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Mike Kentrianakis's avatar

Sounds like Breggin is the Walter White of dismissing Stoicism’s everyday usefulness. As a Stoic, yes, I concur that Stoicism would be useful in a jetliner’s vertical dive as one who likely will be interested in hearing new sounds of the fuselage rattling to its engineering breaking point behind the uncontrollable screams of the passengers. The screaming is more out of our control than the impending crash which may recover.✈️💥

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Massimo Pigliucci's avatar

😆

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Ed Buckner's avatar

As I already wrote--and left my comment prematurely--quite interesting, including the sidelight on pseudo- versus authentic Cicero. Thanks for posting. (And for a much more modern take on pseudo-ness--of the George Santos variety--read Letters to a Free Country on Wednesday [not my essay--another by Keith Parsons, and a good one].)

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Ed Buckner's avatar

Stirring and interesting--thanks!

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Ann Cronin's avatar

So clear, so practical, so persuasive - AND helpful to me today! Thank you, Massimo - again!

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Massimo Pigliucci's avatar

Glad you liked it, Ann!

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Ann Cronin's avatar

Such an inspiring, memorable quote of Cornelia - whom I’d never heard of before this morning!😊

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Rpesce1's avatar

A very powerful essay. It rings true to me having gone through the loss of a spouse. Resilience and self reliance are necessary to overcome sorrow along with the understanding that death is the ultimate natural process of life. Thanks again for such thought provoking work.

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Massimo Pigliucci's avatar

Very sorry to hear about your wife, and thanks for the kind words.

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Simon Parritt's avatar

An excellent and thought provoking piece ! Very relevant to the hear and now of my life and the worlds

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Massimo Pigliucci's avatar

Thank you!

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Apr 25, 2023
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Massimo Pigliucci's avatar

Patrick, much appreciated.

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Feb 6, 2023
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Massimo Pigliucci's avatar

Morton, very sorry to hear about the surgery. I hope things went well and that the recovery will be unproblematic.

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Feb 7, 2023
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Massimo Pigliucci's avatar

I'm very sorry to hear that. I sincerely hope the practice of Stoicism will help you, even a little bit, through this ordeal.

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