As a person who blends a lot of stoic philosophy into his religious practice, I thought this critique was really interesting. In particular, his argument that the thrust of these philosophies...
As a person who blends a lot of stoic philosophy into his religious practice, I thought this critique was really interesting. In particular, his argument that the thrust of these philosophies encourage a lot of inward-looking without as much emphasis on how to operate or interact in the world, seem particularly salient to me. Though I will argue that his view of Buddhism is very centered on Western "mindfulness" style Buddhism rather than the more socially integrated ones practiced in Asia where Buddhism is blended with Hindu, Shinto, Taoist, or various animist belief systems to backfill that structure in.
Epicurianism and Stoicism obviously don't have that because they're philosophies more than religions and, so, are limited in how much they have to worry about maintaining a moral civic life.
As a person who blends a lot of stoic philosophy into his religious practice, I thought this critique was really interesting. In particular, his argument that the thrust of these philosophies encourage a lot of inward-looking without as much emphasis on how to operate or interact in the world, seem particularly salient to me. Though I will argue that his view of Buddhism is very centered on Western "mindfulness" style Buddhism rather than the more socially integrated ones practiced in Asia where Buddhism is blended with Hindu, Shinto, Taoist, or various animist belief systems to backfill that structure in.
Epicurianism and Stoicism obviously don't have that because they're philosophies more than religions and, so, are limited in how much they have to worry about maintaining a moral civic life.
What you're talking about is largely what is called McMindfulness.
Also Secular Buddhism.