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Douglas C. Bates
Douglas C. Bates

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Pyrrho's Way: the Ancient Greek Version of Buddhism
Pyrrho's Way: the Ancient Greek Version of Buddhism

Learn how to practice Pyrrhonism, the ancient Greek philosophy based on Buddhism.

2020

·
Douglas C. Bates
Douglas C. Bates

Stories

Sep 7

Pyrrhonism for Stoics

A booklet explaining Pyrrhonism for those already familiar with Stoicism Introduction Pyrrhonism is perhaps the subtlest and most difficult to grasp of the Hellenistic philosophies of life. Aenesidemus, who defected from Academic Skepticism to spark a revival of interest in Pyrrhonism, said in his book Pyrrhonian Discourses, that language lacked ways…

Pyrrhonism

35 min read

Pyrrhonism for Stoics
Pyrrhonism for Stoics
Pyrrhonism

35 min read


Aug 18

Castalian Stream’s Confusion About Pyrrhonism

Matthew Sharpe, author of Stoicism, Bullying, and Beyond, who writes about philosophy as a way of life on Medium.com under the nom de plume, “Castalian Stream,” has written an article critiquing Pyrrhonism as a way of life: “Some sceptical remarks on Pyrrhonian scepticism as a way of life.” Castalian Stream's…

Pyrrhonism

11 min read

Castalian Stream’s Confusion About Pyrrhonism
Castalian Stream’s Confusion About Pyrrhonism
Pyrrhonism

11 min read


Jun 17

Stoic Drag Queen Story Hour

What drag queens can teach Stoics about how to live an ethical life Ryan Holiday, the author who is probably responsible for bringing more converts to Stoicism than any other living author through his many books on Stoicism — such as The Obstacle is the Way, The Daily Stoic, and…

Stoicism

6 min read

Stoic Drag Queen Story Hour
Stoic Drag Queen Story Hour
Stoicism

6 min read


Jun 8

The Lure of the Sirens in the Odyssey Isn’t What You Think It Is

One of the many fascinating adventures of Odysseus in Homer’s Odyssey is his encounter with the Sirens. The Sirens have the appearance of beautiful women, but are half bird. They sing, and their song is so compelling that men are irresistibly drawn toward them. In the Odyssey they are situated…

Cicero

5 min read

The Lure of the Sirens in the Odyssey Isn’t What You Think It Is
The Lure of the Sirens in the Odyssey Isn’t What You Think It Is
Cicero

5 min read


May 12

Don’t Live According to Nature Like the Stoics. Do this Instead.

The ancient Stoics took for their motto, “live according to nature.” While this motto sounds appealing, it turns out to be terrible advice. The problem is that while nature does seem to provide some guidance — we do have to eat, drink, and sleep, for example — nature’s guidance is…

Stoicism

6 min read

Don’t Live According to Nature Like the Stoics. Do this Instead.
Don’t Live According to Nature Like the Stoics. Do this Instead.
Stoicism

6 min read


Apr 26

What Do the Stoics Mean by “Live According to Nature”?

Chrysippus, Zeno, and Epictetus on what it means to live according to nature One of the more perplexing ideas handed down from the ancient Stoics is the motto, “live according to nature.” It’s a nice-sounding motto, but it is less than obvious what it really means. Perhaps the ancient Stoics…

Stoicism

8 min read

What Do the Stoics Mean by “Live According to Nature”?
What Do the Stoics Mean by “Live According to Nature”?
Stoicism

8 min read


Mar 28

How Stoicism Led Epictetus to Be Thrashed by a Stranger

The Consequences of the Dichotomy of Control Stoicism is promoted as a way of making yourself invincible. Entire books are devoted to cultivating Stoic indifference to train Stoics to dismiss distressing things as mere “externals” that one should be indifferent to. …

Stoicism

4 min read

How Stoicism Led Epictetus to Be Thrashed by a Stranger
How Stoicism Led Epictetus to Be Thrashed by a Stranger
Stoicism

4 min read


Feb 15

Buddha on How to End Suffering

Don’t believe what you think. In the Bahiya Sutta we have one of the most concise formulations given in Buddhist teachings on how to end suffering. In this sutta the respected ascetic, Bahiya, learns about the Buddha and travels to see him. When Bahiya eventually finds the Buddha he says…

Buddhism

2 min read

Buddha on How to End Suffering
Buddha on How to End Suffering
Buddhism

2 min read


Feb 8

The Slavery of Motivated Reasoning, According to the Ancient Greeks

Since the beginning of history, people have jumped to conclusions. Only afterward have they come up with reasons for those conclusions — all the while deluding themselves and others that the process happened in the other direction. …

Rationalization

13 min read

The Slavery of Motivated Reasoning, According to the Ancient Greeks
The Slavery of Motivated Reasoning, According to the Ancient Greeks
Rationalization

13 min read


Dec 27, 2022

Clearing Up Misconceptions About Pyrrhonism

Massimo Pigliucci has published a review of the book How to Keep an Open Mind: An Ancient Guide to Thinking Like a Skeptic. …

Skepticism

13 min read

Clearing Up Misconceptions About Pyrrhonism
Clearing Up Misconceptions About Pyrrhonism
Skepticism

13 min read

Douglas C. Bates

Douglas C. Bates

377 Followers

Book Author

Ancient Greek philosophies of life. http://www.pyrrhonism.org Author of “Pyrrho’s Way: The Ancient Greek Version of Buddhism.”

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