Brisbane Stoics

Author: Travis McMullen

  • Developing our shape

    Developing our shape

    In our September 2023 meetup, the concept of having an ideal shape in terms of our character was raised and discussed. I was intrigued by the discussion, and it prompted me to do some further reflection and reading.

    One question I’ve been thinking about is, how do we shape ourselves appropriately to fit with Nature?

    It’s a question worth thinking about. Our lives are full of a series of events that happen to us, which we will need to respond to. Since we will need to respond (even doing nothing is a response), our goal should be to act appropriately in each situation. To make the right decision. Do the right thing. Therefore, we want to develop ourselves so that we have the right ‘shape,’ so to speak. If we have a ‘good’ shape, we will respond well. If we have a ‘bad’ shape, then we will react inappropriately. 

    Cicero, in his piece On Fate, introduces Chrysippus’ metaphor of a cylinder. 

    The idea is thata cylinder is stationary and an event will cause it to roll forward in motion. The shape of the cylinder will determine how it rolls. If the cylinder is smooth and shaped naturally, then it will be able to handle the motion well. It can act appropriately and in accordance with it’s nature. If there are blemishes or bumps in the cylinder, it won’t roll as well.

    Having a ‘bad’ shape will cause us to act inappropriately. Some examples include:

    • chasing externals
    • not having resilience
    • being mean
    • losing our temper
    • sending a badly worded email
    • applying incorrect use of reason
    • thinking we have been harmed when we haven’t
    • not applying knowledge
    • not fulfilling our roles and duties

    If we are like a cylinder, and events are going to happen to us and push us in motion, then, as individuals, we should want to have the best shape possible. To become a perfectly formed cylinder that is able to roll properly. To be someone whom easily acts and responds to the situations that life sends our way.

    So how can we develop our shape? 

    We should focus on making progress.

    “I view with pleasure and approval the way you keep on at your studies and sacrifice everything to your single-minded efforts to make yourself every day a better man”

    Seneca, Letter V

    Just as a builder learns more about building and the foundations that are needed, and a carpenter about how to lay carpet properly, or a teacher to teach, so too should we learn how to shape ourselves correctly.

    As our shapes are currently not perfect, this means we will make mistakes. We will learn through getting things wrong. Just as the strongest trees and branches need wind so they build their strength, we also need to experience events we don’t enjoy to build our own resilience. Each of these events, where we reflect, learn and make adjustments, helps us to make progress and shapes ourselves better.

    To get stronger, we know that we need to regularly go to the gym. We can lift weights, go for a run, challenge our body physically. Over time we reap these benefits. We’ll get up early, do hard workouts, make a schedule. 

    Developing our shape also requires this type of dedication. We need to train our minds. To develop our reason. To build the right knowledge. 

    Virtue

    Virtue is living life well. Having the correct knowledge (or virtue) shapes our character. It gets us to a smooth state if we want to become a cylinder. This can also translate to our indifferences. We can have preferred indifferences if we have the appropriate knowledge on how they will benefit us – such as health and wealth. 

    Duties

    We have duties within the context of where we are. Therefore, what duties we have will be different to all of us. Carrying out our duties improves our shape. 

    To give some examples, rather than strict rules:

    • we have a duty to care towards our neighbours. If we check in and during a time of grief drop off food and be there – our shape improves
    • we have duties and responsibilities toward our community. If on my morning walk I stop and pick up some trash and dog poop, then I am acting virtuously and developing my shape

    We have obligations and duties to many people. If we work outwards, it starts with our self, our wife, children, family, community, region, country, world. Events are going to push us into motion constantly. We’ll have to help and care for others. Have a tough conversation. Do what we say. Having a better shape will help us to respond the best way that we can. To be able to shoulder the responsibilities that we have. To carry out our duties. To act appropriately. 

    With a better shape, we can roll further and do more. 

    For me, it’s a constant work in progress. A journey I’m excited to be on. One where I can, in time, improve my shape and carry out more of my duties. 

    the shape we want
  • Nightly reflections

    Nightly reflections

    I view with pleasure and approval the way you keep on at your studies and sacrifice everything to your single-minded efforts to make yourself every day a better man

    Seneca, Letter V

    This was the habit of Sextius, so that at day’s end, when he had retired to his nightly rest, he questioned his mind:

    What bad habit have you put right today? Which fault did you take a stand against? In what respect are you better?

    This is a privilege I take advantage of, and everyday I plead my case before myself as judge. When the lamp has been removed from my sight, and my house has fallen silent, I examine the whole of my day and retrace my actions and words; I hide nothing from myself, pass over nothing. For why should I be afraid of any of my mistakes, when I can say: ‘Beware of doing that again, and this time I pardon you. In that discussion you spoke too aggressively: do not, after this, clash with people of no experience; those who have never learned make unwilling pupils. You were more outspoken in criticizing that man then you should have been, and so you offended, rather than improved him: in the future have regard not only for the truth of what you say but for the question of whether the man you are addressing can accept the truth: a good man welcomes criticism, but the worse a man is, the fiercer his resentment of the person correcting him’?

