HowpeopleuseStoic philosophytoday

STOICS:WARRIORSOFVIRTUE (RESILIENCYTRAINING) WhoweretheStoics? ThefounderofStoicismwasZenoofCitium(picturedon therightinRaphaelsSchoolofAthens),wholivedand taughtinAthensinaround300BC.Heandhisstudents taughtanddiscussedphilosophyundertheStoaPoikile, orpaintedcolonnadeintheAthenianmarketplace. StoicismbecameverypopularamongtheRomanruling class,andmostofthesurvivingStoicbookswerewritten byRomanStoics,particularlySeneca,Epictetusand

MarcusAurelius.YoucanaccessmanyoftheStoictexts forfreehereandhere. WhatdidtheStoicsbelieve? Stoicismoriginallyemergedatquiteavolatileperiodin Greekhistory,whenAtheniancitystateswerebeing conqueredbyforeignempires.Itdevelopedasawayof stayingsaneamidallthatchaos.Animportantpartofthe therapyofStoicismwastoremindyourselfatalltimesof whatyoucancontrolandwhatyoucant.Wecantcontrol geopolitics,wecantcontroltheweather,wecantcontrol theeconomy,wecantcontrolotherpeople,wecanteven controlourownbodies,notentirelyanyway.Theworldis beyondourcontrol.Itsaroughandunpredictable environmentthatisconstantlychanging.Theonlything wecanreallycontrolareourownthoughtsandbeliefs.If weremindourselvesofthat,andfocusourenergyand attentiononourownbeliefsandopinions,thenwecan learntocopewiselywithwhatevertheworldthrowsatus. Canyougivemeapracticalexampleofthiscoping method?

Sure.Inchaptertwoofthebookwemeet BrigadierGeneralRhondaCornum,andhearhowshe wascapturedduringtheFirstIraqWar,whenher helicopterwasshotdown.Shewasinjured,shot,sexually assaultedandthenimprisoned.Shefoundherselfina situationwhereshehadminimalcontrol.Butinsteadof beingtraumatisedbyit,shefocusedonwhatshecould control:herbeliefs.Sherefusedtogivehercaptorspower overthat.Itwastheonearealeftwhereshewasstillfree. Shegotthroughthesituationbyfocusingonthethings shecouldcontrolandtoleratingthethingsshecouldnt justliketheSerenityPrayertellsustodo. (BGCornumTalkCanweteachresilience) HerstoryremindsmeabitofViktorFrankl. Right.Frankl,asmanyreaderswillknow,wasaprisoner inAuschwitzduringWorldWarII.Hewasinoneofthe darkestandmostfrighteningsituationsimaginable.Yet evenamidthatdarkness,herealisedthathestillhad poweroverhisownbeliefsandattitudes.Hecouldrefuse toletthesituationbreakhim,andinsteadasserthismoral freedom.AshewroteinMansSearchforMeaning:

Everythingcanbetakenfromamanbutonething:the lastofthehumanfreedomstochooseonesattitudein anygivensetofcircumstances,tochooseonesownway. ThatsaveryStoicinsight. YoutalkinthebookabouthowStoicismhasbeen takenupandadaptedbyCognitiveBehavioural Therapy(CBT).Couldyoutellusabitaboutthat here? AaronBeck(left)andAlbertEllis,theinventorsofCBT, bothtoldmetheywereinspiredbytheStoics Surething.ThepioneerofwhatbecameCBTwasaNew YorkpsychologistcalledAlbertEllis,whoIinterviewed backin2007(itturnedouttobethelastinterviewhegave beforehesadlydiedlaterthatyear).Elliswasoriginally trainedinpsychoanalysis,buthedidntfeelhewas makinganyprogresswithhispatients.Soheabandoned

