HowpeopleuseStoicphilosophytoday

STOICS:WARRIORSOFVIRTUE(RESILIENCYTRAINING)WhoweretheStoics?ThefounderofStoicismwasZenoofCitium(picturedontherightinRaphaelsSchoolofAthens),wholivedandtaughtinAthensinaround300BC.HeandhisstudentstaughtanddiscussedphilosophyundertheStoaPoikile,orpaintedcolonnadeintheAthenianmarketplace.StoicismbecameverypopularamongtheRomanrulingclass,andmostofthesurvivingStoicbookswerewrittenbyRomanStoics,particularlySeneca,Epictetusand

MarcusAurelius.YoucanaccessmanyoftheStoictextsforfreehereandhere.WhatdidtheStoicsbelieve?StoicismoriginallyemergedatquiteavolatileperiodinGreekhistory,whenAtheniancitystateswerebeingconqueredbyforeignempires.Itdevelopedasawayofstayingsaneamidallthatchaos.AnimportantpartofthetherapyofStoicismwastoremindyourselfatalltimesofwhatyoucancontrolandwhatyoucant.Wecantcontrolgeopolitics,wecantcontroltheweather,wecantcontroltheeconomy,wecantcontrolotherpeople,wecantevencontrolourownbodies,notentirelyanyway.Theworldisbeyondourcontrol.Itsaroughandunpredictableenvironmentthatisconstantlychanging.Theonlythingwecanreallycontrolareourownthoughtsandbeliefs.Ifweremindourselvesofthat,andfocusourenergyandattentiononourownbeliefsandopinions,thenwecanlearntocopewiselywithwhatevertheworldthrowsatus.Canyougivemeapracticalexampleofthiscopingmethod?

Sure.InchaptertwoofthebookwemeetBrigadierGeneralRhondaCornum,andhearhowshewascapturedduringtheFirstIraqWar,whenherhelicopterwasshotdown.Shewasinjured,shot,sexuallyassaultedandthenimprisoned.Shefoundherselfinasituationwhereshehadminimalcontrol.Butinsteadofbeingtraumatisedbyit,shefocusedonwhatshecouldcontrol:herbeliefs.Sherefusedtogivehercaptorspoweroverthat.Itwastheonearealeftwhereshewasstillfree.ShegotthroughthesituationbyfocusingonthethingsshecouldcontrolandtoleratingthethingsshecouldntjustliketheSerenityPrayertellsustodo.(BGCornumTalkCanweteachresilience)HerstoryremindsmeabitofViktorFrankl.Right.Frankl,asmanyreaderswillknow,wasaprisonerinAuschwitzduringWorldWarII.Hewasinoneofthedarkestandmostfrighteningsituationsimaginable.Yetevenamidthatdarkness,herealisedthathestillhadpoweroverhisownbeliefsandattitudes.Hecouldrefusetoletthesituationbreakhim,andinsteadasserthismoralfreedom.AshewroteinMansSearchforMeaning:

Everythingcanbetakenfromamanbutonething:thelastofthehumanfreedomstochooseonesattitudeinanygivensetofcircumstances,tochooseonesownway.ThatsaveryStoicinsight.YoutalkinthebookabouthowStoicismhasbeentakenupandadaptedbyCognitiveBehaviouralTherapy(CBT).Couldyoutellusabitaboutthathere?AaronBeck(left)andAlbertEllis,theinventorsofCBT,bothtoldmetheywereinspiredbytheStoicsSurething.ThepioneerofwhatbecameCBTwasaNewYorkpsychologistcalledAlbertEllis,whoIinterviewedbackin2007(itturnedouttobethelastinterviewhegavebeforehesadlydiedlaterthatyear).Elliswasoriginallytrainedinpsychoanalysis,buthedidntfeelhewasmakinganyprogresswithhispatients.Soheabandoned

