🇪🇷GötterdämmerungThis current neo-stoicism in self-help literature & online content is a serious deviation from the rich philosophical tradition it claims to inherit. While genuine Stoic philosophy, based on the teachings of ancient thinkers like Epictetus, Seneca, & Aurelius, focuses on virtues, self-control & resilience in the face of adversity, most of what's marketed today as Stoicism is more accurately described as "Broicism."
This modern reinterpretation is less a coherent philosophy & more of a patchwork of #epicureanism, #Cartesian dualism, elements of the new age-y "law of attraction," undercurrents of toxic masculinity, as well as atomized individualism. I will show why neo-stoicism, or contemporary stoicism has betrayed its philosophical origins.
At first whiff, Stoicism & Epicureanism are diametrically opposed, where the former focuses on virtue as the highest good, & the latter on pleasure. However, modern "Broicism" cherry picks elements of Epicurean philosophy esp. the pursuit of tranquility & avoidance of unnecessary pain, & repackages them as Stoic ideals w/o acknowledging their Epicurean roots.
Such selective borrowing misrepresents both philosophies by conflating Stoic resilience & indifference to external circumstances with Epicurean hedonism that aims at maximizing personal happiness & minimizing harm.
#Descartes' mind-body dualism (the idea that the mind & body are fundamentally distinct) inadvertently feeds into Broicism through an exaggerated emphasis on mental control over external & internal conditions.
This perspective encourages a misleading interpretation of Stoicism, suggesting that through sheer willpower one can achieve complete control over one's emotions & desires, a serious oversimplification that neglects nuanced Stoic understanding of control as something more about acceptance & adaptability than domination.
The New Age "law of attraction" that posits the positive or negative thoughts bring positive or negative experiences in one's life, has been awkwardly grafted onto Stoic teachings by Broicism. This misalignment distorts Stoicism' focus on ethical living & personal virtue into a superficial formula for attracting success & wealth, disregarding the Stoic acceptance for external misfortunes as beyond one's control & instead as opportunities for internal growth.
A particularly insidious aspect of Broicism is its flirtation with toxic masculinity that equates Stoic emotional regulation with emotional repression. Genuine Stoicism advocates for understanding & managing emotions, not their denial. Broicism often promotes a caricature of Stoic impassiveness that aligns with harmful stereotypes of masculinity where showing vulnerability is seen as weakness, misguiding individuals away from healthy emotional expression & resilience.
Finally, the modern misappropriation of Stoicism underlines a hyper-individualistic ethos that celebrates self-reliance to the extent of dismissing the importance of community & interdependence. While Stoicism does emphasize personal responsibility & the development of individual virtue, it also recognizes the value of societal roles & the interconnectedness of people.
Broicism ignores this aspect, instead fostering an isolationist & competitive mindset that is antithetical to the communal spirit of classical Stoicism.
Therefore, Broicism, as a modern construct diverges significantly from the philosophical tenets of Stoicism. By amalgamating disparate elements from Epicureanism, Cartesian dualism, New Age beliefs, toxic masculinity, & extreme individualism, it creates a distorted view of Stoicism ...
...that not only fails to capture its essence but also leads adherents astray. True Stoicism is about the pursuit of wisdom, virtue & the proper understanding of what is within our control, aimed at living a fulfilling & ethically sound life. The challenge is to separate the wheat from the chaff, to distinguish between genuine Stoic wisdom & the diluted, harmful interpretations in most of today's self-help culture.
magenta 🌸@Gotterdammerung yo, thanks for sharing! flame read, fr