Why people recommend it
The Therapy of Desire by Martha C. Nussbaum is a scholarly philosophical work that examines how Hellenistic philosophers viewed philosophy not as a theoretical pursuit, but as a form of artful therapy capable of healing human suffering and emotional distress. On an October 2024 episode of The Daily Stoic, guest Brigid Delaney recommended the book during a conversation about her year spent living like a Stoic. Delaney highlighted Nussbaum's brilliant writing, noting that the book features a fascinating fictional case study of a young woman living in Stoic times who is actively learning the principles of Stoicism. Delaney brought up the work to explore female perspectives within ancient philosophy and to examine how human desires can be understood and managed compatibly within a Stoic framework. The recommendation emphasized the practical, therapeutic applications of ancient thought, showing how philosophical texts can address modern emotional struggles. By discussing Nussbaum's analysis, the podcast underscored the enduring relevance of Hellenistic philosophy as a viable method for achieving inner peace, emotional resilience, and self-understanding in the face of life's inevitable challenges and psychological complexities.
Who recommended it
- Brigid Delaney Recommended
Brigid Delaney — 2 mentions
“um but she wrote a wonderful book called the therapy of desire which looks you know there's a a case study”
“I think she's possibly Princeton or Yale, um, but she wrote a wonderful book called The Therapy of Desire, which looks, you know, there's a, a case study, a kind of fictional case study of a young woman in Stoic times who, um, is learning Stoicism. And you know there's this great, you know, um, Nussbaum is a brilliant writer,”