What Stoicism Gets Wrong

The greatest problem with modern self help culture (especially for men) is that self improvement has become selfish. We learn about self discipline and personal responsibility but then use that as a weapon to judge and beat others down with, and we use self help as a blindfold to ignore the plight of others and the systemic problems of society. When people hear “justice” they often only think of retributive justice - punishment for wrongdoing. They want to ignore the empathetic justice of caring for and helping others in need. There is far too much of “if it isn’t happening to me, it isn’t happening” in our society and we are becoming a nation that glorifies selfishness.

I must applaud you for making this video, Ryan. I happened upon Stoicism by chance shortly after commencing my study of Classical Latin and Ancient Greek, and everyday I consider myself blessed to have discovered it. It enriches my life, instructs me morally, and guides my habits and perspectives. But there is no doubt that, like any product of humanity, Stoicism, as a philosophy for life, contains flaws and inconsistencies. How could it not? It is a system composed by different people, with different ideas, at different times. To acknowledge Stoicism's flaws lends its practitioners a greater degree of credibility. Take from it all that is good and worthy, and consider for yourself those aspects which appear inconsistent. After all, Seneca himself encouraged Lucilius to move beyond mere maxims and to trust his own contemplations.

This is why it has always evolved. This is why we have Modern Stoicism. We build on the wisdom of the Wise and imperfect in a collaboration between cultures, personalities, and eras. What will never be wrong is the Pursuit of Areté. Of living a life of Virtue. Maybe we can never reach that standard perfectly, but we sure can fucking try. And not only our life, but all of our lives, will be better for even one person following the core responsibility of a Stoic. The Dichotomy of Control will never change. We are mortals. We need to learn to accept that the only thing we control is our own judgments and decisions.

Compassion starts with having compassion for ourselves...

This is the best video on Stoicism I have seen. By critically examining the philosophy and challenging dogma, it allows for improvements and gives Stoicism a vitality that a more static outlook lacks.

This is one of more important videos you've made. I've been an avid follower of yours for a while now and I've wrestled with some of these ideas on my own. Thank you for what you do. Keep up the good work.

thank you dude. This is so awesome. As a girl and scientist -reading early stoics (like lots of modern things) you have to take time and place into account and then start understanding zoomed out from yourself already and a non existent history - this video was super impactful because your words are my thoughts, which is pretty rad when not something in a Stoic book ('cept yours). Thanks again.

One of the best videos you've ever made, Mr. Holiday. Cheers!

This is a great analysis… the context shapes who we are and our thoughts. So, it is great and courageous to be balanced and dare this work of constructive criticism!

I'm glad to see this video it's important to remember that any person you study is human, and they have flaws and incorrect views on different topics we all deal with.

This was amazing Ryan, it speaks a lot to the legitimacy of your platform that you are able to stand so surely by something and critique it in the same breath. It is so powerful for you and for your marginalized followers when you call out misogyny and racism that associates itself with stoicism. I have found it difficult to situate myself in something like stoicism and it is great to have space opened up by you. It's amazing to hear you do the right thing, even at the cost of subscribers and likely money.

Well done. Valuable. Insightful Thank you for this (and of course other) video. I do have in my notes from other videos you've done that the objective of a Stoic is to help others, in particular others who can't help themselves. I don't recall when you said that, but I didn't make it up. That corresponds to the 4th Stoic principle you cite in this video. Sometime I think that too much knowledge (detail) can help one lose sight of the core principles, which you also cite- preparation and performance. Stoicism helps prepare you to deal with the world, and provides you with the means to focus on your objective - to help others Stoicism allows you (prepares you) to keep focused on your objective - to help others (to perform. St. Thomas Acquinas (paraphrasing a bit here) - "The good, as understood, moves the will". "The proper function of man is to understand". Again, preparation (understand what is good), and use that understanding to act (perform). That all works for me. And I thank you for confirming what is good, and how to stay focused on the good. We are so lucky, as humans - we can create in our minds "the good", and live a purpose-focused life, and not simply act in response to instinct and emotion.

Thank you for this.

And your perception of what they get wrong is just a product of your time, also.

It's important for all people not just stoics to care for and take care of one another. We as a species are only here today because of our ability to have compassion and empathy and helps others in need. Only we fall, but together we are unstoppable. We all make up for others shortfallings.

I am very happy to see this and look forward to Ryan's perspective. We all know, or ought to know, nothing is petfect. This is gonna be interesting.

I would add one: the dichotomy of control leaves the impression that we control (or don’t control) all or most situations. The reality is that we have absolute control over almost nothing (outside of our own reactions), but we have influence over most things. These “shades of grey” areas make up most of the situations we encounter.

Thank you. Yes!

So much to learn

Great meditation to start the day=]