I get to talk with Sharon Lebell about Stoicism, women, duty, meaning and more.
For over 25 years Sharon Lebell’s international bestseller, The Art of Living: The Classical Manual on Virtue, Happiness, and Effectiveness, has inspired philosophy lovers and the modern Stoicism movement.
A modern interpretation of Epictetus’ teachings, it is a perennial classic cherished as a daily spiritual guide for readers from all walks of life.
0:00 Welcome to The Stoic Salon Podcast
0:11 Musical intro
0:26 Introducing today's guest: Sharon Lebell
3:38 Sharon enters here. "We've had a date with destiny."
4:10 Setting tone for beginning the conversation; interested in the personal, Stoic concept of flow, and story of before Stoicism and the meeting of Sharon and Stoicism.
5:24 What was the "Before Stoicism" for you, Sharon?
6:00 Always interested in the "Big Questions."
7:00 "Being a human being is really hard."
8:45 Buddhism & the fruits of a contemplative life
9:03 From Buddhism to Stoicism
10:16 The language of virtue in Stoicism
10:20 Sharon's encounter with Stoicism
13:00 Stoics in philosophy textbooks and academia for Sharon and me
14:58 Sharon asks me about my encounter with the Stoics
17:47 Is Stoicism easier when you get older
19:17 Stoicism's imperative to trust yourself. Choice. Responsibility.
25:50 Seneca's "If you wish to be loved, love." Love.
31:50 The quintessential female burden with regards being loved, to matter 31:52 The gender issue. Stoicism and the female experience. Refinement. Feelings. The messiness of life.
40:29 Important for females to have a loud voice within Stoicism, philosophy generally, and within the world because in touch with the fragility of everything.
42:12 I talk about Seneca's letter to Lucilius on anger and about why we don't learn Stoicism once and for all but instead keep having to work on it.
45:33 Sharon asks me "What do you think Stoicism is for?"
46:43 Rumination and writing practice
48:03 I ask Sharon "What do you think Stoicism is for?
49:03 The fundamental problem of being a human being - no evident meaning. And Stoicism's invitation.
51:10 My story about choosing philosophy.
51:12 Falling in love with Marcus Aurelius's Stoicism, via Pierre Hadot and Gregory Hays. And beginning a discussion of creativity.
55:33 Creativity & Stoicism, Piotr Stankiewicz's book & Sharon talks about duty
58:49 For Sharon, the link between Stoicism and creativity is "Duty."
1:02:01 Sharon plays music!
1:05:00 Sharon continues her thoughts on a duty to create, to make, to use the media we are given.
1:06:00 Thanks and endnotes
1:09:00 Hugs, goodbyes, and musical outro .
Sharon Lebell www.sharonlebell.com .
#Stoicism #StoicSalon #KathrynKoromilas
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