    Seneca, On Anger, Book 3, Section 36

    Undertaking a nightly reflection is one strategy that the Stoics present to us to examine our impressions, actions, words and behaviours. A chance for us to set aside some focused time to examine if we are conducting ourselves in accordance with Nature. I decided to give the nightly reflection a go and make this a part of my night routine. It took about six months of nightly reflections to fill my journal.  

    For me, the structure I decided to use was to dot point out my day, and then move into a reflections piece at the end, where I recorded where I wanted to improve, what my learnings and reflections were. When I went back to do a review, I was able to see just how much I had accomplished, the things I had done, events attended, and so forth, that I had forgotten all about!  

    If you’re considering incorporating a nightly reflection into your daily routine, here’s some of my own takeaways and learnings: 

    1. Use a template or design that works for you. A common template is to answer three questions – what did I do well today? What did I do not so well today? What could be improved? 
    2. Write when it works best for you. It does not need to be done ‘once the lamp has been removed from sight and the house has fallen silent.’ I tried. I was too tired. I didn’t want to do it. It won’t work if you have had days where you haven’t acted accordingly. For me, doing this either right before or after dinner worked best. I had ample time, and energy, to properly reflect. As a result, it was something I wanted to do rather than being something I had to do 
    3. If you are in the mood to write, then write. You don’t have to wait until night time, or when it’s next ‘scheduled.’ If you have comments to make to yourself, then write away 
    4. Physical journalling worked for me. I enjoyed the slower process of putting pen to paper. We are also luckily to have new technologies, so if you prefer, use Notes, or Word, or DayOne, etc. It’s your practice, so use what you feel comfortable using 
    5. It’s okay to write when you feel the need to, rather than each day. Again, it’s your personal practice. What works for you works. 
    6. It doesn’t just have to be about you and your review. It a quote comes to mind, write it down. If a friend said something insightful during a catchup, record it along with your reflections 
    7. Don’t forget to review and revisit your prior reflections. Are there any recurrent themes? Are you making progress? What do you need to focus on next? 
    8. Be kind. Remember that we are all on our own paths towards the Sage. We will make mistakes, say the wrong thing, form incorrect impressions. Don’t be too hard on yourself. 

    As an exercise, the nightly reflection is something that I recommend that you try out and give it a go. If you have any other recommendations, tips or thoughts, let us know.

  • Welcome events as they happen

    Welcome events as they happen

    “Don’t hope that events will turn out the way you want, welcome events in whichever way they happen: this is the path to peace”

    Epictetus, Enchiridion, Chapter 8

    In our world today, I have a sense that there is a belief that we have an expectation to get what we want. For things to turn out the way we want them to. If we put our thoughts out into the universe, we will be rewarded. If we do the right then, then a fantastic outcome will be granted upon us. That we will receive a divine benevolence. 

    If the take the traditional Stoic worldview, that is not how the world works. The world, and our cosmos, operates according to Nature. It is a living being. God, who pervades the entire cosmos, forms the cosmos into a harmonious whole and orders events in a providential manner. In fact, these external events are morally indifferent. No event can possible be inherently bad. Instead, these adverse situations (well, how we may see them anyway) can offer one an opportunity to train, practice and develop one’s virtue.

    I see this as the world will act out its own agenda, and this may mean that things that we would prefer not to happen to us will. In fact, what happens is fated and will happen regardless of what we want, but that doesn’t mean we are powerless. Within our power is to control what we want. To know what is up to us and to use what is up to us correctly, making sure this capacity is treated with due respect and even reverence.

    A focus then is on our care for the self. In our modern world, what could this look like? Examples may include:

    • Irrespective of what happens, we can feel grateful that we can hold the view that whatever happens to us is “good enough for me,” and we can attend to the situation at hand
    • Being comfortable with being with our self. This means avoiding distraction or looking for things to occupy our time. To be with our self rather than impulsively going to our emails, or apps, or vices rather than than face ourselves or silence. To not be frustrated by having to turn inward or by having ‘nothing’ to do
    • Taking a moment to reflect that under any condition that we are in, we have access to our ruling faculty and autonomy
    • Examining our first impressions, taking a pause, and examining if we are forming the correct opinion of what is happening, questioning if harm is actually being done to us

    We can wish for life to turn out exactly how we want it to, with no inconvenience, stress, grief, or hardship. That’s not how it’s going to be. Instead, we need to welcome events as they happen, to go with the flow of the river, to build our own character and respond to these situations in a way we ought to. Virtuously. 

