• Welcome to League Of Reason Forums! Please read the rules before posting.
    If you are willing and able please consider making a donation to help with site overheads.
    Donations can be made via here

Philosophy for life

Blog of Reason

New Member
arg-fallbackName="Blog of Reason"/>
Discussion thread for the blog entry "Philosophy for life" by Aught3.

Permalink: http://blog.leagueofreason.org.uk/philosophy/philosophy-for-life/
 
arg-fallbackName="Dragan Glas"/>
Greetings,

I have to say that Irvine's book is not the best - he brings a modern Neo-Stoic interpretation to Stoic philosophy, one might even say; his own subjective interpretation.

Keith Seddon's Stoic Serenity: A Practical Course on Finding Inner Peace is superior - not only because he directs the reader to relevant passages to be read from Marcus Aurelius and Seneca, but also due to the fact that it's recommended by Donald Robertson, whose books on Stoicism and its contribution to CBT are highly recommended.

Also, Tad Brennan's The Stoic Life Emotions, Duties, and Fate, which is not so much a "how-to-live" book as a introduction to various aspects of Stoic philosophy - psychology, ethics and fate.

Kindest regards,

James
 
arg-fallbackName="Aught3"/>
Thanks for the book recommendations James. Hopefully my use of the word 'modernising' makes it clear to people that Irvine's work is not guide to the ancient version of stoicism but an interpretation or update to that way of life. In any case I was using more as a jumping off point to talk about the importance of having a grand goal in living.
 
arg-fallbackName="Dragan Glas"/>
Greetings,
Aught3 said:
Thanks for the book recommendations James. Hopefully my use of the word 'modernising' makes it clear to people that Irvine's work is not guide to the ancient version of stoicism but an interpretation or update to that way of life. In any case I was using more as a jumping off point to talk about the importance of having a grand goal in living.
Granted - I wasn't quite sure whether readers of your post would grasp that it's a "updated" (Neo-Stoic) version or not.

One of the misunderstandings about Stoicism is mistaking "equanimity" in the original Stoic philosophical approach to life's ups-and-downs for the modern idea of emotional "indifference". The latter is a misinterpretation - similar to the Vulcan-like "Stoic indifference" in the various Star Trek series.

The original idea of "equanimity" was a "accept it and move on" approach to events in life - good or bad.

I don't think Irvine makes that point at all - whether he understands it himself or not.

Another book I can recommend is Sellar's Stoicism (Ancient Philosophies).

I note that Robertson has just published his Teach Yourself Stoicism and the Art of Happiness, which I'll be getting as I find his writings on this and CBT well-worth reading - his The Philosophy of Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy (CBT): Stoic Philosophy as Rational and Cognitive Psychotherapy is becoming something of a classic.

As you'll have gathered, I have an interest in Stoic philosophy given it's assimilation into early Christian thought.

Kindest regards,

James
 
arg-fallbackName="Aught3"/>
Dragan Glas said:
One of the misunderstandings about Stoicism is mistaking "equanimity" in the original Stoic philosophical approach to life's ups-and-downs for the modern idea of emotional "indifference". The latter is a misinterpretation - similar to the Vulcan-like "Stoic indifference" in the various Star Trek series.
Indeed, I mentioned this book to a friend once and he reacted with puzzlement to the 'stoic joy' part of the title as if it were an oxymoron. Of course this phrase makes more sense once you have a better understanding of ancient Stoicism. Irvine's book does cover the history of Stoicism and he makes it clear that the ideas he is presenting in the later part of the book are updated versions. Mostly he covers specific emotions/situations (pleasure, anger, death, etc) and how to deal with them in a way that minimises their disturbance to your tranquility.
Dragan Glas said:
As you'll have gathered, I have an interest in Stoic philosophy given it's assimilation into early Christian thought.
Yes, I gathered that from all your books :lol:

Is it an intellectual interest or do you find some application for Stoic/REBT/CBT principles in your life?
 
arg-fallbackName="Dragan Glas"/>
Greetings,
Aught3 said:
Dragan Glas said:
As you'll have gathered, I have an interest in Stoic philosophy given it's assimilation into early Christian thought.
Yes, I gathered that from all your books :lol:

Is it an intellectual interest or do you find some application for Stoic/REBT/CBT principles in your life?
Both - I think it would be difficult to read books on various forms of philosophy without unconsciously absorbing aspects of them.

I have a relatively large collection of books on philosophy - including Stoicism, Epicuranism, Cynicism, etc - and psychology. Not to mention science and religion.

Given my gradual moving away from religious belief, philosophical/psychological perspectives - both ancient and modern - have become particularly relevant.

Kindest regards,

James
 
arg-fallbackName="Dragan Glas"/>
Greetings,
Inferno said:
So then, what are your grand goals in life?
At the moment, it's trying to read books on philosophy for goals in life! :lol:

No real goals, as such - just living one-day-at-a-time looking after Mum (Alzheimer's/dementia). There's little else one can do in such circumstances.

Kindest regards,

James
 
arg-fallbackName="Aught3"/>
I'm going with tranquility. The abundance of positive emotions and the minimisation of negative ones.
 
Back
Top