The Stoic Magazine Library

Use this workout as often as possible. If you are like most people you will have scores of opportunities to practice throughout the day.

Back in 2007, many years before the Modern Stoic movement began advancing Stoic thought, Sharon Lebell wrote a book, The Art of Living which is a “new interpretation “ of Epictetus’ Enchiridion. This modern, plain English version of the Stoic classic became very popular and has been in print continuously since it was published. In this regular column Doing Stoicism, Sharon will be sharing her thoughts on how to practice Stoicism in our daily lives. 

Editor 

Much is written about in the Stoic literature that we should do “the right thing.” But do we always? If you are like me, probably not. Sharon Lebell believes that it is because we lack our personal code and perhaps we should all have one written down. Editor 

In Stoicism a thing’s appropriateness or inappropriateness is determined by context.

In Stoicism (not only in Stoicism, but in Stoicism certainly) knowledge means something different than it means in contemporary times.

Six themes constitute the core of Stoicism. First, Stoics stress the necessity of self-control. Second, Stoics insist on seeing things as they are. Third, living according to nature is vital to Stoics. Fourth, your virtue depends on doing your duties, which are defined by your roles. Fifth, having virtue depends on knowing. Sixth, Stoicism is an aspirationalist ethics. Let’s explicate each theme in turn.