The young men we surveyed mostly rejected traditional models of masculinity based on aggression, stoicism and homophobia, but a sizeable minority still support them.
Web communities have helped the ancient philosophy of Stoicism find fans in a new generation.
utah778/iStock via Getty Images Plus
Edwina Preston pays tribute to the humble letter: from literary love letters to philosophical lessons to cherished family heirlooms. Letters impart lessons, reveal character – and are a form of art.
Stoicism is having a cultural moment, with bestselling books and podcasts taking this ancient philosophy to a new audience. But there are problems with Stoicism, both in its modern and ancient forms.
Marble heads of four philosophers in the British Museum. From foreground: Socrates, Antisthenes, Chrysippos and Epicurus.
Wikimedia Commons
Pierre Hadot sees philosophy as a guide to improving our contemporary lives.
‘All things are possible,’ Pink Floyd’s Roger Waters said of the message contained in the band’s eighth album, ‘Dark Side of the Moon.’
David Redfern/Redferns via Getty Images
Stoicism can easily be misread as pessimistic because of its relentless focus on mortality and fragility. But its core message – contained in songs spanning generations – is profoundly empowering.
Stoic philosopher Epictetus tells us not to worry about things we can’t control, prepare for the unexpected and slow down on the judginess. This is great lockdown advice over 2,000 years later.
The Meditations, by Stoic philosopher Marcus Aurelius, has been described as an ageless, secular gospel. Written in a time of pandemic, it speaks powerfully to us today.
Hitting the target is out of your control so focus on mastering the technique.
Carlos Caetano/Shutterstock
From human suffering to political chicanery to environmental degradation, the tide of bad news, blared in headlines every day, seems overwhelming. One poet and classics scholar asks: What can be done?
The statue of Marcus Aurelius Piazza del Campidoglio in Rome.
Jeff
Marcus Aurelius (121-180CE) was emperor of Rome at the height of its influence and power. One can only imagine the pressures that a person in his position might have experienced. The military might of…