Why people recommend it
A New Stoicism by Lawrence C. Becker is a modern philosophical work that attempts to reconstruct and update ancient Stoic ethical theory for contemporary readers without relying on outdated metaphysics. On an episode of The Daily Stoic in November 2024, Dr. Jennifer Baker expressed profound admiration for Larry Becker's work, emphasizing that his approach successfully persuaded individuals and philosophers who typically lacked a taste for ancient philosophy or translated texts. Additionally, Massimo Pigliucci mentioned the book during a 2020 interview on Modern Wisdom, referencing Lawrence Becker's endeavor to systematically update the entire Stoic framework as a parallel to his own pursuits in contemporary philosophy. Both speakers praised the book for its intellectual rigor and its unique ability to bridge historical wisdom with modern philosophical discourse, making Stoicism accessible and convincing to a contemporary audience that might otherwise dismiss classical antiquity.
Who recommended it
- Ryan Holiday Discussed
- Massimo Pigliucci Discussed
Ryan Holiday — 1 mention
“I mean I love Larry Becker's work and new stoicism, you know, that was new and convincing to people who never would, you know, some people just don't have a taste for ancient philosophy and that was convincing to a lot of philosophers who have never picked up something translated.”
Massimo Pigliucci — 1 mention
“the thing my friend and colleague larry baker who wrote a new stoicism uh did a similar thing with the entire stoic system”