How does one remain Stoic in the age of outrageous political behavior? Can we sit back, unattached, while fascist tendencies grow stronger, while minorities are persecuted and out nation is divided? No, I don't think Epictetus would agree with that (although his comments about the "loss" of a child make one wonder). Since we can't ask him, we don't really know what he would have suggested. Does it matter, though? Epictetus would certainly agree that we should not be attached to a person (including him) so that we tie our fortunes to that person. So perhaps there should be less focus on whether one is or is not following his version of Stoicism, and more on whether we can indeed live with our actions, whatever they may be. Or, rather, our philosophy of living. Engage, but don't become overly attached?
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