psychoanalysisandwentbacktowhathedescribedas hishobby:ancientphilosophy.Inparticular,hewas inspiredbyasayingofEpictetus:Menaredisturbednot byevents,butbytheiropinionsaboutevents.This inspiredElliscognitivetherapyoftheemotions,which becamethebasisofCBT.Itsbasedontheideathatour emotionsfollowourbeliefsandjudgements.Ifwechange ourhabitualbeliefs,wealsochangeouremotions.We canusethistechniqueeventoovercomechronic emotionaldisordersandseveretraumas.Youcanwatcha videoofEllisdiscussinghowheusedtheStoicshere. AaronBeckalsotoldmehewasdirectlyinspiredbyhis readingofPlatoandtheStoics. Doesthistechniquereallywork? TheresastrongevidencebasenowforCBTs effectivenessinhelpingpeopleovercomedisorderslike depression,panicdisorder,socialanxietyandanger issues.Personally,IusedCBTandStoicismtoovercome posttraumaticstressdisorder,depressionandsocial anxiety,allofwhichIdevelopedinmylateteens.Atthat time,Ifeltextremelyoutofcontrol,andcouldnt

understandwhymyemotionsweresoviolentorwhatto doaboutit.Stoicismgavemeawaytounderstandhow myemotionsaroseandhowIcouldcontrolthem. ItsimportanttounderstandthatStoictherapydoesnt involvesuppressingyouremotionsordenyingthem beneathastiffupperlip,asthepopularunderstandingof stoicmightsuggest.Infact,Stoictherapyinvolves exploringthebeliefsandopinionsthatgiverisetoyour negativeemotions,seeingifthosebeliefsareirrational, andiftheyare,challengingthemandreplacingthemwith newbeliefs.SoStoictherapyinvolvesdismantlingthe beliefsandhabitsthatcreateanemotion,ratherthan simplydenyinganemotion. Butsurelyitsnotallaboutourbeliefs.Sometimesa situationisgenuinelyprettyterrible,sobeing depressedaboutitmightactuallyberational?

 MayorSamSullivanacceptingtheOlympicFlaginTurin Inthebook,wemeetmanysituationsthataregenuinely prettyawful.Forexample,wemeetSamSullivan,who wasleftparalysedwhenhewasateenagerafteraskiing accidentinVancouver.Helosttheuseofhisarmsand legs,andinitially,hefeltdeeplydepressedandsuicidal abouthissituation.ButStoicismhelpedhimtochangehis attitude,toseethesituationasachallenge.Hetrainedto getbacktheuseofhisarms,thenhestartedtocampaign toimprovethelivesofdisabledpeopleinVancouver.This ledhimintolocalpolitics,andheeventuallybecame mayorofVancouver.WhenVancouverwonitsbidtohold theWinterOlympics,Samwenttotheclosingceremony inTurintoaccepttheOlympicflagamomentyoucan watchhere.Thatmoment,andSamslifestory,remindof thelinesofEpictetus:Difficultyshowswhatmenare. Thereforewhenadifficultyfallsuponyou,rememberthat God,likeatrainerofwrestlers,hasmatchedyouwitha roughyoungman.Why?Sothatyoumaybecomean Olympicconqueror.SoIthinkwealwayshaveachoice

abouthowwedealwithsituationsevenonesthatare genuinelyprettychallenging. WhydidyoucallthissectionofthebookThe WarriorsofVirtue? PartlybecausemanyofthemodernStoicswhosestories wehearinthebookaresoldiers.WemeetMichaelPerry, forexample,whoisaGreenBeretandapracticingStoic, andhearabouthowhisSpartanregimeofphysical trainingisinspiredbyhisStoicvalues.WemeetMajor ThomasJarrett,whodevelopedaStoicinspiredresilience trainingcoursecalledWarriorResilienceandThriving, whichhetaughttoAmericantroopsinBaghdadduring thesecondIraqWar(youcanwatchavideoofMajor JarretttalkingabouthowheusesStoicismhere). AndwealsodiscoverhowStoicideasandtechniquesare now,throughCognitiveBehaviouralTherapy,being taughttoeverypersonintheUSArmyandAirForce, througha$125millionresiliencetrainingcoursecalled ComprehensiveSoldierFitness,whichBrigadierGeneral RhondaCornumwasputinchargeof.Youcanwatcha videoabouttheprogrammehere.