    Easier written than down. I fall short all the time. I am getting better. I see the Sage, and am trying to become more like him. 

  • Epictetus ‘Discourses’ 1.4 – On Progress

    Epictetus ‘Discourses’ 1.4 – On Progress

    We further discuss the ‘Discourses’ for our Brisbane Stoics meetup.

    Transcript below

    Given the heading of this reading, I thought it appropriate to start with a reflection from Seneca which is in Letter V.

    I view with pleasure and approval the way you keep on at your studies and sacrifice everything to your single-minded efforts to make yourself every day a better man.

    Refrain from following the example of those whose craving is for attention, not their own improvement

    Each day we want to better ourselves. We want to make progress. But what exactly is progress? What makes us a better person? Of all of the things we could be doing or be focused on, what should we be doing?

    When I think about progress, I think about getting better in certain domains in my life. I think about my relationship with my family. My health and fitness. My technical abilities to configure systems better at work. At being a better listener. In some ways I operate on auto pilot, as I have had conversations with myself already on what’s important. That’s why I end up at the gym most mornings lifting heavy things, or on the climbing wall, or out on walks so I’m healthy. I have my own values that I try and uphold, so we spend a lot of time with our families and our close friends. I read books to improve how I listen and communicate. To improve my knowledge on things that are of interest to me like ancient history and health. 

    In what ways are you making progress in your own lives?

    Based on this, we could argue that  we are making lots of good progress. But are we making progress in the ways that matter?

    To answer with a Stoic lens, first we need to step back and recap. Living a life of philosophy is our starting point, as it frames where we should be aiming. For Stoics, virtue is the North Star. Virtue is what we need to make progress on, along with other things in our lives so that we are living in accordance with Nature. As Epictetus remarks in part 5, ‘What is the goal of virtue, after all, except a life that flows smoothly?’

    What do you think the Stoics mean by virtue? Prompters – do you agree that it’s a form in knowledge, or that it’s grounded in knowledge?

    Knowledge about how the world is. How to be a rational being in the world. Socrates – builders know how to build a house because they have then teaching and knowledge – they learnt and then applied their knowledge. It’s both combined.

    Virtue could be loosely defined as living well in every way. Broken down into four categories, virtue is having and displaying wisdom, justice, temperance, and courage in our daily lives. 

    So back to our questions on what it is that we need to focus on to make progress.

    For the Stoics, and many of the philosophies of ancient times, philosophy was about how one should live day by day. They are based on the practicalities of daily life, rather than abstract theories that are for debate. 

    This is why Socrates in particular so was fascinated with builders, doctors, bakers, soap makers – as to him it is about the application of knowledge into daily life. 

    To make progress, we have to remember to not be a passive reader or consumer of information. We need to live the theories and put them into practice.

    If we are just focused on reading books about Stoicism, or philosophies, or leadership, culture, family, and so forth, then our progress will only amount to learning as much about particular subject matters as we can. We haven’t yet put anything into practice. Have we made progress? Perhaps in knowledge, but not in implementation. 

    The same can be said about the athlete. Heavy weights are great to throw around, but until we can show how we have benefited from them – such as increased strength, endurance, or size – have we actually made progress? 

    It could be argued, I think, that it is the realisation of a benefit, by using it in our life that we make progress. 

    I’m really interested in health, fitness, travel, business. So I tend to this in these elements. But they apply in all areas. When we start a new job, we struggle at first because we are increasing our knowledge and trying to apply it in our daily lives. Over time, we become more competent in doing something that is good, and that is when we realise progress. 

    We want to cultivate our character. Free ourselves of desire for indifferent things and of outcomes not in our control. Put our principles into practice in every situation. Apply what we have learnt and studied. That is a key theme. That we live out out philosophy. That we progress each day. That we act.

    One could argue why does it matter what we pursue and what we make progress in. 

    Why do we need to think so much about our character and cultivating how we act within the world and in accordance with Nature? 

    Part of the role of a Stoic is that we make progress with our own character, that first circle, and then expand our focus outwards toward family, community, and then the world. 

    Before we look to our Ancient Stoic friends for guidance, what do you think are some practical day to day ways we can make progress?

    What does Epictetus think?

    [20] “from the moment they get up in the morning they adhere to their ideals, eating and bathing like a person of integrity, putting their principles into practice in every situation they face – the way a runner does when he applies the principles of running, or a singer those of musicianship [21] – that is where you will see true progress embodied.”

