Have you encountered these difficulties in attempting to live Stoically?
After a conversation I had, some time ago, about living as a Stoic philosopher, I found myself wondering what pitfalls and stumbling blocks a person is likely to encounter when they try seriously to integrate Stoic teachings and practice into their life. Four things came to mind almost at once. I’m going to list these below, very briefly, and then elaborate on each in a series of follow-up posts (see the links).
Four difficulties:
1. Being unfeeling like a stone: Trying not to experience or display feelings or emotions, thus becoming or appearing to be “unfeeling like a stone.” (Elaboration)
2. Providentialism: Reliance for equanimity on providentialistic arguments and beliefs. (Elaboration)
3. Jumping to Sagehood: Trying to act or feel as a sage would, prematurely. (Elaboration)
4. Philanthropy: There perhaps being a noticeable lack of effective exercises, for cultivating philanthropy (love of humanity), in what we know of the Stoic tradition. (Elaboration 1) (Elaboration 2)
Questions:
I’d also like to ask the reader:
(1) Have you ever experimented with Stoic exercises and living, or do you know anyone who has?
(2) Did you encounter any of these four difficulties, and have you observed anyone else encounter them?
(3) How did you or others respond to these difficulties?
Related post: Philosophy as an Art of Living.
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