CBTmayhavebeeninspiredbyStoicism,butthere aresomebigdifferencesaswell,arentthere? Certainly.Idiscusssomeofthedifferencesand similaritiesinthistalk.Thebiggestdifferenceisthat Stoicismwasntjustasetoftherapeutictechniques.It wasaspiritualphilosophy,theendofwhichwasbringing theselfintoharmonywiththeLogos. WhatstheLogos? TheStoicsfollowedHeraclitusinbelievingthatthe cosmosisconnectedbyanallpervasiveintelligence calledtheLogos,whichyoucantranslateastheWordor theLaw.Itsaformofdivineprovidencethatguidesall things.Itexistsinallthings,butitvibratesparticularly stronglyinhumanconsciousness.FortheStoics,the meaningoflife,thegoalofhumanexistence,istodevelop ourconsciousnessandbringitintoharmonywith theLogos. Howdowedothat? Byovercomingourattachmentandaversiontoexternal things.Natureisconstantlychanging,nothingis permanent,soifwebecomeattachedoraverseto

externalthings,welloftenbeunhappy,insecureand anxious,becausetheworldwillnotbethewaywewantit tobe.Byfocusingnotonexternalgoodsbutontheinner goodsofvirtue,wecanbecomeonewiththeebbandflow ofthecosmos,acceptingwhateverhappenstousasthe willoftheLogos. Thenwhat?Dowegetagoodreincarnation? ActuallytheStoicsarefairlyreticentaboutwhatif anythinghappensintheafterlife,orifthereisanafterlife. Buttherewardofbringingoneselfintoharmonywiththe Logosisthatyouattainagoodflowoflife.Youattainthe peaceandhappinessofbeinginharmonywiththe cosmos,andoffulfillingyourdivinenatureasarational humanbeing. Itsquiteanextremeformoftherapy:overcoming sufferingbybecomingcompletelydetachedfrom externalthings. Yes,butnomoresothan,say,BuddhismorTaoism. Anyway,CBTtooktheStoicscognitivetheoryof emotions,andsomeofitstechniquesfortransforming beliefsandemotions(suchasthejournal,thehandbook,

theuseofmaxims,andothertherapeutictechniques whichIdiscussinthebook),butdroppedallmentionof Stoicismsreligiouslanguage,oritscommitmenttovirtue, oritsspiritualgoalofovercomingattachmentstobecome onewiththeLogos.CBTturnedaspiritualphilosophyinto asetofinstrumentaltechniquestoovercomeemotional disorders. Somepeoplemightpreferitthatway,othersmightfeel somethingwaslostintranslation.Itsunderstandablethat atherapythatssupportedandfinancedbygovernments woulddropsomeofthereligiouslanguageofStoicism, butspeakingpersonally,havingbeenhelpedbyCBTI wasfascinatedtohearabouttheoriginalcontextofthese amazingandpowerfulideas.Somepeople,includingme, areinterestedindevelopingaformofphilosophicalCBT whichrecontextualisesitinancientphilosophy.Italk moreaboutthatprojecthere. SowhatsthestateofStoicismtoday?

 ThewriterTomWolfe,oneofStoicism'smodernfans TherehavealwaysbeenpeopleattractedtoStoicism.It wasamajorinfluenceonShakespeare,forexample,and inmorerecenttimesonwritersincludingJDSalingerand TomWolfe.Itsalsoattractedpoliticalandmilitaryleaders, fromFredericktheGreattopresidentBillClintonto ChineseprimeministerWenJiabao,whosayshehas readMarcusAureliusMeditationsover100times.Manyof theRomanStoicswerealsodeeplyinvolvedinpolitical andmilitaryaffairsMarcusAureliuswastheemperorof Romeanditsoftenbeenattractivetopeopleinpower, asameansofcopingwiththestressofpoliticallifewhile tryingtokeeptruetoonesprinciples. AcademicinterestinStoicismhasntalwaysbeenthat greatformuchofthe20thcentury,classicistswere muchmoreinterestedinPlatoandAristotle,butithas revivedstronglythankstotheworkofAALong(youcan readmyinterviewwithLonghere)andthrough subsequentphilosopherslikeMarthaNussbaum(readmy

