Stoicism isn’t just a set of ideas; it’s meant to be put into practice. The ancient philosophy is finding new fans through online communities.
‘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.
A scene from Giovanni Boccaccio’s ‘The Decameron’ – sales of which have reportedly risen during the pandemic.
John Waterhouse/Lady Lever Art Gallery
Narratives throughout history illustrate how pandemics make people grapple with their faith, leading them to deepen religious beliefs or reject them altogether.
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
The best sort of life would include both happiness and meaningfulness. Although one sometimes has to choose between these two values, one ought to strive for a life in which there’s plenty of both.