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This is a significant misreading of Stockdale's actual experience. Michael Gibson wrote an article on the same situations: https://www.1517fund.com/post/the-in

This is a significant misreading of Stockdale's actual experience. Michael Gibson wrote an article on the same situations: https://www.1517fund.com/post/the-inadequacies-of-the-invincible https://www.1517fund.com/post/the-inadequacies-of-the-invinc... -------- The truth was, despite the consolation it gave him, Stockdale never thought Stoicism would help his tortured cellmates. He never tapped Epictetus’s maxims in code through the prison walls to his friends. “You soon realized that when you dared to spout high-minded philosophical suggestions through the wall, you always got a very reluctant response. No, I never tapped or mentioned Stoicism once.” Still, years later, people would want to know what kept the captured pilots going. How did they survive for so long? Stockdale’s answer was not Epictetus and the Stoics. His answer was always, “The man next door.”

AndrewKemendo 6y ago
I think this is entirely too simplistic of an analysis. In the same way that a carpenter does not need to know how to derive moments for static equilibrium of a 2x4, the application of stoic philosophy need not make reference to the original writings or the teaching of the philosophy itself. In fact I would argue that Stockdale's "compression" of the philosophical principles into something tangible and actionable in such a scenario - which both articles demonstrate he did - meant that he had a fundamental understanding of the applicability of Stoicism.
- stanrivers 6y ago
  I would agree with this - while Stockdale does say he never used the words stoicism or shared those specific ideas - he was the highest ranking officer and in charge of how the men operated. In the situation that they were in, if you had someone that was holding up fine and doing what you thought should be done - there is no reason to tell them the stoic terminology for what they are doing. If you are trying to share knowledge and best practices throughout the camp, you don't need to explain how the ideas came from someone dead for thousands of years. But saying that Stockdale is turning in his grave because we associated him with Epictetus I think is actually the opposite of what is true.

AndrewKemendo 6y ago

I think this is entirely too simplistic of an analysis. In the same way that a carpenter does not need to know how to derive moments for static equilibrium of a 2x4, the application of stoic philosophy need not make reference to the original writings or the teaching of the philosophy itself. In fact I would argue that Stockdale's "compression" of the philosophical principles into something tangible and actionable in such a scenario - which both articles demonstrate he did - meant that he had a fundamental understanding of the applicability of Stoicism.

stanrivers 6y ago
I would agree with this - while Stockdale does say he never used the words stoicism or shared those specific ideas - he was the highest ranking officer and in charge of how the men operated. In the situation that they were in, if you had someone that was holding up fine and doing what you thought should be done - there is no reason to tell them the stoic terminology for what they are doing. If you are trying to share knowledge and best practices throughout the camp, you don't need to explain how the ideas came from someone dead for thousands of years. But saying that Stockdale is turning in his grave because we associated him with Epictetus I think is actually the opposite of what is true.