Philosophy
What ancient wisdom has survived 2,000+ years of testing?
These frameworks emerged independently across cultures. Their persistence is evidence of truth.
Stoicism (Greece, ~300 BCE)
Founded by Zeno of Citium. Practiced by Epictetus (slave), Seneca (statesman), Marcus Aurelius (emperor).
Core Principles
Dichotomy of Control
Some things are within our control; some are not. Focus only on what you control.
| Within Control | Outside Control |
|---|---|
| Your judgments | Others' opinions |
| Your actions | Outcomes |
| Your effort | External events |
| Your character | Circumstances |
Application: When anxious, ask: "Is this within my control?" If no, let it go. If yes, act.
Virtue as Sufficient
External goods (wealth, fame, health) are "preferred indifferents." Only virtue is truly good.
| The Four Virtues | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Wisdom | Knowing what's truly good |
| Courage | Acting rightly despite fear |
| Justice | Giving others their due |
| Temperance | Moderation in all things |
Application: Character is the only thing you fully own. Everything else can be taken.
Negative Visualization (Premeditatio Malorum)
Imagine losing what you have. Prepare for adversity before it arrives.
Application: Reduces fear of loss. Increases gratitude. Builds resilience.
Taoism (China, ~6th century BCE)
Attributed to Lao Tzu. Core text: Tao Te Ching.
Core Principles
Wu Wei (Non-Action)
Act without forcing. Align with natural flow rather than fighting it.
| Wu Wei | Not Wu Wei |
|---|---|
| Water flowing around rocks | Pushing against obstacles |
| Planting seeds and waiting | Pulling plants to grow faster |
| Creating conditions | Forcing outcomes |
Application: When stuck, stop pushing. Ask: "What wants to happen here?"
Yin-Yang
Opposites are complementary. Both are necessary. Each contains the seed of the other.
| Yin | Yang |
|---|---|
| Receptive | Active |
| Dark | Light |
| Rest | Motion |
| Feminine | Masculine |
Application: Don't eliminate opposites. Balance them.
The Uncarved Block (Pu)
Simplicity before complexity. Natural state before conditioning.
Application: Strip away the unnecessary. Return to essence.
Aristotle (Greece, 384 BCE)
Student of Plato. Teacher of Alexander. Founded Western logic and ethics.
Core Principles
The Golden Mean
Virtue lies between excess and deficiency.
| Deficiency | Virtue | Excess |
|---|---|---|
| Cowardice | Courage | Recklessness |
| Stinginess | Generosity | Extravagance |
| Self-deprecation | Truthfulness | Boastfulness |
Application: When in doubt, seek the middle path. Extremes are usually wrong.
First Principles Thinking
Break complex problems into fundamental components. Build up from what you know is true.
| Method | Steps |
|---|---|
| 1. Identify assumptions | What are we taking for granted? |
| 2. Break down to fundamentals | What do we know is true? |
| 3. Rebuild from ground | What follows from first truths? |
Application: Question inherited beliefs. Decompose, then recompose.
Eudaimonia (Flourishing)
The good life is not pleasure but flourishing through virtuous activity.
| Eudaimonia is... | Eudaimonia is not... |
|---|---|
| Active (doing, not having) | Passive consumption |
| Virtuous (aligned with excellence) | Mere pleasure |
| Complete (whole life, not moments) | Temporary satisfaction |
Application: Ask not "Am I happy?" but "Am I flourishing?"
Buddhism (India, ~500 BCE)
Founded by Siddhartha Gautama. Spread across Asia.
Core Principles
Impermanence (Anicca)
Everything changes. Nothing is permanent. Attachment to the permanent causes suffering.
Application: Hold loosely. What exists now will change.
The Middle Way
Avoid extremes of indulgence and asceticism.
Application: Neither denial nor excess. Sustainable practice.
Interdependence (Pratītyasamutpāda)
Nothing exists independently. Everything arises in relation to other things.
Application: See systems, not isolated objects. Everything is connected.
The Meta-Principle
Wisdom traditions converge on similar truths: focus on what you control, seek balance, act in harmony with nature, accept impermanence, develop character.
| Tradition | Core Insight |
|---|---|
| Stoicism | Control what you can; accept what you can't |
| Taoism | Flow with nature; don't force |
| Aristotle | Seek the mean; reason from first principles |
| Buddhism | Nothing is permanent; attachment causes suffering |
Context
- Character — Building virtue
- Decisions — Applying wisdom
- Foundations — Epistemic ground
- Play — The hero's journey