psychoanalysisandwentbacktowhathedescribedashishobby:ancientphilosophy.Inparticular,hewasinspiredbyasayingofEpictetus:Menaredisturbednotbyevents,butbytheiropinionsaboutevents.ThisinspiredElliscognitivetherapyoftheemotions,whichbecamethebasisofCBT.Itsbasedontheideathatouremotionsfollowourbeliefsandjudgements.Ifwechangeourhabitualbeliefs,wealsochangeouremotions.Wecanusethistechniqueeventoovercomechronicemotionaldisordersandseveretraumas.YoucanwatchavideoofEllisdiscussinghowheusedtheStoicshere.AaronBeckalsotoldmehewasdirectlyinspiredbyhisreadingofPlatoandtheStoics.Doesthistechniquereallywork?TheresastrongevidencebasenowforCBTseffectivenessinhelpingpeopleovercomedisorderslikedepression,panicdisorder,socialanxietyandangerissues.Personally,IusedCBTandStoicismtoovercomeposttraumaticstressdisorder,depressionandsocialanxiety,allofwhichIdevelopedinmylateteens.Atthattime,Ifeltextremelyoutofcontrol,andcouldnt

understandwhymyemotionsweresoviolentorwhattodoaboutit.StoicismgavemeawaytounderstandhowmyemotionsaroseandhowIcouldcontrolthem.ItsimportanttounderstandthatStoictherapydoesntinvolvesuppressingyouremotionsordenyingthembeneathastiffupperlip,asthepopularunderstandingofstoicmightsuggest.Infact,Stoictherapyinvolvesexploringthebeliefsandopinionsthatgiverisetoyournegativeemotions,seeingifthosebeliefsareirrational,andiftheyare,challengingthemandreplacingthemwithnewbeliefs.SoStoictherapyinvolvesdismantlingthebeliefsandhabitsthatcreateanemotion,ratherthansimplydenyinganemotion.Butsurelyitsnotallaboutourbeliefs.Sometimesasituationisgenuinelyprettyterrible,sobeingdepressedaboutitmightactuallyberational?

MayorSamSullivanacceptingtheOlympicFlaginTurinInthebook,wemeetmanysituationsthataregenuinelyprettyawful.Forexample,wemeetSamSullivan,whowasleftparalysedwhenhewasateenagerafteraskiingaccidentinVancouver.Helosttheuseofhisarmsandlegs,andinitially,hefeltdeeplydepressedandsuicidalabouthissituation.ButStoicismhelpedhimtochangehisattitude,toseethesituationasachallenge.Hetrainedtogetbacktheuseofhisarms,thenhestartedtocampaigntoimprovethelivesofdisabledpeopleinVancouver.Thisledhimintolocalpolitics,andheeventuallybecamemayorofVancouver.WhenVancouverwonitsbidtoholdtheWinterOlympics,SamwenttotheclosingceremonyinTurintoaccepttheOlympicflagamomentyoucanwatchhere.Thatmoment,andSamslifestory,remindofthelinesofEpictetus:Difficultyshowswhatmenare.Thereforewhenadifficultyfallsuponyou,rememberthatGod,likeatrainerofwrestlers,hasmatchedyouwitharoughyoungman.Why?SothatyoumaybecomeanOlympicconqueror.SoIthinkwealwayshaveachoice

abouthowwedealwithsituationsevenonesthataregenuinelyprettychallenging.WhydidyoucallthissectionofthebookTheWarriorsofVirtue?PartlybecausemanyofthemodernStoicswhosestorieswehearinthebookaresoldiers.WemeetMichaelPerry,forexample,whoisaGreenBeretandapracticingStoic,andhearabouthowhisSpartanregimeofphysicaltrainingisinspiredbyhisStoicvalues.WemeetMajorThomasJarrett,whodevelopedaStoicinspiredresiliencetrainingcoursecalledWarriorResilienceandThriving,whichhetaughttoAmericantroopsinBaghdadduringthesecondIraqWar(youcanwatchavideoofMajorJarretttalkingabouthowheusesStoicismhere).AndwealsodiscoverhowStoicideasandtechniquesarenow,throughCognitiveBehaviouralTherapy,beingtaughttoeverypersonintheUSArmyandAirForce,througha$125millionresiliencetrainingcoursecalledComprehensiveSoldierFitness,whichBrigadierGeneralRhondaCornumwasputinchargeof.Youcanwatchavideoabouttheprogrammehere.

