Stoicism: The Philosophy of Calmness by George Muntau - 8 out of 10

 Stoicism: The Philosophy of Calmness by George Muntau

8 out of 10

Stoicism seems at time not just a very good system of thought that we can use to adapt and face challenges, but if not the only option, then the best one.

Positive Psychology, which was just founded a few years ago, around 2,000, confirms with research, a multitude of tests many of the principles of Stoicism, advanced by Seneca, Epictetus, Marcus Aurelius millennia ago.

Gratitude for what you have is one of the first rules that were promoted by Stoics and that we can find in the works of Positive Psychology luminaries, from Sonja Lyubomirsky to Harvard Professor Tal Ben-Shahar.

The importance of resilience, emphasized by Epictetus and other thinkers has been demonstrated by psychology research:

-          The Marshmallow Test can be watched or read about on the internet and it reveals how relevant grit, resilience are -more important than IQ, perhaps twice as significant- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QX_oy9614HQ

One other fundamental rule expressed by the Stoics is to concentrate on what you can change and try and ignore what you cannot.

In a world dominated, ruled by the likes of Xi Jinping, Trump, Putin, Kim of North Korea, Maduro, Duterte and so many other lunatics, dictators, narcissists, fools and dangerous psychopaths, it is a good idea to try and think about what we can change.

The author takes some good points, but over all I thought the book somewhat strangely constructed, but I could be wrong.

Perhaps that is exactly the point, to use stoicism and try and find the way along plasticity, Stoicism in Greece and the modern world.

George Muntau mentions the fact that stoicism is wrongly perceived from the very beginning and indeed, acting like a stoic does not really mean not enjoying life, being something of a masochist or grumpy.

Many quotes from Epictetus, Seneca, and Marcus Aurelius are used in this work, with sets of rules that can be used in real life:

-          Concentrate inwards, don’t judge others

-          Be a force for good, don’t be malicious…which reminds one of the famous Google mantra- don’t be evil

In an interesting, outré manner, the author includes among the few chapters, one on plasticity, which is justified.

Stefan Klein, in his fabulous The Science of Happiness, talks about the fact that by the time the reader will have finished his book, his brain would have changed and those who argued that the brain cannot change are wrong.

Stoicism in the modern age is another chapter and there are many relevant principles that should be applied.

When we dedicate so much time to watching our phone, tablet and other screens, we could remember Seneca:

-          He said that life is not really short- if not in these except words- we have enough time allocated, but we choose to waste it, treating time, the most precious thing we have as if it would be infinite, or something that we could afford to abuse, misuse…

“We are what we do regularly”…besides, once we adopt good habits, rituals, we good get better and engaged in meaningful activities- Marcus Aurelius noted on a daily basis on the importance of modesty, ruler of the world that he was…the fool in the White house should take note, but it is beyond him.

“Go out for a stroll” is one of the propositions in this book and it is both simple and important…Nietzsche is supposed to have said that the “best thoughts come when one is going out for a walk”, if not in this exact form.

The stoics rejected Luxury and positive psychology confirms this remarkable insight with yet more extensive research.

Winners of big lottery prizes have been tested and if their happiness reached a peak for a few months after the big win, it returned to a baseline level, demonstrating again that wealth is not so important for wellbeing.

When the happiest people have been asked about what is important to them and what makes them happy, the element they all shared was not richness, but a solid social support, with strong ties to family and friends.

In the contest between Eudaimonia and Hedonia, the Stoics opt for the former, even if Positive
Psychology in Practice, an impressive volume, points out that the best results would be obtained by combining long term, durable, meaningful wellbeing with short term, emotional, present based happiness.

There are some strange, more difficult to accept Stoic proposals, such as “Love fate” or take whatever you have and enjoy it and do not be sad when you lose someone dear.

Of course, the point there would be not to desire for chance to bring an outcome and then be disappointed when it does not happen and in the case of a loss, it may come close to what psychology names Post Traumatic Growth, which is sometimes experienced instead of the more common and probably better known PTSD.