I'm having a huge blast with stoicism. I should have expected it, as Cato Uticensis is my #1 hero in history. It's so fun how stoicism promises nothing for adherence to its philosophy but adherence; if you devote yourself to virtue, you'll merely be virtuous, and nothing more. It's so realist and almost absurdist in how it contrasts the meaninglessness of the universe and human frailty with the ability of one to control oneself and be unaffected by externals, except through choice. It's not being emotionless; quite the contrary, and it's sad that "stoicism" is thought of as being cold in this day and age. Rather, it would not be noble to bear adversity if we were not still susceptible to being affected by it. Accept fate, and you may thereby cheat it.
I just dislike the "everything happens for a reason" vibe to it, along with assertions of a divine creator. In this age, we know better than to ascribe random chance to divine workings or justice. But it seems to pop up as a central Stoic theme, just like "you weren't made to carry any burdens that God did not give you the ability to carry" bullshit. Ah well; can't win them all.
