Pillars of Stoicism and its best application

This article introduces Stoicism as a practical philosophy for modern life, using the Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius and his private journal, “Meditations,” as a primary example. It questions why a person with immense power would dedicate time to self-reflection and mental exercises, highlighting the book’s authenticity as a tool for self-improvement rather than public acclaim.

Key Points and Arguments

• Core Tenets of Stoicism: The author outlines key Stoic principles they value most: controlling your reactions, accepting what you cannot change, valuing the present, demanding more from yourself than others, measuring success by inner peace rather than external status, and focusing on character over image.
• Stoicism vs. Modern Culture: The article argues that contemporary society is fundamentally anti-Stoic, promoting a focus on external validation, social status, and reacting to problems beyond our control, whereas Stoicism champions inner calm and self-mastery.
• Modern Stoic Archetypes: Stoicism is not just for ancient philosophers. The author points to modern fictional characters in films like Shawshank Redemption, Gran Torino, and the series Mobland who embody Stoic traits of calmness, decisiveness, and control, making them effective and reliable.
• Why Stoicism Isn’t Mainstream: The article suggests two reasons for Stoicism’s limited popularity. Firstly, its simplicity makes it difficult to commercialize—the original texts are sufficient. Secondly, it places full responsibility on the individual, offering no external figures to blame or seek intervention from, which is a demanding path.

Conclusion

The main takeaway is that Stoicism is a timeless and practical framework for living a better life by focusing on one’s own mind and reactions. The author strongly encourages readers to engage directly with classic texts like “Meditations” by Marcus Aurelius, as they offer profound and still-relevant solutions to life’s enduring challenges.

Mentoring question

The article emphasizes controlling your reactions and accepting what you can’t change. In which specific area of your professional or personal life do you most often react emotionally to things outside of your control, and what’s one small step you could take this week to practice a more Stoic response?

Source: https://52notatki.substack.com/p/filary-stoicyzmu-i-jego-najlepsze