Excellent essay. I learn so much from these deep dives into the different virtues and I’m grateful to be pointed towards primary sources. Now it’s just a matter of where to find a good translation of those. Thank you!
Thanks for a wonderful detailed explication of a philosophy that is too often oversimplified by its exponents. What do you think of Martha Nussbaum’s critique of Stoicism in Therapy of Desire? As I understand it, she greatly appreciates the Stoics, but prefers Aristotle and the Epicurans, especially because of Aristotle‘s honoring of emotions (and Stoic suspicion of them) and his emphasis on what is “external,” which would include relationships and friendship.
I long thought Nussbaum is rather overrated in general. I also think that across her works she tends to get the Stoics sometimes right, sometimes wrong
The description of fortitude strikes me as being similar to the Big 5 personality trait of Conscientiousness, combined with low Neuroticism. They both deal with management of negative emotion and being able to stick to a goal despite obstacles.
Fair point; psychometry is quantitative while philosophy is not, and it's impossible to quantify virtue. At the same time, personality inventories like the Big Five seem to be catching a fleeting glimpse of virtues like Fortitude, even if the philosopher must move beyond them.
I was thinking that the "Industriousness" sub-category of Conscientousness in the Big 5 seems similar to the aspect of fortitude that deal with working towards one's aim despite difficulty.
How might these be categorically different despite their apparent similarities?
Excellent essay. I learn so much from these deep dives into the different virtues and I’m grateful to be pointed towards primary sources. Now it’s just a matter of where to find a good translation of those. Thank you!
Thanks for a wonderful detailed explication of a philosophy that is too often oversimplified by its exponents. What do you think of Martha Nussbaum’s critique of Stoicism in Therapy of Desire? As I understand it, she greatly appreciates the Stoics, but prefers Aristotle and the Epicurans, especially because of Aristotle‘s honoring of emotions (and Stoic suspicion of them) and his emphasis on what is “external,” which would include relationships and friendship.
I long thought Nussbaum is rather overrated in general. I also think that across her works she tends to get the Stoics sometimes right, sometimes wrong
Thanks Dr. Sadler-- In Seneca's essay on Providence he says:
"The man who can raise himself to face raging misfortunes, or overcome evils by which others are crushed, wears his very disasters as a Halo "
Your excellent explanation brought this thought to mind.
Thank You.
The description of fortitude strikes me as being similar to the Big 5 personality trait of Conscientiousness, combined with low Neuroticism. They both deal with management of negative emotion and being able to stick to a goal despite obstacles.
I would say that, while you might be seeing a similarity there, it's not remotely connected with that
Fair point; psychometry is quantitative while philosophy is not, and it's impossible to quantify virtue. At the same time, personality inventories like the Big Five seem to be catching a fleeting glimpse of virtues like Fortitude, even if the philosopher must move beyond them.
Nope, not really. And it isn't just about quantitative rather than qualitative.
I was thinking that the "Industriousness" sub-category of Conscientousness in the Big 5 seems similar to the aspect of fortitude that deal with working towards one's aim despite difficulty.
How might these be categorically different despite their apparent similarities?
Good research project for you, it sounds