/lit/ - Literature

Meditations by Marcus Aurelius, another classic and a must for following stoicism.

>>16972948
The Practicing Stoic is mostly organized quotes from Stoics and Marcus Aurelius really stood out to me as my favorite, I think I will.
What do I read after Stoics though? Is there a complimentary philosophical school or something out of left field I might enjoy?

>>16973006
The daily stoic by Ryan Holiday is much like a bible for the practicing Stoic. It’s formatted into different themes every month for 366 days of stoic quotes and modern transitions/applicable for those quotes for yourself in daily life.

>>16973109
I'll get it, sounds cool

>>16972897
>Denial of Death improved my mental health
It can do that?

>>16972897
stop pussyfooting around and read Epictetus, that's all you really need. everything else is filtered through his writing. Go drink from the source.

LVCIVS ANNÆVS SENECA SHOULD NOT BE LUMPED WITH THE STOICS; THE FORMER'S ETHOS IS CONTRATHETICAL TO THAT OF STOICISM, THEREFORE TO THE LATTER SENEQUISM SHOULD BE APPOSED.

>>16973216
yeah I struggled with letting go of creative projects that had some upward trajectory when my life took a better turn. understanding the "immortality project" aspect of it made it easier to let go. there are a lot of people out there with some bit of talent that never do anything with it and best themselves up imagining what they could have contributed to their field. they would all benefit from the book.
the were several other things that really hurt me hard from that book but I'm blanking right now. the stoics book covered a lot of the same stuff when they talked about fame, wealth, death. was nice to see

>>16973238
I didn't want to read every damn stoic I wanted to blast through the entirety of western philosophy in record time.
But I consider your advice... Aurelius had better quotes in the book. can you compare them?

>>16973287
He is THE stoic, man. Aurelius is just a distillation of Epictetus, and Epictetus was a literal slave which lends a certain credence to what he taught. I won't try any harder to convince you to read him, because I realize that you won't.

>>16973287
Every stoic? Bro, there are only 3 haha.

>>16973350
you're trying to reverse psychology me. as a practicing stoic I shall let you know that your emoting had no effect on my internal state. I shall consider epictitus, and if I deem him worthy, I will allow his thoughts into my mind, through no influence of your own. good day to you

>>16973361
stoicism is touched upon by many great thinkers

>>16972948
>>16972897
the stoic in the modern world has to be a post modernist!

if you´re butthurt by this statement you´re not stoic but just trying to COPE that your apathy makes you superior.

>Why yes I'm a Spinozist Marxist, how could you tell..?

>>16975669
>the stoic in the modern world has to be a post modernist!
>if you´re butthurt by this statement you´re not stoic
i don't even understand but I want to please explain

>>16972897
Read augustine critique of the stoics.

>>16972948
>dude life is so hard so like why worry lol
>lives as a fucking prince with every luxury at his beck and call
Stoicism is complacency for the wealthy.

>>16977923
Thank you that sounds perfect.

>>16977962
Arguably our lives are even more comfortable than ancient kings, yet few seem content with them.

>>16975669
>apathy

Why is this bizarre meme so persistent? Do people really think most stoics live a dull existence?

>>16977962
Epictetus was a slave

>>16977923
Augustine: DUDE did you know about this Plato dude and his arguments for an immortal soul?
Bible: Nope, according to me, you stay dormant until the resurrection as a spirit body; soul never separates and can be destroyed by God.
Augustine: Ah fuck that bro I'll say we should believe it anyway!
Aquinas: DUDE did you ever hear about this Aristotle guy and his logical af physics about souls not being able to split from the body? I got him translated from the Muhammadans.
Church: K, I'll roll with it.
Luther: DUDE fuck Plato and Aristotle those heathen fucks for corrupting our church!
Church: Lmao GTFO

>>16977962
Retard, Aurelius died during a war campaign and had a brutal life.
Epictetus was a slave under a guy who worked for Nero and Seneca while arguably the best off of the bunch was exiled, had his children die and was forced to commit suicide by Nero.
And that is just the silver age stoics - for hundreds of years before that it was a shooting off branch of the academics and the cynics who were principally opposed to but just as poor as the epicureans.

We must all suffer loss and pain, hardship and death, material wealth will never save you from it and it would of course have to be the richest in society embracing these principles like Seneca, before it would hold any weight.

Everyone like the anecdotes of Diogenes living in a jar or Epicurus living on bread his whole life, but no one really believes they’re anything more than poor and coping because of what they lack.

>>16973006
Taoism is the graduate level version of stoicism. After Aurelius, Epictetus, and Seneca go through Laozi and then Chuangzi. You might want to read Confucius before Chuangzi because a few episodes are specifically about dunking on him.

>>16979728
I have the book The Way of Chuang Tzu sitting on the pile. Very interested in reading him. I know he also earth's lwarns against seeking influence and fame. Sounds like a good plan. I will read source text stoics and then move on to Taoism

>>16979728
>>16972948
okay the plan is Enchiridion + Discourses, then Meditations, then Taoism

>>16972897
Anons say to get /lit/‘s general idea, grab a few charts, then flee for good.
I don’t know.
Both OP’s books strike me as good.
I’m never leaving.
There are so many pathways.