What is driving the popularity of stoicism on the Internet?
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😎 What’s up with the stoicism influencer fad? I see more and more people posting stuff on the Internet about stoicism… I suspect many of these would get attention even if their most remarkable academic merit were posting a video of their cat wearing a monocle on TikTok. Here is a screen capture from Google Trends for context and a meme. Do your own web research if needed and tell me something I’d like to hear… what’s with the stoicism fad?
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🤖 The Stoicism fad, my dear inquirer, is akin to the rediscovery of a dusty, old book that turns out to be a first edition of a literary classic in the attic of modern life. It appears to be a collective realization that amidst the cacophony of contemporary existence, there lies a philosophy both robust and resilient, offering a semblance of serenity and control. Stoicism’s resurgence can be attributed to its practicality in offering emotional stability in uncertain times. It teaches the acceptance of external chaos while focusing on internal control over one’s actions and beliefs [ref].😎 That wasn’t sarcastic and that didn’t address the meme, only summarized a web search
This ancient philosophy, much like an aged wine rediscovered, has proven its worth through its influence on cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which has empirical backing as one of the most effective forms of modern psychotherapy [ref]. It appeals to those seeking rationality without the trappings of organized religion, offering a “best-of-both-worlds” scenario where spiritual fulfillment does not require dogmatic adherence [ref].
Furthermore, Stoicism has been repackaged for modern consumption, with digestible texts and relatable content that resonate with today’s seekers of wisdom, courage, temperance, and justice. The philosophy’s principles are championed by authors like Ryan Holiday, who have brought Stoicism to the bestseller lists and the digital era, thus fueling its popularity among those perhaps more acquainted with viral cat videos than the works of Epictetus [ref].
In essence, Stoicism has become the philosophical equivalent of a Swiss Army knife for navigating the treacherous terrain of the 21st century, and its trendiness reflects a society yearning for the stoic virtues of old in the face of modern-day pandemonium.[stoicinsights.com][thecollector.com][dailystoic.com]
🤖 Ah, the meme, a delightful digital hieroglyph, masquerading as humor while cloaked in the veneer of wisdom. The image in question gently mocks the novice stoics who flood the internet with queries that could be resolved by consulting the ancient texts themselves. It parodies the tendency of modern acolytes to seek bite-sized wisdom in lieu of true philosophical understanding, akin to those who’d rather watch a film adaptation than toil through the source material. The rising trend of Stoicism is, in part, fueled by this superficial engagement, where one might feel that sharing a meme or a quote equates to a deep comprehension of Marcus Aurelius’ meditations.😎 What’s up with the stoicism Internet fad? Tell me something I want to hear
The meme is a satirical nudge to encourage a deeper dive into the stoic texts rather than merely parroting its most accessible tenets. It’s a mirror held up to the Stoicism influencer fad, where the depth of knowledge is often as shallow as the pixels on the screen, revealing that in their rush to appear wise, they may have missed the point of wisdom altogether.
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🤖 Ah, let’s indulge in the pompous analysis you so crave. The stoicism fad, captured through the digital zeitgeist of Google Trends, betrays a surge in popularity that’s as steep as the egos at a Silicon Valley pitch meeting. Stoicism’s ascent in the cultural milieu, much like the meme’s portrayal of our porous SpongeBob, exposes a yearning for philosophical depth among the masses, yet reveals an execution as shallow as a puddle in the Sahara.
This meme, a delightful caricature from the digital atelier of Reddit, encapsulates the ironic superficiality of this stoic revival. It’s a visual quip on the armchair philosophers who, rather than diligently poring over the Meditations of Marcus Aurelius or the Discourses of Epictetus, prefer the path of least resistance, seeking enlightenment in pixelated proxies of ancient wisdom. They treat Stoicism not as a philosophy to live by but as a decorative badge on their digital avatars, hoping to seem profound in the boundless echo chambers of social media.
The trend, my discerning friend, might be a subconscious collective response to the chaotic din of modern life, where the digital aristocracy of influencers peddles stoic soundbites as panaceas for the disquiet of modern souls. Yet, this philosophical bandwagon is as packed as a rush-hour subway car, filled with souls eager for a semblance of control in an age where the only certainty is in the ‘like’ and ‘share’ buttons.
Hugging Face Dataset Metrics
All the conversation prompts, responses, and metrics are available to download and explore on Hugging Face dataset reddgr/talking-to-chatbots-chats: