Mar 9 in Books 馃摎
Stoicism Is For Everyone
In ancient Greece and Rome, many everyday people-women, the enslaved, and poor individuals-were barred from philosophical communities. Worse, they were excluded from politics and brutalized in society. At best, disenfranchised individuals were invited in only when wealthy men decided to open the doors.
Historians believe that while Stoicism was constrained by these cultural practices, it was nonetheless more inclusive than other philosophical creeds at the time. Many early Stoics believed that virtue was available to everyone, including people living through poverty or political oppression. (Recall that the great Stoic teacher Epictetus was a former slave.) Many Stoics even advocated for women to receive formal philosophical training.
While today it feels trite to applaud such limited access, to explore the history of Stoicism (and much of history, really) is to confront these shameful truths. It can be difficult, even discouraging, to contextualize ancient cultural practices. Yet it's my belief, as a woman who might have been left out of many early Stoic debates, that there is still much to learn from this deeply reflective philosophy that has guided humans from many backgrounds for over 2,000 years. Much of the world agrees.
Stoic philosophy is not confined to one culture group or life experience. Today, it is practiced all over the globe by a diverse array of people. There are thriving Stoic communities on six continents, in dozens of countries and multiple languages. Stoicism speaks to a universal human experience providing tools for all of us to live with greater intention, purpose, and acceptance.
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Stoicism Is For Everyone
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