Massimo Pigliucci

What they often point out is that the word virtue, which, of course, plays a major role in Stoic philosophy, comes from the Latin ver, V-I-R, which also means man.

And therefore, they conclude that, you know, manly man.

Well, yeah, but that's really a very partial view, even on simple, straightforward etymological grounds, right?

If they hadn't taken an additional step, they would have discovered that the word ver in Latin itself is actually a translation of the Greek arete, which means excellence.

It means just to do the best you can.

And arete is gender neutral.

So there is really no particular reason to think that stoicism is a manly kind of thing.

And then I said, wait, I don't see how to get out of here.

I don't see any way out of this pod.

And I myself started to have my own internal panic attack.

And I started to internally break down.

And I looked to my right and I saw three of my kids.

They were just having the time of their life.

And I said to myself...

If I melt down right now, that's going to impact them.

So I had to tap into the different areas of stoicism and just really calm myself and endure the two or three minute experience that I was going through.

Yes, it is.

And in fact, congratulations to the listener for really having mastered that so well.

And again, this isn't about suppressing emotions, right?

The listener himself said...