4 ms·
Who doesn't call stoicism Roman?
by johndhi 4mo ago
Who doesn't call stoicism Roman?
- BigGreenJorts 4mo agoMost pop stoics focus on the Greeks :P
- lelanthran 4mo ago> Who doesn't call stoicism Roman? The Greeks?
- deleted 4mo ago[deleted]
- josephg 4mo agoThe idea that "being stoic" means to be emotionless isn't a roman idea. Its a modern one.
- Stefan-H 4mo agoYou might need to inspect the etymology of that word and take a look at where the concept is rooted.
- josephg 4mo agoI assume you’re snipping about stoicism being Greek not Roman? I’d appreciate if you just say what you mean. I’m not your student. I’m not accepting homework assignments from a random internet commenter.
- Stefan-H 4mo agoNo, my apologies, I actually mis-attributed the etymology of stoic to a group that did identify with reduced emotionality, but yes, out of Greece. That’s not how the snipe was intended.
- smath 3mo agoI believe that is correct. Part of the problem is that similar words in different languages are actually not quite identical. “Not having emotions” is not quite the essence of stoicism: I understand it to be “avoiding highs and lows - being equipoised by recognizing what is and isn’t under our control”. A very closely related idea is proposed in the Bhagawad Gita.
- josephg 3mo agoI don’t believe that that follows. Understanding what is and isn’t under our control doesn’t remove life’s joys or life’s sorrows. Stoicism helps save you from some unnecessary suffering. But it doesn’t numb you to life. Or prevent you from grieving a loved one.