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Stoicismv1

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Sherman J. Clark wrote a fantastic article on the Stoicism Today blog in + December which really spoke to me. It approached some of the questions and + problems I've had with Stoicism in an elegant and enlightening way, which + has led to my significantly greater understanding of Stoicism (albeit, my + flavor of Stoicism). Notably, and what I want to highlight here, were the + topics of Selfishness, Metaphysics, and Balance.

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Selfishness

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I have a difficult time with the idea of a universal brotherhood. Most + of this is literally my problem: I cannot properly picture it, nor + understand how to approach or pursue it. When Stoicism speaks of the + importance of community or of a universal brotherhood, I generally switch + off. Appropriately, I have a difficult time understanding how Stoic pursuit + is anything but selfish. Everything I pursue, everything I read and try to + apply, seems to benefit solely me. There is an argument to be made that by + bettering myself I better others around me, but that's not fulfilling. + Clark specifically cites this issue towards the end of his article: "I do + not believe it possible to find within stoicism any principle that + definitively rules out selfishness or guarantees other-regarding behavior." + My thoughts exactly. However, like much in Stoicism and life in general, + the answers are rarely written down, and must be discovered. Building on + this, Clark proposes that the impetus for selflessness, or at least + community, comes from the simple fact that learning is best done + communally. Learning and growing in isolation does not present the most + complete understanding of anything. And as I'll point out further down, + learning is actually quite important!

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Metaphysics

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Balance

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By balance, I mean the balance of stoic thought managing emotions. It + is common for Stoic teaching to be applied to negative emotions and + situations. Many blogs, books, and classes focus on applying a Stoic + mindset to stress, anxiety, depression, and the unfavorable situations that + cause those and other similar types of emotions to arise. Clark is + quick to propose a more important question: what happens when this approach + is fully applied? What happens when a full pursuit of Stoicism is taken + seriously? I appreciate Clark's use of the word "serious" when he speaks of + this pursuit. It implies to me that half-way applying Stoic thought is an + immature pursuit. That is to say, similar to an immature fruit tree, you + have only part of the system available to you. This is often how I've felt. + I know and understand the power of applying Stoic thought to difficult + situations. I want to know, as Clark puts it, if there is any room left for + joy after we've fully applied the Stoic philosophy.

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"it is neither appealing nor intellectually honest to take comfort + from a philosophy that works only if you do not think about it too + carefully"

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Clark investigates 5 possible answers to this dilemma, none of which + fully answer our question. However, he does propose a solution, and it is a + solution which resonates with me deeply: "true stoic joy comes through + comprehension, understanding, and insight." When I read this conclusion, it + was literally enlightening. Suddenly, all the frustration and concern that + I was abusing Stoic thought just for temporary solace, was lifted from me. + I felt relieved, joyful, and even a sense of success.

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[Bill Niblock][2016-01-29][Philosophy]

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