interviewwithNussbaumhere).Outsideofacademia, Stoicismfoundmuchmoreinterestamongselfhelpand selfimprovementguruslikeDaleCarnegieandTim Ferriss. IsthereaStoiccommunitytoday? HistoricallytherewasneverreallymuchofaStoic communityitsalwaysbeenquiteanindividualist philosophybutinthelastfewyearsweveseenthefirst hesitantstepstowardssuchacommunity,thankstothe internet,andtoamancalledErikWiegardt.Eriksetupan organisationcalledwww.newstoa.com,whichconnects Stoicsfromaroundtheworld.Ihadthepleasureof attendingagatheringofStoicsatErikshouseinSan Diegoin2010theresavideoofthegatheringhere. TherearealsoflourishingStoicismgrouponFacebook andYahoogroups. CouldStoicismbeamassmovementtoday,orevena religion? Well,itscertainlyhelpedalotofpeoplethroughsome difficultmoments,includingme.Manypeoplehavebeen helpedbyStoicideaswithoutrealisingit,throughCBT.

Andsomepeopleembraceitasaphilosophyforlife,ora formofspirituality.ButImscepticalitcouldeverbea genuinemassreligion,likeBuddhism,becauseitlacks therituals,festivals,music,mythsandcustomsthatare suchanimportantpartofreligions.Itdoesntreallyspeak totheirrationalpartofthepsyche,onlytotherationalpart ofus.Also,somemodernStoicsbelieveintheLogos, whileothersarefiercelyatheist,soareligionofStoicism wouldhavetonegotiatethatissue.AndmodernStoics areoftenquiteindividualist,libertarianandsomewhat aloofsouls,sotryingtobuildaStoiccommunitycanbe likeherdingcats. Speakingpersonally,IvefoundStoicismanincredibly usefulandpowerfulphilosophy,andinitiallyIwantedto writeabookjustaboutStoicism.ButIbecameinterested intheotherphilosophiesintheSocratictradition,how theycomplementeachother,andalsohowtheydisagree witheachother.Idontknowifsuchabroadand heterogeneoustraditioncouldbeareligion,butIdsayit wasthebestculturalfoundationasocietycouldhave andStoicismisanimportantpartofthatSocratictradition.

 STOICS:WARRIORSOFVIRTUE WhoweretheStoics? ThefounderofStoicismwasZenoofCitium(picturedon therightinRaphaelsSchoolofAthens),wholivedand taughtinAthensinaround300BC.Heandhisstudents taughtanddiscussedphilosophyundertheStoaPoikile, orpaintedcolonnadeintheAthenianmarketplace. StoicismbecameverypopularamongtheRomanruling class,andmostofthesurvivingStoicbookswerewritten byRomanStoics,particularlySeneca,Epictetusand MarcusAurelius.YoucanaccessmanyoftheStoictexts forfreehereandhere. WhatdidtheStoicsbelieve? Stoicismoriginallyemergedatquiteavolatileperiodin Greekhistory,whenAtheniancitystateswerebeing conqueredbyforeignempires.Itdevelopedasawayof stayingsaneamidallthatchaos.Animportantpartofthe therapyofStoicismwastoremindyourselfatalltimesof whatyoucancontrolandwhatyoucant.Wecantcontrol geopolitics,wecantcontroltheweather,wecantcontrol

theeconomy,wecantcontrolotherpeople,wecanteven controlourownbodies,notentirelyanyway.Theworldis beyondourcontrol.Itsaroughandunpredictable environmentthatisconstantlychanging.Theonlything wecanreallycontrolareourownthoughtsandbeliefs.If weremindourselvesofthat,andfocusourenergyand attentiononourownbeliefsandopinions,thenwecan learntocopewiselywithwhatevertheworldthrowsatus. Canyougivemeapracticalexampleofthiscoping method? Sure.Inchaptertwoofthebookwemeet BrigadierGeneralRhondaCornum,andhearhowshe wascapturedduringtheFirstIraqWar,whenher helicopterwasshotdown.Shewasinjured,shot,sexually assaultedandthenimprisoned.Shefoundherselfina situationwhereshehadminimalcontrol.Butinsteadof beingtraumatisedbyit,shefocusedonwhatshecould control:herbeliefs.Sherefusedtogivehercaptorspower overthat.Itwastheonearealeftwhereshewasstillfree. Shegotthroughthesituationbyfocusingonthethings

