Stoicism For Dummies | Morris, Tom; Bassham, Gregory

Lange Beschreibung
The philosophy that will help you become more resilient in the face of life's challenges
 
Stoicism For Dummies will teach you the basic principles of stoic philosophy and show you how it can help you navigate the ups and downs of life. We all face challenges and setbacks, and, if we have the right mindset, we can sail through them with ease. This book offers a comprehensive look at Stoic philosophy, uncovering its strengths and attractions and shedding light on its limitations, both in the ancient world where it was developed, and in our world today. Learn how you can apply stoic principles for personal growth and better living, and how you can adapt this philosophical outlook to your unique circumstances. Written in terms anyone can understand, this friendly Dummies guide helps you understand stoicism, and also apply it in your life.
* Understand the basics of stoic philosophy, including virtues and practices
* Learn how to keep calm and carry on when life throws you curveballs
* Apply stoic principles to improve your relationships and quality of life
* Discover the history of stoicism and how its principles can apply to today's world
 
This book is great for anyone who wants to learn more about stoicism and its benefits.

Inhaltsverzeichnis
Introduction 1
 
About This Book 1
 
Foolish Assumptions 2
 
Icons Used in This Book 3
 
Beyond the Book 3
 
Where to Go from Here 4
 
Part 1: Ancient Stoicism 5
 
Chapter 1: Stoicism: A Philosophy for Our Time 7
 
A Way of Thought for Our Time 8
 
Hot philosophy in America 9
 
The Stoic formula 9
 
What Does 'Philosophy' Even Mean? 10
 
What Wisdom Is and Is Not 11
 
Two sides of philosophy 12
 
Philosophy and life 14
 
Using Wisdom with the Stoics 17
 
Happiness and freedom 18
 
When to go to philosophy 20
 
Chapter 2: Socrates and the Beginnings of Western Philosophy 21
 
Heraclitus the (Cranky and) Obscure 22
 
Socrates: The Barefoot Gadfly and General Pain-in-the-Patootie of Ancient Athens 24
 
Care for the soul 25
 
Virtue is sufficient for happiness 26
 
No harm can come to a good person 26
 
Virtue is knowledge 27
 
No one does wrong willingly 27
 
Diogenes of Sinope: Socrates on Steroids 27
 
Virtue is the only true good 28
 
Virtue is sufficient for happiness 28
 
'Follow nature' 29
 
Be a citizen of the world 29
 
Chapter 3: The First Stoics 31
 
The Basic Teachings of Zeno and His Stoic Followers 32
 
Materialists through and through 32
 
Belief in Logos 33
 
Strict determinists 35
 
Belief in an afterlife 35
 
Live rationally 36
 
The good, the evil, and the indifferent 36
 
Only virtue leads to happiness 37
 
Why Stoicism Had Its Moment in Ancient Greece and Rome 39
 
Chapter 4: Stoicism Comes to Rome 41
 
Seneca and Epictetus 42
 
Seneca: Wealthy but Frugal 42
 
Philosophy as a therapy for the emotions 43
 
Coping with life's hard knocks 44
 
Controlling anger 45
 
Epictetus: Slave Turned Philosopher 47
 
True freedom 48
 
The dichotomy of control 49
 
Radical acceptance 50
 
Chapter 5: Marcus Aurelius: Philosopher-Emperor 53
 
A Stoic Philosopher Comes to the Throne 53
 
Early influences 54
 
Conversion to Stoicism 55
 
Reign as emperor 55
 
Personal tragedies and death 56
 
Two Themes in Marcus's Philosophy 58
 
Impermanence: Reality is flux 58
 
Pessimism 59
 
The Demise of Ancient Stoicism 63
 
The demise of 'the old gods' of paganism 63
 
The rise of competing philosophies 63
 
Failure to appeal to the masses 63
 
Attacks by rival philosophical schools 64
 
Down but not out 64
 
Part 2: the Stoic Worldview 65
 
Chapter 6: The Stoic View of Reality 67
 
Everything Is Made of Matter 68
 
God and Nature 69
 
Stoic pantheism 69
 
The Earth's place in the universe 70
 
Stoic arguments for God 70
 
Stoic belief in periodic conflagrations 72
 
The Place of Humanity in the Cosmos 73
 
An anthropocentric view 73
 
Belief in a (temporary) afterlife 74
 
Finding truth in outdated notions 76
 
Chapter 7: Providence, Fate, and Free Will 77
 
'Everything Is Fated' 78
 
Fatalism gone rogue 79
 
Free will and responsibility 81
 
Is God to Blame for Evil? 85
 
Seneca's response 85
 
Natural evils and animal pain 86
 
Are sin and evil caused by God? 87
 
Stoic Fate and Passivity 88
 
Divine Providence 89
 
Part 3: Stoic Ethics 93
 
Chapter 8: Virtue as the Goal of