CBTmayhavebeeninspiredbyStoicism,buttherearesomebigdifferencesaswell,arentthere?Certainly.Idiscusssomeofthedifferencesandsimilaritiesinthistalk.ThebiggestdifferenceisthatStoicismwasntjustasetoftherapeutictechniques.Itwasaspiritualphilosophy,theendofwhichwasbringingtheselfintoharmonywiththeLogos.WhatstheLogos?TheStoicsfollowedHeraclitusinbelievingthatthecosmosisconnectedbyanallpervasiveintelligencecalledtheLogos,whichyoucantranslateastheWordortheLaw.Itsaformofdivineprovidencethatguidesallthings.Itexistsinallthings,butitvibratesparticularlystronglyinhumanconsciousness.FortheStoics,themeaningoflife,thegoalofhumanexistence,istodevelopourconsciousnessandbringitintoharmonywiththeLogos.Howdowedothat?Byovercomingourattachmentandaversiontoexternalthings.Natureisconstantlychanging,nothingispermanent,soifwebecomeattachedoraverseto

externalthings,welloftenbeunhappy,insecureandanxious,becausetheworldwillnotbethewaywewantittobe.Byfocusingnotonexternalgoodsbutontheinnergoodsofvirtue,wecanbecomeonewiththeebbandflowofthecosmos,acceptingwhateverhappenstousasthewilloftheLogos.Thenwhat?Dowegetagoodreincarnation?ActuallytheStoicsarefairlyreticentaboutwhatifanythinghappensintheafterlife,orifthereisanafterlife.ButtherewardofbringingoneselfintoharmonywiththeLogosisthatyouattainagoodflowoflife.Youattainthepeaceandhappinessofbeinginharmonywiththecosmos,andoffulfillingyourdivinenatureasarationalhumanbeing.Itsquiteanextremeformoftherapy:overcomingsufferingbybecomingcompletelydetachedfromexternalthings.Yes,butnomoresothan,say,BuddhismorTaoism.Anyway,CBTtooktheStoicscognitivetheoryofemotions,andsomeofitstechniquesfortransformingbeliefsandemotions(suchasthejournal,thehandbook,

theuseofmaxims,andothertherapeutictechniqueswhichIdiscussinthebook),butdroppedallmentionofStoicismsreligiouslanguage,oritscommitmenttovirtue,oritsspiritualgoalofovercomingattachmentstobecomeonewiththeLogos.CBTturnedaspiritualphilosophyintoasetofinstrumentaltechniquestoovercomeemotionaldisorders.Somepeoplemightpreferitthatway,othersmightfeelsomethingwaslostintranslation.ItsunderstandablethatatherapythatssupportedandfinancedbygovernmentswoulddropsomeofthereligiouslanguageofStoicism,butspeakingpersonally,havingbeenhelpedbyCBTIwasfascinatedtohearabouttheoriginalcontextoftheseamazingandpowerfulideas.Somepeople,includingme,areinterestedindevelopingaformofphilosophicalCBTwhichrecontextualisesitinancientphilosophy.Italkmoreaboutthatprojecthere.SowhatsthestateofStoicismtoday?

ThewriterTomWolfe,oneofStoicism'smodernfansTherehavealwaysbeenpeopleattractedtoStoicism.ItwasamajorinfluenceonShakespeare,forexample,andinmorerecenttimesonwritersincludingJDSalingerandTomWolfe.Itsalsoattractedpoliticalandmilitaryleaders,fromFredericktheGreattopresidentBillClintontoChineseprimeministerWenJiabao,whosayshehasreadMarcusAureliusMeditationsover100times.ManyoftheRomanStoicswerealsodeeplyinvolvedinpoliticalandmilitaryaffairsMarcusAureliuswastheemperorofRomeanditsoftenbeenattractivetopeopleinpower,asameansofcopingwiththestressofpoliticallifewhiletryingtokeeptruetoonesprinciples.AcademicinterestinStoicismhasntalwaysbeenthatgreatformuchofthe20thcentury,classicistsweremuchmoreinterestedinPlatoandAristotle,butithasrevivedstronglythankstotheworkofAALong(youcanreadmyinterviewwithLonghere)andthroughsubsequentphilosopherslikeMarthaNussbaum(readmy