shecouldcontrolandtoleratingthethingsshecouldnt justliketheSerenityPrayertellsustodo. HerstoryremindsmeabitofViktorFrankl. Right.Frankl,asmanyreaderswillknow,wasaprisoner inAuschwitzduringWorldWarII.Hewasinoneofthe darkestandmostfrighteningsituationsimaginable.Yet evenamidthatdarkness,herealisedthathestillhad poweroverhisownbeliefsandattitudes.Hecouldrefuse toletthesituationbreakhim,andinsteadasserthismoral freedom.AshewroteinMansSearchforMeaning: Everythingcanbetakenfromamanbutonething:the lastofthehumanfreedomstochooseonesattitudein anygivensetofcircumstances,tochooseonesownway. ThatsaveryStoicinsight. YoutalkinthebookabouthowStoicismhasbeentaken upandadaptedbyCognitiveBehaviouralTherapy(CBT). Couldyoutellusabitaboutthathere? AaronBeck(left)andAlbertEllis,theinventorsofCBT, bothtoldmetheywereinspiredbytheStoics Surething.ThepioneerofwhatbecameCBTwasaNew YorkpsychologistcalledAlbertEllis,whoIinterviewed

backin2007(itturnedouttobethelastinterviewhegave beforehesadlydiedlaterthatyear).Elliswasoriginally trainedinpsychoanalysis,buthedidntfeelhewas makinganyprogresswithhispatients.Soheabandoned psychoanalysisandwentbacktowhathedescribedas hishobby:ancientphilosophy.Inparticular,hewas inspiredbyasayingofEpictetus:Menaredisturbednot byevents,butbytheiropinionsaboutevents.This inspiredElliscognitivetherapyoftheemotions,which becamethebasisofCBT.Itsbasedontheideathatour emotionsfollowourbeliefsandjudgements.Ifwechange ourhabitualbeliefs,wealsochangeouremotions.We canusethistechniqueeventoovercomechronic emotionaldisordersandseveretraumas.Youcanwatcha videoofEllisdiscussinghowheusedtheStoicshere. AaronBeckalsotoldmehewasdirectlyinspiredbyhis readingofPlatoandtheStoics. Doesthistechniquereallywork? TheresastrongevidencebasenowforCBTs effectivenessinhelpingpeopleovercomedisorderslike depression,panicdisorder,socialanxietyandanger

issues.Personally,IusedCBTandStoicismtoovercome posttraumaticstressdisorder,depressionandsocial anxiety,allofwhichIdevelopedinmylateteens.Atthat time,Ifeltextremelyoutofcontrol,andcouldnt understandwhymyemotionsweresoviolentorwhatto doaboutit.Stoicismgavemeawaytounderstandhow myemotionsaroseandhowIcouldcontrolthem. ItsimportanttounderstandthatStoictherapydoesnt involvesuppressingyouremotionsordenyingthem beneathastiffupperlip,asthepopularunderstandingof stoicmightsuggest.Infact,Stoictherapyinvolves exploringthebeliefsandopinionsthatgiverisetoyour negativeemotions,seeingifthosebeliefsareirrational, andiftheyare,challengingthemandreplacingthemwith newbeliefs.SoStoictherapyinvolvesdismantlingthe beliefsandhabitsthatcreateanemotion,ratherthan simplydenyinganemotion. Butsurelyitsnotallaboutourbeliefs.Sometimesa situationisgenuinelyprettyterrible,sobeingdepressed aboutitmightactuallyberational? MayorSamSullivanacceptingtheOlympicFlaginTurin

