Experiments in Stoicism or Apathy on the Porch as the Good Life

“All philosophy lies in two words, ἀνέχου καὶ ἀπέχου “All philosophy lies in two words, “Bear and Forebear”

Stoicism Eudaimonistic ethical system in the Socratic tradition Arose in dialogue with Cynicism, Epicureanism, Platonism, and Aristotelianism Popular and influential

Figures in Stoicism Chrysippus Zeno Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Epictetus

Eudaimonia What is the Good Life? What is the end (telos) of human existence? What is happiness? "eu" ("good") and "daimon" ("spirit") “flourishing” “blessedness”

The eudaimon life is… Aristotle A well ordered life as a whole Epicureanism Ataraxia  ("tranquility") freedom from distress and worry Stoicism Ataraxia and apatheia (a- "without" and pathos "suffering" or "passion") equanimity

What is good? Virtue Only is good. Stoicism’s simplified list: Fame Wealth Power Beauty Life Pleasure etc. Only Virtue is good.

What is evil? Vice Only is evil. Stoicism’s simplified list: Notoriety Poverty Weakness Ugliness Death Pain etc. Only Vice is evil.

What is indifferent? Everything else Anything else, whether preferred or rejected, appropriate or inappropriate, cannot affect true eudaimonia, true happiness. Fame or Notoriety Wealth or Poverty Power or Weakness Beauty or Ugliness Life or Death Pleasure or Pain

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Stoic Assumptions Physics Dynamic materialism and determinism Rational element within nature and within humanity Logic All knowledge is based on sense impressions Reason can abstract hidden causes (Socratic method) Ethics Rational, social animals Moral character grows with reason (appropriation)

whatever are not properly our own affairs.” ἀνέχου καὶ ἀπέχου “There are things which are within our power, and there are things which are beyond our power. Within our power are opinion, aim, desire, aversion, and, in one word, whatever affairs are our own. “Beyond our power are body, property, reputation, office, and, in one word, whatever are not properly our own affairs.” Epictetus

“Now, the things within our power are by nature free, unrestricted, unhindered; but those beyond our power are weak, dependent, restricted, alien. …if you attribute freedom to things by nature dependent, you will be hindered, you will lament, you will be disturbed, you will find fault both with gods and men…”

“But if you take for your own only that which is your own, and view what belongs to others just as it really is, then no one will ever compel you, no one will restrict you, you will find fault with no one, you will accuse no one, you will do nothing against your will; no one will hurt you, you will not have an enemy, nor will you suffer any harm.” Epictetus, The Handbook

Covey’s virtue ethic

Stoic virtue ethic

What is meant by “passion”? What we call “emotions”? “Animal instincts”? Pleasure or pain itself?

Passions Greek: pathê; Latin: perturbationes. Not sensations Pleasure Pain Not pre-emotions (propatheia) Eros Not good feelings (eupatheia) joy (chara) caution (eulabeia) wish (boulêsis)

Passions are false judgments Four Main Passions (present) Delight (future) Lust Distress Fear

Passions pt.1 Delight (Greek: hêdonê; Latin: laetitia.) disorder arising from presence of [an apparent] good; exuberant transport at having secured some coveted object Distress (Greek: lupê. Latin: aegritudo.) disorder originating in distress at present evil

Passions pt.2 Lust (Greek: epithumia; Latin: libido.) belief of prospective good and the subject of this thinks it advantageous to possess it at once upon the spot. Fear (Greek: phobos; Latin: metus.) a disorder arising from expectation of evil

Comparisons Passions Neuroses Perturbation of character (Zeno) Distorts sense of reality Distortion of personality (Hine, 1983) Distorts sense of reality

Passions replaced by good states Three Good States Joy instead of Delight (present) Wish instead of Lust (future) …(nothing)… instead of Distress Caution instead of Fear

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How?

The Three Disciplines of Epictetus Discipline of Desire Study of philosophy, science, and theology “View from above” Amor fati Discipline of Assent Uncover implicit value judgments Meditation on misfortune Stoic mindfulness (prosochê) Discipline of Action Cultivation of cardinal virtues Reserve clause (God willing) Oikeiôsis and cosmopolitanism

Cognitive Behavioral and Rational Emotive Therapies Albert Ellis and Aaron Beck explicitly drew on Stoic sources in devising a therapeutic school apart from psychodynamic and behavioral traditions.

Assumptions Cognitive therapy assumes that maladaptive behaviors and disturbed mood or emotions are the result of inappropriate or irrational thinking patterns, called automatic thoughts. Therapy may consist of testing the assumptions which one makes and identifying how certain of one's usually unquestioned thoughts are distorted, unrealistic and unhelpful. Once those thoughts have been challenged, one's feelings about the subject matter of those thoughts are more easily subject to change.

Common Cognitive Biases Overgeneralization Mental Filter Magnification and Minimization All-or-Nothing Thinking Disqualifying the Positive Jumping to Conclusions Labeling Mind Reading Fortune Telling Emotional Reasoning Shoulding Yourself, Shoulding Others Personalization and Blame

Cognitive Restructuring Four steps: Identification of problematic cognitions known as "automatic thoughts" (ATs) which are dysfunctional or negative views of the self, world, or future Identification of the cognitive distortions in the ATs Rational disputation of ATs with the Socratic method. Development of a rational rebuttal to the ATs Six types of automatic thoughts: Self-evaluated thoughts Thoughts about the evaluations of others Evaluative thoughts about the other person with whom they are interacting Thoughts about coping strategies and behavioral plans Thoughts of avoidance Any other thoughts that were not categorized

Live Like a Stoic Week http://blogs.exeter.ac.uk/stoicismtoday

Preparation Download Handbook Fill out surveys: “Satisfaction with Life” “Flourishing” “Positive and Negative Emotions” Stoic Attitudes and Behaviors

Stoic Week Morning Meditation Stoic Mindfulness throughout day Evening Meditation Blog about experiences

End of week Fill out surveys again: “Satisfaction with Life” “Flourishing” “Positive and Negative Emotions” “Stoic Attitudes and Behaviors” Meet to discuss experience with others

Resources Philosophy for Life Stoicism Today Philosophy of CBT http://philosophyforlife.org Stoicism Today http://blogs.exeter.ac.uk/stoicismtoday Philosophy of CBT http://philosophy-of-cbt.com