Beyond Stoicism: Bringing Ancient Insights to Modern Life
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In the following months Philadelphia Stoa will be reading “Beyond Stoicism A Guide to the Good Life with Stoics, Skeptics, Epicureans and Other Ancient Philosophers” written by Massimo Pigliucci, Gregory Lopez, and Meredith Alexander Kunz. Published January 7th 2025.
The purpose of this book is help create a meaningful life. Our authors attempt this by drawing inspiration from thirteen prominent philosophers of Ancient Greece and Roman. Each chapter combine glimpses into a philosopher’s life with an exploration of the thinker’s practical philosophy closing with exercises for putting his or her teachings to work for us.
Last month we studied Chapter 9, ““Embrace Uncertainty With Carneades”. He was a student at Plato’s Academy. Stoicism influenced Carneades to a point that he began to challenge its most basic tenets. While the Stoics thought that absolute, infallible knowledge is possible, the Skeptics argued that both reason and the senses are known to be fallible. They argued that our ability to reason or to sense perceive objects cannot guarantee the truth of our cognition because there is no criteria that distinguishes true from false “impressions”.
This month we will continue “The Port of Doubt” with Pyrrho (360–c. 270 BCE). Chapter 10 is called, “Suspend Judgment With Pyrrho”.
Pyrrho of Elis was born in 360 BCE. He is known as founding the first school of Skepticism. Interestingly, early in his life travels, Pyrrho accompanied Alexander the Great on his expedition to India with the philosopher Anaxarchus (follower of the atomist Democritus). It was in parts of Ghandhara, North West part of India, where Pyrrho encountered “gymnosophists, or naked sages”. He witnessed how these sages stood motionless and endured pain without complaint. Their imperturbability is due to their suspension of belief and letting go of the need of certainty. Pyrrho’s skepticism is based on how perceptions and beliefs cannot be confirmed as true, and thus one should suspend judgment to achieve a state of ataraxia, or peace of mind. Now, if one is indifferent concerning the value of things due to suspension of judgement, then on what basis does one act? We shall examine the fourfold observances: follow nature, follow your feelings, follow custom and laws, and heed expert advice.
In general our meetings will be divided into two parts. The first part I will briefly review their theoretical arguments of the thinkers… here I expect questions will be raised. The next part will involve group work. Our authors have provided various sets of exercises to practice.
One copy of the book will be provided to be purchased. You can also purchase the book via Amazon. Also Please see the video of our Authors discussing their new book with Professor Gregory Sadler.
Video Discussion with the Authors about "Beyond Stoicism".
https://thephilosophygarden.substack.com/p/video-beyond-stoicism?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email#media-4c0afcd9-cc7b-44db-80b0-3ecd7ad613f6
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Meeting: Philadelphia Ethical Society on November 16th Sunday 3:00 to 4:30 pm.
Part III: The Port of Doubt
Chapter 10: Suspend Judgment With Pyrrho