interviewwithNussbaumhere).Outsideofacademia,StoicismfoundmuchmoreinterestamongselfhelpandselfimprovementguruslikeDaleCarnegieandTimFerriss.IsthereaStoiccommunitytoday?HistoricallytherewasneverreallymuchofaStoiccommunityitsalwaysbeenquiteanindividualistphilosophybutinthelastfewyearsweveseenthefirsthesitantstepstowardssuchacommunity,thankstotheinternet,andtoamancalledErikWiegardt.Eriksetupanorganisationcalledwww.newstoa.com,whichconnectsStoicsfromaroundtheworld.IhadthepleasureofattendingagatheringofStoicsatErikshouseinSanDiegoin2010theresavideoofthegatheringhere.TherearealsoflourishingStoicismgrouponFacebookandYahoogroups.CouldStoicismbeamassmovementtoday,orevenareligion?Well,itscertainlyhelpedalotofpeoplethroughsomedifficultmoments,includingme.ManypeoplehavebeenhelpedbyStoicideaswithoutrealisingit,throughCBT.

Andsomepeopleembraceitasaphilosophyforlife,oraformofspirituality.ButImscepticalitcouldeverbeagenuinemassreligion,likeBuddhism,becauseitlackstherituals,festivals,music,mythsandcustomsthataresuchanimportantpartofreligions.Itdoesntreallyspeaktotheirrationalpartofthepsyche,onlytotherationalpartofus.Also,somemodernStoicsbelieveintheLogos,whileothersarefiercelyatheist,soareligionofStoicismwouldhavetonegotiatethatissue.AndmodernStoicsareoftenquiteindividualist,libertarianandsomewhataloofsouls,sotryingtobuildaStoiccommunitycanbelikeherdingcats.Speakingpersonally,IvefoundStoicismanincrediblyusefulandpowerfulphilosophy,andinitiallyIwantedtowriteabookjustaboutStoicism.ButIbecameinterestedintheotherphilosophiesintheSocratictradition,howtheycomplementeachother,andalsohowtheydisagreewitheachother.Idontknowifsuchabroadandheterogeneoustraditioncouldbeareligion,butIdsayitwasthebestculturalfoundationasocietycouldhaveandStoicismisanimportantpartofthatSocratictradition.

STOICS:WARRIORSOFVIRTUEWhoweretheStoics?ThefounderofStoicismwasZenoofCitium(picturedontherightinRaphaelsSchoolofAthens),wholivedandtaughtinAthensinaround300BC.HeandhisstudentstaughtanddiscussedphilosophyundertheStoaPoikile,orpaintedcolonnadeintheAthenianmarketplace.StoicismbecameverypopularamongtheRomanrulingclass,andmostofthesurvivingStoicbookswerewrittenbyRomanStoics,particularlySeneca,EpictetusandMarcusAurelius.YoucanaccessmanyoftheStoictextsforfreehereandhere.WhatdidtheStoicsbelieve?StoicismoriginallyemergedatquiteavolatileperiodinGreekhistory,whenAtheniancitystateswerebeingconqueredbyforeignempires.Itdevelopedasawayofstayingsaneamidallthatchaos.AnimportantpartofthetherapyofStoicismwastoremindyourselfatalltimesofwhatyoucancontrolandwhatyoucant.Wecantcontrolgeopolitics,wecantcontroltheweather,wecantcontrol

theeconomy,wecantcontrolotherpeople,wecantevencontrolourownbodies,notentirelyanyway.Theworldisbeyondourcontrol.Itsaroughandunpredictableenvironmentthatisconstantlychanging.Theonlythingwecanreallycontrolareourownthoughtsandbeliefs.Ifweremindourselvesofthat,andfocusourenergyandattentiononourownbeliefsandopinions,thenwecanlearntocopewiselywithwhatevertheworldthrowsatus.Canyougivemeapracticalexampleofthiscopingmethod?Sure.InchaptertwoofthebookwemeetBrigadierGeneralRhondaCornum,andhearhowshewascapturedduringtheFirstIraqWar,whenherhelicopterwasshotdown.Shewasinjured,shot,sexuallyassaultedandthenimprisoned.Shefoundherselfinasituationwhereshehadminimalcontrol.Butinsteadofbeingtraumatisedbyit,shefocusedonwhatshecouldcontrol:herbeliefs.Sherefusedtogivehercaptorspoweroverthat.Itwastheonearealeftwhereshewasstillfree.Shegotthroughthesituationbyfocusingonthethings

