Blog Posts

Kai Whiting joins me to chat about what it means to be rational drawing upon information presented in his paper ‘Were Neanderthals Rational: A Stoic Approach.’ We discuss similarities between humans and other beings and what obligations we may have to them.

I respond to the charge of cultural appropriation leveled at teenager Keziah Daum who wore a traditional Chinese dress to her high school prom. I focus on Stoic themes of cosmopolitanism, humility, and valuing wisdom no matter where it originated to argue, in this case, that the controversy is much ado about nothing.

I identify and explain five Stoic mantas you can use in times of adversity to help you better navigate life and put Stoicism into action: all is well with the commander; adapt to the present; be your own spectator, seek your own applause; let us see who wins; and conquer with a smile.