Let’s talk about stoicism and philosophy in English.
WARM UP
Watch the video (the first 2:50 minutes).
1.) Have a pen and paper ready to take notes!
2.) Listen for general ideas, not details.
Conversation Questions
1.) What is Stoicism? How would you define it?
2.) How can we see our difficulties as opportunities?
VOCABULARY
Stoicism (“Upper case noun”)
Meaning: A philosophy founded around 300 BCE based on the wisdom of virtue, self-discipline and mastery over one’s emotions.
Example: Stoicism is about living an intentional, good life.
Stoicism (“Lower case” noun)
Meaning: Facing hardship without complaining or showing emotion
Example: My daughter showed great stoicism when she broke her leg. She was so brave.
A stoic
Meaning: a person who practices the philosophy of Stoicism
Example: Marcus Aurelius was a Roman Emperor and a Stoic philosopher.
Stoic (adjective)
Meaning: restrained and uncomplaining in the face of pain and adversity
Example: She was stoic and dignified when her husband died.
READING
The word stoic is a noun and an adjective that is often misunderstood in English. People who aren’t familiar with Stoicism think it only means without emotion. On the surface, a stoic may appear cold and unemotional, but there is so much more to it! Stoics feel as deeply as anyone else, but they work to master their emotions in order to not be controlled by them.
Stoicism teaches that it is foolish to react to adversity with anger and fear. Rather, a wise person applies the Four Cardinal Virtues of wisdom, courage, temperance, and justice.
In the words of Seneca:
“The pilot’s art is never made worse by the storm nor the application of his art either. The pilot has promised you not a prosperous voyage, but a serviceable performance of his task – that is, an expert knowledge of steering a ship. And the more he is hampered by the stress of fortune, so much the more does his knowledge become apparent. The storm does not interfere with the pilot’s work, but only with his success. “What then,” you say, “is not a pilot harmed by any circumstance which does not permit him to make port, frustrates all his efforts, and either carries him out to sea, or holds the ship in irons, or strips her masts?” It is indeed so far from hindering the pilot’s art that it even exhibits the art; for anyone, in the words of the proverb, is a pilot on a calm sea…But the wise man is always in action, greatest in performance at the very time when fortune has blocked his way. For then he is actually engaged in the business of wisdom.” (Moral Letters 85)
SPEAKING
Conversation Questions
1.) What are one of your core values?
2.) What is the best way to lead a fulfilling, happy, good life?
3.) Stoics believe that God is the logic and world all around us, and that we are part of it. What do you think?
4.) Talk about a time that you or someone else faced a problem with anger or fear. What would have been a better approach?
5.) Talk about a time that you faced a problem stoically, with acceptance and resilience?
6.) How would you like to respond to challenges in your life?
Quotes
Read all of the quotes from Marcus Aurelius, then select one to talk about. (Meditations)
“Some things are hurrying into existence, and others are hurrying out of it; and of that which is coming into existence part is already extinguished.”
“Take away your opinion, and then there is taken away the complaint, “I have been harmed.” Take away the complaint, “I have been harmed,” and the harm is taken away.”
“The best way of avenging yourself is not to become like the wrongdoer.”
“Such as are your habitual thoughts, such also will be the character of your mind; for the soul is dyed by the thoughts.”
Not reacting emotionally requires strength, because “silence in the face of provocation feels unnatural.” – Jordan Peterson
Further Reading
General Reading:
What is Stoicism? Introduction to Core Principles and Beliefs from The Collector
Stoicism from The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy
Select an article to read from Stoicism Today.
How Leaders turn Challenges into Success from Medium (Business English)
Full Texts:
The Meditations by Marcus Aurelius
Moral Letters by Seneca
LISTENING
Watch a video about Stoicism (18 minutes)
1.) Watch the video and take notes.
2.) Prepare a summary of what you learned to present in class. Use reported speech to reference the speaker’s direct words.
GRAMMAR
Can you report these Stoic questions using Reported Speech?
12 Stoic Questions that Will Change Your Life – Medium
Review how to form Reported Questions.
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