Inthebook,wemeetmanysituationsthataregenuinely prettyawful.Forexample,wemeetSamSullivan,who wasleftparalysedwhenhewasateenagerafteraskiing accidentinVancouver.Helosttheuseofhisarmsand legs,andinitially,hefeltdeeplydepressedandsuicidal abouthissituation.ButStoicismhelpedhimtochangehis attitude,toseethesituationasachallenge.Hetrainedto getbacktheuseofhisarms,thenhestartedtocampaign toimprovethelivesofdisabledpeopleinVancouver.This ledhimintolocalpolitics,andheeventuallybecame mayorofVancouver.WhenVancouverwonitsbidtohold theWinterOlympics,Samwenttotheclosingceremony inTurintoaccepttheOlympicflagamomentyoucan watchhere.Thatmoment,andSamslifestory,remindof thelinesofEpictetus:Difficultyshowswhatmenare. Thereforewhenadifficultyfallsuponyou,rememberthat God,likeatrainerofwrestlers,hasmatchedyouwitha roughyoungman.Why?Sothatyoumaybecomean Olympicconqueror.SoIthinkwealwayshaveachoice abouthowwedealwithsituationsevenonesthatare genuinelyprettychallenging.

WhydidyoucallthissectionofthebookTheWarriorsof Virtue? PartlybecausemanyofthemodernStoicswhosestories wehearinthebookaresoldiers.WemeetMichaelPerry, forexample,whoisaGreenBeretandapracticingStoic, andhearabouthowhisSpartanregimeofphysical trainingisinspiredbyhisStoicvalues.WemeetMajor ThomasJarrett,whodevelopedaStoicinspiredresilience trainingcoursecalledWarriorResilienceandThriving, whichhetaughttoAmericantroopsinBaghdadduring thesecondIraqWar(youcanwatchavideoofMajor JarretttalkingabouthowheusesStoicismhere). AndwealsodiscoverhowStoicideasandtechniquesare now,throughCognitiveBehaviouralTherapy,being taughttoeverypersonintheUSArmyandAirForce, througha$125millionresiliencetrainingcoursecalled ComprehensiveSoldierFitness,whichBrigadierGeneral RhondaCornumwasputinchargeof.Youcanwatcha videoabouttheprogrammehere. CBTmayhavebeeninspiredbyStoicism,butthereare somebigdifferencesaswell,arentthere?

Certainly.Idiscusssomeofthedifferencesand similaritiesinthistalk.Thebiggestdifferenceisthat Stoicismwasntjustasetoftherapeutictechniques.It wasaspiritualphilosophy,theendofwhichwasbringing theselfintoharmonywiththeLogos. WhatstheLogos? TheStoicsfollowedHeraclitusinbelievingthatthe cosmosisconnectedbyanallpervasiveintelligence calledtheLogos,whichyoucantranslateastheWordor theLaw.Itsaformofdivineprovidencethatguidesall things.Itexistsinallthings,butitvibratesparticularly stronglyinhumanconsciousness.FortheStoics,the meaningoflife,thegoalofhumanexistence,istodevelop ourconsciousnessandbringitintoharmonywiththe Logos. Howdowedothat? Byovercomingourattachmentandaversiontoexternal things.Natureisconstantlychanging,nothingis permanent,soifwebecomeattachedoraverseto externalthings,welloftenbeunhappy,insecureand anxious,becausetheworldwillnotbethewaywewantit

tobe.Byfocusingnotonexternalgoodsbutontheinner goodsofvirtue,wecanbecomeonewiththeebbandflow ofthecosmos,acceptingwhateverhappenstousasthe willoftheLogos. Thenwhat?Dowegetagoodreincarnation? ActuallytheStoicsarefairlyreticentaboutwhatif anythinghappensintheafterlife,orifthereisanafterlife. Buttherewardofbringingoneselfintoharmonywiththe Logosisthatyouattainagoodflowoflife.Youattainthe peaceandhappinessofbeinginharmonywiththe cosmos,andoffulfillingyourdivinenatureasarational humanbeing. Itsquiteanextremeformoftherapy:overcomingsuffering bybecomingcompletelydetachedfromexternalthings. Yes,butnomoresothan,say,BuddhismorTaoism. Anyway,CBTtooktheStoicscognitivetheoryof emotions,andsomeofitstechniquesfortransforming beliefsandemotions(suchasthejournal,thehandbook, theuseofmaxims,andothertherapeutictechniques whichIdiscussinthebook),butdroppedallmentionof Stoicismsreligiouslanguage,oritscommitmenttovirtue,

