Summary of Donald Robertson's Stoicism and The Art of Happiness

By IRB Media

Please note: This is a companion version & not the original book.

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#1 The goal of life is to live in agreement with Nature by willingly accepting things outside our control. We should also live in harmony with our own human nature by trying to cultivate reason and progress towards perfect wisdom and virtue.

#2 Stoicism is a school of ancient philosophy founded in Athens around 301 BC by a Phoenician merchant called Zeno. It was originally called Zenonism, but came to be known as Stoicism because of the Stoic school of philosophy’s meeting place, the Stoa Poikilê, or Painted Porch.

#3 The Stoics were heavily influenced by the Cynics, who were famous for their tough philosophical lifestyle and their commitment to the simple and austere way of life. However, the Stoics also valued the study of Physics and Logic.

#4 Ancient philosophy was a fairly practical business. It often emphasized training in psychological exercises or the adoption of a demanding lifestyle, which was a precursor in some ways of Christian monastic practices.

• Language: English
• Publisher: IRB Media
• Release date: Feb 21, 2022
• ISBN: 9781669350071

IRB Media

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Insights on Donald Robertson's Stoicism and The Art of Happiness

Contents

Insights from Chapter 1

Insights from Chapter 2

Insights from Chapter 3

Insights from Chapter 4

Insights from Chapter 5

Insights from Chapter 6

Insights from Chapter 7

Insights from Chapter 8

Insights from Chapter 9

Insights from Chapter 10

Insights from Chapter 11

Insights from Chapter 1

#1

The goal of life is to live in agreement with Nature by willingly accepting things outside our control. We should also live in harmony with our own human nature by trying to cultivate reason and progress towards perfect wisdom and virtue.

#2

Stoicism is a school of ancient philosophy founded in Athens around 301 BC by a Phoenician merchant called Zeno. It was originally called Zenonism, but came to be known as Stoicism because of the Stoic school of philosophy’s meeting place, the Stoa Poikilê, or Painted Porch.

#3

The Stoics were heavily influenced by the Cynics, who were famous for their tough philosophical lifestyle and their commitment to the simple and austere way of life. However, the Stoics also valued the study of Physics and Logic.

#4

Ancient philosophy was a fairly practical business. It often emphasized training in psychological exercises or the adoption of a demanding lifestyle, which was a precursor in some ways of Christian monastic practices.

#5

The Stoics believed that the only true good is to be a good person, and that being a good person can help you have a good life. They were distinguished from other schools of philosophy by their insistence that being a good person is the only true good.

#6

Socrates was a wise philosopher who was also a decorated military hero. He taught his students that self-discipline is the key to happiness. By exercising restraint, we learn to only eat when genuinely hungry, drink when thirsty, and so on.

#7

The Stoics believed that the goal of life is to live in agreement with nature, which means living a smoothly flowing life in harmony with reason. They believed that we are all born with the responsibility of excelling by bringing our own nature to perfection.

#8

The goal of human life is to make progress toward voluntary improvement. The Stoics believed that the most important thing in life is up to us and under our direct control, which makes us completely responsible for the good life.

#9

The Stoic goal is to live in agreement with Nature, or follow Nature. Nature is goal-directed, and our ability to reason suggests the possibility of its own completion or perfection. By living in accordance with nature, or following virtue and accepting our fate, we can attain eudaimonia, complete personal fulfillment.

#10

The Stoics believed that the best way to improve your self-discipline and character strengths was to do healthy things in the world, whether or not they turned out as you’d have liked.

#11