Our question(s)

When self-help borrows from philosophical/spiritual traditions, what is lost in translation?

Hacking Stoicism

“Emotional Minimalism”

In the same way I strive to need almost no possessions, I also want my emotional needs to be minimal. What does that look like? I think a simple test is to think of how long you could remain in solitary confinement and be okay. I think I could last there indefinitely and, in fact, there’s some appeal to the idea. (Tynan 2017)

“An operating system”

Stoic philosophy, in a sense, is the operating system I try to use to make better decisions. (Ferriss 2016, 6:50)

I’ve found [Stoicism] to be a simple and immensely practical set of rules for better results with less effort. (Ferriss 2009)

Experimenting with deprivation

cold showers
no complaining
no booze, no masturbating (a $1,500 lift.do contest)
practicing poverty & ugly pants

cold shower + NoFap + wim hof method + meditation + talk to 1 girl everyday, 30 days = you will go GODMODE, try it. - (Wasted Penguine, 2019)

Who is Stoicism for?

It is hard to imagine a person who could not somehow be worse off. (Irvine 2009, “A guide to the good life”, p. 886)

Do you agree?

Mindfulness

Kabat-Zinn’s MBSR

Brief meditation

Search Inside Yourself

my engineer-oriented brain helped me translate teachings from the language of contemplative traditions into language that compulsively pragmatic people like me can process [Tan 2012, “Search inside yourself”, p. 4]

Everybody knows EI is good for their career… And every company knows that if their people have EI, they’re gonna make a shitload of money. (Tan in Shachtman 2013)

Denpok isn’t sitting

Guru Analysis: Chade-Meng Tan

values, moment, & assumptions; authority, relatability, & tropes?

Apt metaphors?

In addition to “high resolution” what other tech/performance metaphors do we see?

Stoicism is an “operating system”
meditation is an algorithm
mindfulness is a performance enhancer

The meditation algorithm

Consciousness hacking

Critiques

Headspace ad

Marina: you’ve used it at Northeastern?

“Western”?

“They have no research that validates the claims they are making in this area, yet their business model requires that they constantly grow their user base.” (Sindel Segal in Gelles 2016)

“I don’t think Western science has a monopoly on the human condition.” (Rich Pierson in Gelles 2016)

“Works for me”?

“We are just trying to put stuff out there that will help people,” he said. If meditation and mindfulness can cheer someone up, is a peer-reviewed study really necessary? [Rich Pierson in Gelles 2016]

I think so. Why? Why not?

Is it safe, efficacious, and cost effective relative to other treatments?

Is it universal or unique?

Not universal: can be an anxiety-provoking for some.
Not novel: it’s one of many techniques for promoting relaxation and limiting ruminations.

2014 “Wisdom 2.0” Protest

“Cow psychology”?

Mindfulness training has wide appeal because it has become a trendy method for subduing employee unrest, promoting a tacit acceptance of the status quo, and as an instrumental tool for keeping attention focused on institutional goals. (PurserForbes 2013)

Hacking Meaning