oritsspiritualgoalofovercomingattachmentstobecome onewiththeLogos.CBTturnedaspiritualphilosophyinto asetofinstrumentaltechniquestoovercomeemotional disorders. Somepeoplemightpreferitthatway,othersmightfeel somethingwaslostintranslation.Itsunderstandablethat atherapythatssupportedandfinancedbygovernments woulddropsomeofthereligiouslanguageofStoicism, butspeakingpersonally,havingbeenhelpedbyCBTI wasfascinatedtohearabouttheoriginalcontextofthese amazingandpowerfulideas.Somepeople,includingme, areinterestedindevelopingaformofphilosophicalCBT whichrecontextualisesitinancientphilosophy.Italk moreaboutthatprojecthere. SowhatsthestateofStoicismtoday? ThewriterTomWolfe,oneofStoicism'smodernfans TherehavealwaysbeenpeopleattractedtoStoicism.It wasamajorinfluenceonShakespeare,forexample,and inmorerecenttimesonwritersincludingJDSalingerand TomWolfe.Itsalsoattractedpoliticalandmilitaryleaders, fromFredericktheGreattopresidentBillClintonto

ChineseprimeministerWenJiabao,whosayshehas readMarcusAureliusMeditationsover100times.Manyof theRomanStoicswerealsodeeplyinvolvedinpolitical andmilitaryaffairsMarcusAureliuswastheemperorof Romeanditsoftenbeenattractivetopeopleinpower, asameansofcopingwiththestressofpoliticallifewhile tryingtokeeptruetoonesprinciples. AcademicinterestinStoicismhasntalwaysbeenthat greatformuchofthe20thcentury,classicistswere muchmoreinterestedinPlatoandAristotle,butithas revivedstronglythankstotheworkofAALong(youcan readmyinterviewwithLonghere)andthrough subsequentphilosopherslikeMarthaNussbaum(readmy interviewwithNussbaumhere).Outsideofacademia, Stoicismfoundmuchmoreinterestamongselfhelpand selfimprovementguruslikeDaleCarnegieandTim Ferriss. IsthereaStoiccommunitytoday? HistoricallytherewasneverreallymuchofaStoic communityitsalwaysbeenquiteanindividualist philosophybutinthelastfewyearsweveseenthefirst

hesitantstepstowardssuchacommunity,thankstothe internet,andtoamancalledErikWiegardt.Eriksetupan organisationcalledwww.newstoa.com,whichconnects Stoicsfromaroundtheworld.Ihadthepleasureof attendingagatheringofStoicsatErikshouseinSan Diegoin2010theresavideoofthegatheringhere. TherearealsoflourishingStoicismgrouponFacebook andYahoogroups. CouldStoicismbeamassmovementtoday,orevena religion? Well,itscertainlyhelpedalotofpeoplethroughsome difficultmoments,includingme.Manypeoplehavebeen helpedbyStoicideaswithoutrealisingit,throughCBT. Andsomepeopleembraceitasaphilosophyforlife,ora formofspirituality.ButImscepticalitcouldeverbea genuinemassreligion,likeBuddhism,becauseitlacks therituals,festivals,music,mythsandcustomsthatare suchanimportantpartofreligions.Itdoesntreallyspeak totheirrationalpartofthepsyche,onlytotherationalpart ofus.Also,somemodernStoicsbelieveintheLogos, whileothersarefiercelyatheist,soareligionofStoicism

wouldhavetonegotiatethatissue.AndmodernStoics areoftenquiteindividualist,libertarianandsomewhat aloofsouls,sotryingtobuildaStoiccommunitycanbe likeherdingcats. Speakingpersonally,IvefoundStoicismanincredibly usefulandpowerfulphilosophy,andinitiallyIwantedto writeabookjustaboutStoicism.ButIbecameinterested intheotherphilosophiesintheSocratictradition,how theycomplementeachother,andalsohowtheydisagree witheachother.Idontknowifsuchabroadand heterogeneoustraditioncouldbeareligion,butIdsayit wasthebestculturalfoundationasocietycouldhave andStoicismisanimportantpartofthatSocratictradition.