    Epictetus has harsh words for those that only want to read and consume

    [22] “But anyone whose sole passion is reading books, and who does little else besides, having moved here for this – my advice for them is to go back home immediately and attend to business there, [23] because they left home for nothing. A student should practice how to expunge from his life sighs and sorrow, grief and disappointment, exclamations like ‘poor me’ and ‘alas’; [24] he should learn what death is, as well as exile, jail and hemlock, so at the end of the day he can say, like Socrates in prison, ‘Dear Crito, if it pleases the gods, so be it.”

    What about the other Stoics?

    It’s not just Epictetus that is focused on the idea of focusing improving oneself, of looking within, or knowing where to aim.

    Marcus Aurelius comes back to this idea quite a few times in his Meditations.

    Book Six, part 4. “Focus on what is said when you speak and on what results from each action. Know what the one aims at, and what the other means.”

    Book Six, part 7. “Don’t be ashamed to need help. Like a soldier storming a wall, you have a mission to accomplish. And if you’ve been wounded and you need a comrade to pull you up? So what?”

    Here we can take meaning that one should accept physical and social support to help us achieve our goals. I think we can also take this as needing help from philosophy – of looking to texts and revisiting our own actions to make sure we are getting the right help to improve ourselves and move forward.

    Book Seven, part 69. “Perfection of character: to live your last day; every day; without frenzy, or sloth, or pretence.”

    Likewise, Seneca reflects on making progress in his letters.

    Letter V. “I view with pleasure and approval the way you keep on at your studies and sacrifice everything to your single-minded efforts to make yourself every day a better man.” Seneca then goes on to offer some practical advice to daily living including keep tidy appearances and to be clean. To do otherwise, Seneca claims, would be to go against nature. 

    In Letter VI, Seneca calls attention to his own shortcomings, remaking, “Naturally there are a lot of things about me requiring to be built up or firmed down or eliminated.”

    The Sage

    Our meeting today has been about making progress. The end of progress is signified in the image of the sage. This is a Central theme of Stoic philosophy. 

    • What is the Sage in your understanding? 
    • What about role models that we want in our lives? 
    • Do they have a place if we are wanting to be the Sage? 
    • Do we accept imperfection and have other mortals around us that we admire for what they are and how they act?

    The sage is an individual who has mastered the art of living. One who always acts appropriate in all manner of their life. It makes sense then, that a large part of our journey in living as a Stoic is to progress ourselves as close as we can towards becoming a Sage. Due to the perfection of the Sage, we ourselves will never get there, but still we need to improve ourselves in living out our philosophy and getting as close as we can to becoming a Sage. In fact, John Sellars, in his book Stoicism (p38) points out that the Stoics have a word for individuals who are ‘making progress’ (prokopē). Those who “aspire after wisdom but who are not themselves wise.”

  • A reflection on Memento Mori

    A reflection on Memento Mori

    In his article on Stoic Themes, Courtney introduced one of the key themes of Memento Mori. To briefly recap, Memento Mori means remembering that we have to die. This concept, each time I read or listen about it, really hits home to me.

    It’s very easy to get caught up in our own world at times. As we get busy in our day, we can move from putting out one fire to the next, and before we know it, the day is done. We woke up, worked out, ate some food, went to work, attended an urgent meeting, got home, made dinner for the kids, went to bed. Then it’s the weekend and it’s time to catch up with family and friends. Weeks turn into months. Then, just like that, the year is over. Sure, we’ve had a lot of fun. But we have also moved closer to death.

    Philosophy is about how one should live their day. Yes, we might have had fun, but have we conducted ourselves in the right way? Have we made progress towards the things that matter to us? Will we look back with regret on our death bed?

    I also acknowledge the audacity of my statement above. I’m expecting that I’ll be on my death bed one day in the very, very far future. Whilst I certainly felt invincible in my 20’s, I don’t anymore. Part of that has come with age and life experience, and part of me embracing a philosophy of live. I still hold on to the belief that I have at least 50 years left. I forget about Memento Mori for a while, until I’m reminded of it again. That’s when I’m at times struck by a realisation I have moved away from where I want to be, and that I’m not even guaranteed tomorrow.

    Everything, including our bodies, is on loan. One day we will have to return it. When that happens is most certainly not up to us. Yes, I can engage in healthy activities and have a preferred indifference of increased health and therefore lifespan, but it’s not guaranteed. That’s why we have to remind ourselves so we are present in moments during the day and cherish the fact that we are able to experience them in the here and now. That might be going on walk with your partner and feeling the warmth of their hand as you hold it. It could be watching friend’s children draw and be a part of their excitement and creation. It can be curling up into your hoodie and immersing yourself into a good book, getting lost in the moment. Take action towards the goals you want, rather than what others want.

    At the end of the day, we need to constantly make sure we are aiming in the right direction, or sailing towards the right port, as Seneca wrote. If our actions are aligned towards our philosophy, we have a long life. If not, life will end up being quite short, and in the blink of an eye we could miss it.