shecouldcontrolandtoleratingthethingsshecouldntjustliketheSerenityPrayertellsustodo.HerstoryremindsmeabitofViktorFrankl.Right.Frankl,asmanyreaderswillknow,wasaprisonerinAuschwitzduringWorldWarII.Hewasinoneofthedarkestandmostfrighteningsituationsimaginable.Yetevenamidthatdarkness,herealisedthathestillhadpoweroverhisownbeliefsandattitudes.Hecouldrefusetoletthesituationbreakhim,andinsteadasserthismoralfreedom.AshewroteinMansSearchforMeaning:Everythingcanbetakenfromamanbutonething:thelastofthehumanfreedomstochooseonesattitudeinanygivensetofcircumstances,tochooseonesownway.ThatsaveryStoicinsight.YoutalkinthebookabouthowStoicismhasbeentakenupandadaptedbyCognitiveBehaviouralTherapy(CBT).Couldyoutellusabitaboutthathere?AaronBeck(left)andAlbertEllis,theinventorsofCBT,bothtoldmetheywereinspiredbytheStoicsSurething.ThepioneerofwhatbecameCBTwasaNewYorkpsychologistcalledAlbertEllis,whoIinterviewed

backin2007(itturnedouttobethelastinterviewhegavebeforehesadlydiedlaterthatyear).Elliswasoriginallytrainedinpsychoanalysis,buthedidntfeelhewasmakinganyprogresswithhispatients.Soheabandonedpsychoanalysisandwentbacktowhathedescribedashishobby:ancientphilosophy.Inparticular,hewasinspiredbyasayingofEpictetus:Menaredisturbednotbyevents,butbytheiropinionsaboutevents.ThisinspiredElliscognitivetherapyoftheemotions,whichbecamethebasisofCBT.Itsbasedontheideathatouremotionsfollowourbeliefsandjudgements.Ifwechangeourhabitualbeliefs,wealsochangeouremotions.Wecanusethistechniqueeventoovercomechronicemotionaldisordersandseveretraumas.YoucanwatchavideoofEllisdiscussinghowheusedtheStoicshere.AaronBeckalsotoldmehewasdirectlyinspiredbyhisreadingofPlatoandtheStoics.Doesthistechniquereallywork?TheresastrongevidencebasenowforCBTseffectivenessinhelpingpeopleovercomedisorderslikedepression,panicdisorder,socialanxietyandanger

issues.Personally,IusedCBTandStoicismtoovercomeposttraumaticstressdisorder,depressionandsocialanxiety,allofwhichIdevelopedinmylateteens.Atthattime,Ifeltextremelyoutofcontrol,andcouldntunderstandwhymyemotionsweresoviolentorwhattodoaboutit.StoicismgavemeawaytounderstandhowmyemotionsaroseandhowIcouldcontrolthem.ItsimportanttounderstandthatStoictherapydoesntinvolvesuppressingyouremotionsordenyingthembeneathastiffupperlip,asthepopularunderstandingofstoicmightsuggest.Infact,Stoictherapyinvolvesexploringthebeliefsandopinionsthatgiverisetoyournegativeemotions,seeingifthosebeliefsareirrational,andiftheyare,challengingthemandreplacingthemwithnewbeliefs.SoStoictherapyinvolvesdismantlingthebeliefsandhabitsthatcreateanemotion,ratherthansimplydenyinganemotion.Butsurelyitsnotallaboutourbeliefs.Sometimesasituationisgenuinelyprettyterrible,sobeingdepressedaboutitmightactuallyberational?MayorSamSullivanacceptingtheOlympicFlaginTurin

