The Stoic Magazine Library

The Golden Rule 

The Golden Rule, “Treat others as you would like to be treated by them” is one of the simplest and most influential of all ethical principles. Although the Golden Rule is most commonly associated with Christianity, it was arguably also implicit in many traditions, including Stoicism. 

[How do we deal with ingratitude? Sometimes we forget to be grateful and at other times we are at the receiving end of ingratitude. What does Stoicism say about ingratitude and how we deal with it? In this first-part of a two part article, Ron Pies, MD presents the story of Izzy and his ungrateful behavior. How would you deal with it? In the next issue Ron will present the Stoic approach to ingratitude. Chuck Chakrapani, Editor.] 

Getting stuck on Channel C 

Has your mind ever gotten stuck on Channel C (the Crazy Channel)? 

In Stoicon 2018, I made a profoundly political claim when I said that the four virtues of courage, justice, self-control, and wisdom were the very foundation of sustainable development, if by this term we meant:

We are the same as we always have been

Ten Rules for Daily Life

Is the Joker Stoic? Is Batman?

Use people’s specific talents - If anyone did anything excellent, Marcus praised them and used their talents for that purpose. But he did not expect other things from them. Marcus said:

Marcus is not impressed 

Marcus lived nearly five hundred years after Alexander died. Yet he’s still a figure who looms large for Marcus. He mentions Alexander five times altogether in Meditations. However, Marcus doesn’t revere Alexander for his military achievements, but views him from the perspective of Stoic philosophy, with a greater degree of cynicism regarding his love of conquest. Indeed, Marcus appears to have viewed Alexander’s legacy as short-lived. According to Herodian, another Roman historian: 

Widespread shutdowns 

At the time that I write this, midway through March, responses to COVID-19 have shut down a good part of Milwaukee. As in many other places, students have been sent home from schools, colleges, and universities and classes have shifted online. Concerts and sporting events have been cancelled. Libraries, community centers, health clubs, even courthouses have been closed. Many office buildings have emptied, allowing employees to work from home. 

The meaning of life 

“What is the meaning of life?” I asked my friend Jan. 

“Oh, that’s easy,” she shot back. “We’re here to love God, love each other, and eat pie.” 

Compulsory shut downs 

Within the past few days, the French government announced the closing of all schools, restaurants, and all places of social and cultural gathering, as well as full isolation at home for the population. Companies that can are implementing distance working, and those who can’t are exploring temporary unemployment measures. 

We have no grounds for self-admiration, as though we were surrounded by our own possessions; they have been loaned to us. We may use and enjoy them, but the one who allotted his gift decides how long we are to be tenants; our duty is to keep ready the gifts we have been given for an indefinite time and to return them when called upon, making no complaint:. 

Seneca, Consolation to Marcia 

You have more than you need 

As we saw Izzy’s near total lack of gratitude has left him a very “unhappy man” 

Zeno created Stoicism out of a crisis 

Stoicism is not just useful in times of crisis; it was born out of crisis. It came into being precisely because the Stoic founder Zeno suffered a life-changing crisis when a storm hit his boat and destroyed his cargo in the process.