“Circumstances don't make the man, they only reveal him to himself.”
― Epictetus
#stoicism #philosophy #quotes
Discussion
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Stoicism’s emphasis on suppressing emotions and accepting external circumstances as unchangeable makes man a passive bystander. Advocating for emotional restraint and detachment, stoicism treats feelings meaningless, while Objectivism celebrates emotions as natural responses to one’s values, when integrated with rational thought. Stoicism’s call to conform to fate or “nature” undermines the Objectivist view that reality is objective, and that man can and should shape his lives through purposeful action should he choose to live a good life. By urging passive endurance over active pursuit of happiness, Stoicism sacrifices man’s potential and ambition, which Objectivism champions as essential to a flourishing life. It’s a philosophy that chains the self to resignation, not liberation. Maybe it’s time to drop the stoic mystic nonsense and think rationally, instead of ignoring your own emotions and resigning to a passive life. You might as well be as dead as the rock that the waves wash over.