Why the Stoics were Wrong (And How Self-Help Should be Updated)
In the modern era many individuals find that their first exposure to philosophy is through the lens of stoicism. A philosophy hailing from the roman empire, stoicism is referenced in the modern era as a way of life that many should aspire to.
Admittedly, if you had never been exposed to philosophy before, or perhaps were looking through the self-help genre as a whole, you would likely find stoicism to be profound and even helpful. Indeed, the teachings of stoicism seem to be compatible with the ethos of our modern individualistic world, meaning that it immediately appeals to many who are seeking answers to their problems.
Stoicism is “better than nothing”, in the same way that a number of other placebo effects seem to be better than their control. Living life according to some virtues, even if the virtues are fundamentally flawed, is still likely to have some kind of positive effect.
If you have learned and enjoyed stoicism and found it helpful, then more power to you. However, the limitations of stoicism have “side effects”.
The Stoic Philosophy in a Nutshell
According to stoic philosophy, the purpose of any philosophy is to attempt to live a good life. To live a good life is to live virtuously.
