„Popular Stoicism”. A New Chance for Practical Philosophy or Mere Illusion?

Tomasz Jerzy Stefaniuk

Abstract


Can philosophy  be of use  in our over-commercialized culture? Is it still needed at all ? Perhaps one of the ways to "keep  philosophy going " (if it is not to remain  merely an academic activity  detached to a great extent  from life)  is to   focus  on teaching  to live comfortably  and wisely. Analyzed are  some phenomena related  to the social and cultural  role of philosophy in modern times, especially so  with reference to  mass culture.  Also reviewed are on-going  attempts  at bringing about the  "rebirth" of Stoicism, understood primarily as practical philosophy. The author focuses  on the "Polish philosophical market" and  in particular on  books written  by   present-day propagators of  "pop-Stoicism"  Marcin Fabjański and Tomasz Mazur, and their activities pursued  outside the academic milieu.  Could  their  publications and activities  bring people closer to philosophy in general, and to Stoicism especially?


Keywords


philosophy; practical philosophy; Stoicism; pop-Stoicism; popular Stoicism; Polish philosophy; ethics

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DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.17951/kw.2017.24.45
Date of publication: 2018-07-15 18:42:12
Date of submission: 2017-10-31 14:06:26


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