The Stoics: A Guide for the Perplexed (Guides for the Perplexed) 1st Edition by M. Andrew Holowchak (PDF)

Description

Stoicism was a key philosophical movement in the Hellenistic period. Today, the stoics are central to the study of Ethics and Ancient Philosophy. In The Stoics: A Guide for the Perplexed, M. Andrew Holowchak sketches, from Zeno to Aurelius, a framework thatcaptures the tenor of stoic ethical thinking in its key terms. Drawing on the readily available works of Seneca, Epictetus and Aurelius, Holowchak makes ancient texts accessible to students unfamiliar with Stoic thought. Providing ancient and modern-day examples to illustrate Stoic principles, the author guides the reader through the main themes and ideas of Stoic thought: Stoic cosmology, epistemology, views of nature, selfknowledge, perfectionism and, in particular, ethics. Holowchak also endeavours to present Stoicism as an ethically viable way of life today through rejecting their notion of ethical perfectionism in favor of a type of ethical progressivism consistent with other key Stoic principles.

User’s Reviews

Reviews from Amazon users which were colected at the time this book was published on the website:

⭐M. Andrew Holowchak’s book is by far the best introduction to Stoicism that I have read. He discusses, the history of Stoicism, the context in which it originated, changes that developed over its long history, and its leading exponents. He also explains why Stoicism may still be useful in in dealing with problems in modern living, and how it can actually be applied as a way of life. Holowchak has an easy to understand writing style, and he comes up with many wonderfully clear explanations of Stoic concepts. It is a great book.

⭐I found the last chapter of this text was really well-received by the students in my ancient ethics class here at Notre Dame. The author has a very accessible writing style. Strikes me as a case of “applied Stoicism” rather than a dusty ride through scholarship; this makes it a good read.

⭐Not a light read, but a comprehensive and well structured overview, certainly worth the read and the time investment. Thanks

⭐This book is torture to read. The author writes about the Stoic Sages as if their entire philosophy were reducible to the proud suffering of everlasting slings and arrows of outrageous fortune. Seriously, it is a grim read: one of the most difficult to finish texts I have ever completed. I could not even go over it again without pain to absorb my notes. This book one that is capable of casting a pall of depression over the reader for weeks. It is also written on about a ninth grade level, with tiresome repetitions of a general gloss around different themes from chapter to chapter. Try Marcus Aurelius’ The Emperor’s Handbook.

⭐In this very readable text, Dr. M. Andrew Holowchak writes a measured, pragmatic and eloquent overview and summary of the stoics and stoic philosophy introducing complex ideas and contemporary themes in both an accessible and scholarly manner. The Stoics: A Guide for the Perplexed is a great book and introduction to stoic philosophy. The text covers stoic philosophy without being pedantic or obscure – not an easy feat. Each chapter is also extensively footnoted so that the reader can see where exactly from the major stoic philosophers (Epictetus, Marcus Aurelius or Seneca) these ideas are taken from with extensive quotation, literary and real world references. Holowchak works from a variety of sources with useful primary ancient source and secondary bibliographies and useful reference to both Latin and Greek concept definitional etymologies and translation throughout the guide. This is also very useful for those not versed in ancient Greek or Latin as the variety of current differing English translations of ancient stoic philosophical concepts can be numerous. To note, I had read a few of the major works of the Roman Stoics before coming to this work – Aurelius (Meditations), Seneca (Essay,) Epictitus (Enchiridion). Holowchak’s contextualization sharpens focus on various ideas in these works and stoic philosophical background conceptions. I also appreciated the pragmatic contemporary nature of this work for incorporating stoic ideas into larger life philosophies. Conceptually, the book is divided into an introduction and five chapters: the stoic sage, the stoic progressor, equanimity in adversity, equanimity in prosperity and the heroic course. I had previously read Dr. William Irvine’s Guide to the Good Life on the application of stoic thought to contemporary times and while well written, I thought Dr. Holowchak’s contextualization more rigorously focused and applicable and deserving of more attention. To note, there are more general historically and classically oriented summaries of stoicism which may be read or listened to profitably to complement this text. St. George William Joseph Stock’s early Guide to Stoicism or Bertrand Russel’s Chapter on the stoics in his history of Western Philosophy are easily available to listen to or read over the internet and can give further context. There are also worthy explorations on individual stoics works which go much deeper into specific texts, particularly Hadot’s Inner Citadel (Marcus Aurelius) or larger placement in “What is Ancient Philosophy?” (Hadot). Dr. Holowchak’s guide though is an excellent place to start or enrich prior conceptions – a text which may be picked up again to reflect upon important ideas of the good life, especially with regards to the time in which we currently live.

⭐This work has its flaws, but for anyone unfamiliar with ancient philosophy, this is the best introduction that I have encountered thus far to Stoic teachings. Many professional introductions to Stoicism are designed for university classroom use, and don’t shy from extensive classicisms and philosophical jargon (likely with the assumption that the student has a serious interest in the classical world). This book is easier and more approachable. It’s the kind of work that gives some historical background on Alexander the Great when introducing him for example, because, hey, not everyone knows about the greatest king of Macedon. As a classicist, I’ve read many works on Stoicism. This is the only work that I recommend to non-classicist friends.(This book probably deserves 4 stars because some of Holowchak’s examples are a little weird/unexpected, but that’s all a matter of personal choice, so it’s not a serious criticism.)

⭐Early on I thought that I was going to be rather displeased with the approach of this book. The author Andrew Holowchak in his introduction discusses modern suffering and in particular considers the September 11th 2001 attacks and the widespread shock – Holowchak says that “Americans… suffered in thinking that such attacks were undeserved” and that to think thus was a “foolish notion” and a “misjudgement”, which can only be read as far as I can see as that he believes that the attacks were in fact deserved.This rather out of place seemingly to say the least unpleasant and distasteful remark aside (which I sincerely hope was not his intended meaning, and if it wasn’t I’m surprised it got through a proof-reading), it’s actually quite a decent book which blends a discussion of Stoicism as it was understood in antiquity alongside its applicability today, largely through quotation and analysis of the works of Epictetus, Seneca and Marcus Aurelius (whom Holowchak ‘rebrands’ with the mononym ‘Aurelius’), plus the non-Stoic Cicero’s writings where he (usually critically) discuss Stoic doctrines.It’s thoroughly readable, conveying the philosophy and ideas of ancient Stoicism without being inaccessibly academic, and considering their usefulness to us today without being in any way a kind of self-help style of book. In some sense as a book it could be considered neither one thing nor the other – not a book purely on ancient Stoicism (which I had assumed it was going to be, but in no way disappointed that it is not just about that), nor purely about adopting Stoic practices today (there are quite a few self-help style books around it seems with this slant), but I don’t think that’s a deficiency, it has combined the two aspects quite well.Holowchak first considers the ideal of the Stoic sage, and since this is an unattainable ideal, proposes becoming instead a “Stoic progressor”, before sections on “equanimity in adversity” and the equally important “equanimity in prosperity”. The final chapter “The Heroic Course” serves to summarise many of the precepts to be adopted by the modern Stoic.

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