tim@cole.de

Gals and Guys, UNESCO World Philosophy Day is fast coming up November 16! My favorites are the Stoics. But Epikur had some good things to say, too“

Stoic philosophy is known for its emphasis on resilience, rationality, and emotional control by learning to accept one’s fate through the practice of emotional self-control and striving for wisdom with the help of serenity and composure (ataraxia). Here are a couple of examples both ancient and modern.

Roman Emperor and author of Meditations, Marcus Aurelius is often regarded as the quintessential Stoic philosopher. He practiced and articulated Stoicism daily, using his personal journal to reflect on virtue, duty, and the impermanence of life. His insights provide a guide to self-discipline, empathy, and facing challenges with a calm mind.

A statesman, playwright, and advisor to Emperor Nero, Seneca applied Stoic principles to navigate the volatile world of Roman politics. In works like Letters to Lucilius and On the Shortness of Life, Seneca shared thoughts on dealing with adversity, handling wealth and poverty, and achieving inner peace.

The founder of Stoicism, Zeno of Citium developed this philosophy in ancient Greece as a way to achieve peace and virtue through reason. Though few of his writings survive, Zeno laid the groundwork for Stoicism’s emphasis on self-control, ethical behavior, and harmony with nature.

Their teachings continue to resonate, offering guidance on dealing with adversity, finding meaning, and achieving tranquility amidst life’s challenges.

Many today consider Yeonmi Park to be a modern-day stoic. She defected from North Korean and displayed incredible courage in her escape to Seoul and her subsequent opposition campaign against the oppressive North Korean regime, despite the grave danger involved in taking such a stand.

Josh Dubin is a New York lawyer who has dedicated much of his career working for The Innocence Project, which serves justice by giving wrongly convicted people their lives back, many of whom spent decades rotting in prison for having done nothing.

Many consider Keanu Reeves a true stoic, a claim he himself refuses to make. Still, he lost his wife and daughter the same day and spends most of his time alone, occasionally distributing gifts of money to people he meets on the streets. Usually the Hollywood atmosphere makes people feel superior when they are well established, but he has always shown humility which is a stoic attribute.

I would also place President Joe Biden in the Stoic camp if there weren’t the issues about his mental decay which makes it difficult to determine which are stoic actions and which are the effects of his creeping dementia.