Inthebook,wemeetmanysituationsthataregenuinelyprettyawful.Forexample,wemeetSamSullivan,whowasleftparalysedwhenhewasateenagerafteraskiingaccidentinVancouver.Helosttheuseofhisarmsandlegs,andinitially,hefeltdeeplydepressedandsuicidalabouthissituation.ButStoicismhelpedhimtochangehisattitude,toseethesituationasachallenge.Hetrainedtogetbacktheuseofhisarms,thenhestartedtocampaigntoimprovethelivesofdisabledpeopleinVancouver.Thisledhimintolocalpolitics,andheeventuallybecamemayorofVancouver.WhenVancouverwonitsbidtoholdtheWinterOlympics,SamwenttotheclosingceremonyinTurintoaccepttheOlympicflagamomentyoucanwatchhere.Thatmoment,andSamslifestory,remindofthelinesofEpictetus:Difficultyshowswhatmenare.Thereforewhenadifficultyfallsuponyou,rememberthatGod,likeatrainerofwrestlers,hasmatchedyouwitharoughyoungman.Why?SothatyoumaybecomeanOlympicconqueror.SoIthinkwealwayshaveachoiceabouthowwedealwithsituationsevenonesthataregenuinelyprettychallenging.

WhydidyoucallthissectionofthebookTheWarriorsofVirtue?PartlybecausemanyofthemodernStoicswhosestorieswehearinthebookaresoldiers.WemeetMichaelPerry,forexample,whoisaGreenBeretandapracticingStoic,andhearabouthowhisSpartanregimeofphysicaltrainingisinspiredbyhisStoicvalues.WemeetMajorThomasJarrett,whodevelopedaStoicinspiredresiliencetrainingcoursecalledWarriorResilienceandThriving,whichhetaughttoAmericantroopsinBaghdadduringthesecondIraqWar(youcanwatchavideoofMajorJarretttalkingabouthowheusesStoicismhere).AndwealsodiscoverhowStoicideasandtechniquesarenow,throughCognitiveBehaviouralTherapy,beingtaughttoeverypersonintheUSArmyandAirForce,througha$125millionresiliencetrainingcoursecalledComprehensiveSoldierFitness,whichBrigadierGeneralRhondaCornumwasputinchargeof.Youcanwatchavideoabouttheprogrammehere.CBTmayhavebeeninspiredbyStoicism,buttherearesomebigdifferencesaswell,arentthere?

Certainly.Idiscusssomeofthedifferencesandsimilaritiesinthistalk.ThebiggestdifferenceisthatStoicismwasntjustasetoftherapeutictechniques.Itwasaspiritualphilosophy,theendofwhichwasbringingtheselfintoharmonywiththeLogos.WhatstheLogos?TheStoicsfollowedHeraclitusinbelievingthatthecosmosisconnectedbyanallpervasiveintelligencecalledtheLogos,whichyoucantranslateastheWordortheLaw.Itsaformofdivineprovidencethatguidesallthings.Itexistsinallthings,butitvibratesparticularlystronglyinhumanconsciousness.FortheStoics,themeaningoflife,thegoalofhumanexistence,istodevelopourconsciousnessandbringitintoharmonywiththeLogos.Howdowedothat?Byovercomingourattachmentandaversiontoexternalthings.Natureisconstantlychanging,nothingispermanent,soifwebecomeattachedoraversetoexternalthings,welloftenbeunhappy,insecureandanxious,becausetheworldwillnotbethewaywewantit

tobe.Byfocusingnotonexternalgoodsbutontheinnergoodsofvirtue,wecanbecomeonewiththeebbandflowofthecosmos,acceptingwhateverhappenstousasthewilloftheLogos.Thenwhat?Dowegetagoodreincarnation?ActuallytheStoicsarefairlyreticentaboutwhatifanythinghappensintheafterlife,orifthereisanafterlife.ButtherewardofbringingoneselfintoharmonywiththeLogosisthatyouattainagoodflowoflife.Youattainthepeaceandhappinessofbeinginharmonywiththecosmos,andoffulfillingyourdivinenatureasarationalhumanbeing.Itsquiteanextremeformoftherapy:overcomingsufferingbybecomingcompletelydetachedfromexternalthings.Yes,butnomoresothan,say,BuddhismorTaoism.Anyway,CBTtooktheStoicscognitivetheoryofemotions,andsomeofitstechniquesfortransformingbeliefsandemotions(suchasthejournal,thehandbook,theuseofmaxims,andothertherapeutictechniqueswhichIdiscussinthebook),butdroppedallmentionofStoicismsreligiouslanguage,oritscommitmenttovirtue,

