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Ward Farnsworth

Ward Farnsworth

Dean and John Jeffers Research Chair at the University of Texas School of Law.

Ward Farnsworth is Dean of the University of Texas School of Law. His prior books include the highly regarded Farnsworth’s Classical English Metaphor and Farnsworth’s Classical English Rhetoric, both published by Godine.

PhilosophersNotes on Ward Farnsworth's Books All PhilosophersNotes

The Practicing Stoic

A Philosophical User's Manual

by Ward Farnsworth

Ward Farnsworth is the Dean of the University of Texas School of Law. As you can imagine, he brings a logical precision to his discussion of Stoicism that is distinct and powerful. (Seriously. It’s actually ASTONISHINGLY powerful.) I really enjoyed the book and I highly recommend it for the aspiring Practicing Stoic. Big Ideas we explore include Principle #1 of practical Stoicism (Judgment!), the good life vs. the good mood (virtue for the win!), what others think (<- pro tip: ignore it), preferred indifference (committed but not attached), and using adversity as fuel for our Optimizing (use Hermes' magic wand!).

Pack:

Stoicism

+1s Inspired by Ward Farnsworth All +1s

The Good Life
#1126

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vs. The Good Mood

Not too long ago, we had fun revisiting some Stoic wisdom as we mined some goodness with a range of books—including Musonius Rufus’s Lecture...

+1 inspired by Note: The Practicing Stoic

Packs:

Modern Hērō & Stoicism

big-picture Eudaimonia modern-hero process soul Spirit stoicism Virtue

Your Secret Weapon
#1129

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Thank You, Epictetus and Hermes

In our last +1, we had some fun making our Optimize virtue compass. Recall the four cardinal points correspond with our four cardinal virtues. At the top, pointing North, we have Wisdom. At the bottom, pointing South, we have Self-Mastery. At...

+1 inspired by Note: The Practicing Stoic

Packs:

Antifragility & Stoicism

antifragility equanimity Grit Mind omms stoicism Wisdom

Memento Aristotle’s River Creatures
#1142

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Getting Perspective on Life and Death

Today we’re going to revisit Ward Farnsworth’s great book The Practicing Stoic. Chapter 4. It’s on “Death.”

+1 inspired by Note: The Practicing Stoic

Packs:

Positive Psychology & Stoicism

Gratitude memento-mori Mind positive-psychology stoicism Wisdom

Cosmic Math
#1146

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28 Days vs. 28,000 Days vs. 6,825,500,000,000 Days

Not too long ago, we hung out with Aristotle’s Little River Creatures to get some perspective on the brevity of life. Recall: “Aristotle says that there are little a...

+1 inspired by Note: The Practicing Stoic

Packs:

Positive Psychology & Stoicism

Gratitude memento-mori Mind positive-psychology stoicism Wisdom