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Naive Stoicism: Why pop philosophy is bad for your mental health

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Summary

This article discusses the idea of Naive Stoicism, an interpretation of Stoicism that is often misunderstood and can lead to decreased mental health and wellbeing. The article examines a paper from an international team of scientists and philosophers that demonstrates how naive Stoicism can be damaging to our health. It goes on to explain how naive Stoicism is different from true Stoicism, and how true Stoicism may actually be beneficial to our wellbeing. Finally, the article concludes by emphasizing the importance of understanding a philosophy before committing to it.

Q&As

What is naive Stoic ideology?
Naive Stoic ideology is an interpretation of Stoicism that involves suppressing emotions and having a masochistic penchant for pain.

What findings did the paper "Misunderstood Stoicism: The Negative Association Between Stoic Ideology and Well-Being" reveal?
The paper revealed that the more people practiced Stoicism, the unhappier they were.

What are the four assumptions of naive Stoic ideology?
The four assumptions of naive Stoic ideology are Stoic taciturnity, Stoic serenity, Stoic endurance, and death acceptance.

What effects does naive Stoic ideology have on hedonic and eudaimonic well-being?
Naive Stoic ideology has a negative association with both hedonic and eudaimonic well-being.

How can true Stoicism be beneficial to an individual's mental health?
True Stoicism can be beneficial to an individual's mental health by helping them come to terms with their own mortality, endure physical suffering, and find meaning in life.

AI Comments

👍 This article provides an interesting and informative look at the detrimental effects of naive Stoicism and how it is often misinterpreted. It also provides insight into the real benefits of Stoicism and how it can be properly practiced for greater wellbeing.

👎 This article paints a negative picture of Stoicism without providing much in-depth analysis of the ancient philosophy or its core beliefs. It also relies heavily on convenience sampling when discussing the effects of Stoicism which may not be representative of the general population.

AI Discussion

Me: It's about naive Stoicism and how it can be bad for your mental health. It talks about how people often misinterpret and misuse Stoicism, which can lead to negative effects on their well-being.

Friend: That's interesting. What are the implications of this article?

Me: Well, it's important to remember that Stoicism is a complex philosophy and should not be oversimplified or misunderstood. Naive Stoicism, or the idea that it is simply suppressing your emotions or having a masochistic tendency for pain, is actually detrimental to our happiness and well-being. Therefore, it's important to remember not to trust in half-baked pop philosophy and to learn about the philosophies we are trying to live by.

Action items

Research the original teachings of Stoicism and its founders, such as Chrysippus of Soli, Seneca, Marcus Aurelius, and Epictetus.
Learn about the differences between true Stoicism and naive Stoic ideology.
Practice Stoicism in a way that is beneficial to your mental health and well-being, such as by accepting death and enduring physical suffering in a healthy way.

Technical terms

Stoicism: A school of philosophy founded by Zeno of Citium in the early 3rd century BC. It is a system of ethics that emphasizes the development of self-control and fortitude as a means of overcoming destructive emotions.
Naive Stoic Ideology: A misinterpretation of Stoicism that involves suppressing emotions and having a masochistic penchant for pain.
Hedonic Well-Being: A type of well-being that has to do with satisfaction and how subjectively happy a person is.
Eudaimonic Well-Being: A type of well-being that is about flourishing and finding meaning in life.
Stoic Taciturnity: The belief that emotions should not be talked about and that practitioners should be brooding and silent all the time.
Stoic Serenity: The belief that strong emotions should not be felt and that people who laugh, cry, or get angry can’t be Stoics.
Stoic Endurance: The belief that physical suffering should be endured, leading to a masochistic approach to life.
Death Acceptance: Accepting rather than fearing death.
Convenience Sampling: A sampling method that uses college students who are within easy reach and are not representative of the general population.