After reading the summary of Plato, (you can read all about it here), I wanted to also educate myself quickly on Stoicism. Perusing through some Youtube videos, it appears the best place is not from Meditations by Marcus Aurelius, but from this quick summary book. “Lessons in Stoicism” by John Sellars. It’s a short little book that is well worth the read. You can find it here!
Concepts
- It is impossible to not be swept by the tide – We are so small. Yet we cannot despair and give up, it is not an excuse for inaction, but understand that things will happen beyond our control and we are very small in the universe.
- Our happiness should not be dependent on forces beyond our control
- If we control our judgements on things – we control our lives
- Reminds me of the quote from Hamlet – “There is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so”
- What value we have we attribute to them from our judgements.
- We don’t have control over sensations and initial responses, but we have control of our judgements which in turn affects our emotions and perspectives in everything in life.Emotions are product of our judgements
- Emotions is the long lasting feeling – not initial shock (first movement)
- First movement – involuntary reaction – physiological
- 2nd – judgement in response to the judgement (within our control)
- 3rd – emotion that created is out of control (rage for example), we need to wait for it to subside.
- Adversity hardens us – we should not be pessimistic, but thinking of unfavourable outcomes prepares us for the worst and it can’t surprise us.
- We can die very easily – we should not be negative or morbid, but use this as a reminder to use our times wisely and pursue things that matter.
- Don’t do things to impress others – we sacrifice time and effort to appease friends and work superiors, but give little thought to ourselves and set time to ourselves.
- Time is a commodity – we use it to trade for status, money, promotions etc.
- We have a duty to care about the community and others. I love this concept. The compassion and kindness I always believe there is not enough in this world, it’s here! It somewhat validates my feelings that we sometimes shouldn’t act for selfish reasons.
Quotes That Stuck with Me
- “It is not enough to be hit or insulted to be harmed, you must believe that you are being harmed. If someone succeeds in provoking you, realize that your mind is complicit in the provocation”
- Seneca – “Living is the least important activity of the preoccupied man’
Thoughts
There is an extensive reading list afterwards that I must visit. I shall re-read this book at a later date once I’m done with all the Plato works.