oritsspiritualgoalofovercomingattachmentstobecomeonewiththeLogos.CBTturnedaspiritualphilosophyintoasetofinstrumentaltechniquestoovercomeemotionaldisorders.Somepeoplemightpreferitthatway,othersmightfeelsomethingwaslostintranslation.ItsunderstandablethatatherapythatssupportedandfinancedbygovernmentswoulddropsomeofthereligiouslanguageofStoicism,butspeakingpersonally,havingbeenhelpedbyCBTIwasfascinatedtohearabouttheoriginalcontextoftheseamazingandpowerfulideas.Somepeople,includingme,areinterestedindevelopingaformofphilosophicalCBTwhichrecontextualisesitinancientphilosophy.Italkmoreaboutthatprojecthere.SowhatsthestateofStoicismtoday?ThewriterTomWolfe,oneofStoicism'smodernfansTherehavealwaysbeenpeopleattractedtoStoicism.ItwasamajorinfluenceonShakespeare,forexample,andinmorerecenttimesonwritersincludingJDSalingerandTomWolfe.Itsalsoattractedpoliticalandmilitaryleaders,fromFredericktheGreattopresidentBillClintonto

ChineseprimeministerWenJiabao,whosayshehasreadMarcusAureliusMeditationsover100times.ManyoftheRomanStoicswerealsodeeplyinvolvedinpoliticalandmilitaryaffairsMarcusAureliuswastheemperorofRomeanditsoftenbeenattractivetopeopleinpower,asameansofcopingwiththestressofpoliticallifewhiletryingtokeeptruetoonesprinciples.AcademicinterestinStoicismhasntalwaysbeenthatgreatformuchofthe20thcentury,classicistsweremuchmoreinterestedinPlatoandAristotle,butithasrevivedstronglythankstotheworkofAALong(youcanreadmyinterviewwithLonghere)andthroughsubsequentphilosopherslikeMarthaNussbaum(readmyinterviewwithNussbaumhere).Outsideofacademia,StoicismfoundmuchmoreinterestamongselfhelpandselfimprovementguruslikeDaleCarnegieandTimFerriss.IsthereaStoiccommunitytoday?HistoricallytherewasneverreallymuchofaStoiccommunityitsalwaysbeenquiteanindividualistphilosophybutinthelastfewyearsweveseenthefirst

hesitantstepstowardssuchacommunity,thankstotheinternet,andtoamancalledErikWiegardt.Eriksetupanorganisationcalledwww.newstoa.com,whichconnectsStoicsfromaroundtheworld.IhadthepleasureofattendingagatheringofStoicsatErikshouseinSanDiegoin2010theresavideoofthegatheringhere.TherearealsoflourishingStoicismgrouponFacebookandYahoogroups.CouldStoicismbeamassmovementtoday,orevenareligion?Well,itscertainlyhelpedalotofpeoplethroughsomedifficultmoments,includingme.ManypeoplehavebeenhelpedbyStoicideaswithoutrealisingit,throughCBT.Andsomepeopleembraceitasaphilosophyforlife,oraformofspirituality.ButImscepticalitcouldeverbeagenuinemassreligion,likeBuddhism,becauseitlackstherituals,festivals,music,mythsandcustomsthataresuchanimportantpartofreligions.Itdoesntreallyspeaktotheirrationalpartofthepsyche,onlytotherationalpartofus.Also,somemodernStoicsbelieveintheLogos,whileothersarefiercelyatheist,soareligionofStoicism

wouldhavetonegotiatethatissue.AndmodernStoicsareoftenquiteindividualist,libertarianandsomewhataloofsouls,sotryingtobuildaStoiccommunitycanbelikeherdingcats.Speakingpersonally,IvefoundStoicismanincrediblyusefulandpowerfulphilosophy,andinitiallyIwantedtowriteabookjustaboutStoicism.ButIbecameinterestedintheotherphilosophiesintheSocratictradition,howtheycomplementeachother,andalsohowtheydisagreewitheachother.Idontknowifsuchabroadandheterogeneoustraditioncouldbeareligion,butIdsayitwasthebestculturalfoundationasocietycouldhaveandStoicismisanimportantpartofthatSocratictradition.