It’s interesting that when Seneca talks about “a man who is brave amid adversity” below it is obviously not a fully wise person he has in mind. He is using an example from real life to help us understand virtue. It is possible for a real human being to be brave amid adversity and when that happens that attitude is normally admired and respected - by real human beings. In other words: the Stoic position on how to face adversity is firmly empirically grounded. Real human beings are acting stoically and real human beings are admiring them for it.
"No one is despised by another unless first despised by himself. A submissive and groveling mind may lend itself to the insult of others, but the person who lifts himself to face the cruelest misfortunes and to overcome the evils that overwhelm others wears his very sorrows as a mark of distinction; for our disposition is such that nothing commands our admiration as much as a man who is brave amid adversity."
Stoic values are firmly grounded in real life
Stoic values are firmly grounded in real life
Stoic values are firmly grounded in real life
It’s interesting that when Seneca talks about “a man who is brave amid adversity” below it is obviously not a fully wise person he has in mind. He is using an example from real life to help us understand virtue. It is possible for a real human being to be brave amid adversity and when that happens that attitude is normally admired and respected - by real human beings. In other words: the Stoic position on how to face adversity is firmly empirically grounded. Real human beings are acting stoically and real human beings are admiring them for it.
"No one is despised by another unless first despised by himself. A submissive and groveling mind may lend itself to the insult of others, but the person who lifts himself to face the cruelest misfortunes and to overcome the evils that overwhelm others wears his very sorrows as a mark of distinction; for our disposition is such that nothing commands our admiration as much as a man who is brave amid adversity."
- Seneca, Consolation to Helvia, 13.6