to be in a transitional phase, so I’m not sure excitement is the right term for it. A line from a Leonard Cohen song comes to mind instead: What is your favorite thing that you’ve written? * What …
Would a Stoic keep a secret? Massimo Pigliucci’s Night of Philosophy
Photo of Brooklyn Library courtesy of Ian Olasov. Massimo Pigliucci was part of the Night of Philosophy and Ideas held at the Brooklyn Public Library in January. I spoke with Massimo about the discussion he hosted on philosophical approaches to keeping secrets about infidelity, as well …
Stoicism Now: Conversation with Massimo Pigliucci
In a recent conversation on the blog, Sandy Grant argues that Stoicism thrived during slavery and women’s oppression, in which case it makes sense that Stoicism was popular then, because it helped people live with being oppressed. However, she suggests that …
Philosophy in Dark Times: Conversation with Sandy Grant
Being honor bred, with one And yet many people seem to be drawn to philosophy as a “life hack“. For example, there’s Ryan Holiday’s Stoicism: Practical Philosophy You Can Actually Use and Massimo Pigliucci’s blog and forthcoming book How to be a …