Being Better by Kai Whiting & Leonidas Konstantakos

Author:Kai Whiting & Leonidas Konstantakos [Kai Whiting]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

The extended circles of concern

Environmentalism is not something that should be restricted to politicians (who haven’t done a particularly good job), political activists, or philosophers. Everyone should play their part in helping to secure a more sustainable (and consequently virtuous) path forward. For Stoics, this means acting in ways that are appropriate to the four roles (which includes one’s circumstances and preferences). For example, a musician could engage people with environmentally conscious lyrics; a religious leader could introduce environmental concerns into their sermons. Teachers could grapple with sustainability issues in their lesson plans, and fine artists could incorporate environmental themes in their canvases and sculptures. Chefs and restaurants could source their products from local farms, feature seasonal fruits and vegetables in their dishes, and share knowledge of these practices with diners. Even a car mechanic could do their bit for the planet by minimizing the environmental impact of their business by thinking about the appropriateness of repairing rather than replacing certain car parts, for example.

In any role, when you pledge to do the right thing for the right reason, it will involve an investment on your part. This may include taking more time to weigh potential solutions, talking them over with people you trust, and even paying a little more money for a more ethically sound option.13 Once you are better informed about the available choices, go one step further and ask which ones stand up to the scrutiny of a reasoned argument and exemplify the “right thing.” For instance, take the hypothetical example of a singer trying to make a living in the music business while promoting an environmental message. The singer should think not just about the lyrics in their songs but the way they conduct every aspect of their business. Do they try to minimize carbon emissions when they go on tour, and do they try to play at venues that do the same? Conversely, what message would it send if they sing about green values but lead an excessively materialistic lifestyle and actively encourage fans to mimic this and follow them as they globetrot from venue to venue, flying around the world? People watch what we do and listen carefully to what we say, and so if a singer does not live the life they promote in their music, their environmental songs become no more than virtue-signaling their “green” credentials.

This same dynamic applies to everyone. From a Stoic perspective, we should take the circles of concern seriously and consider how they apply throughout our lives and within all our relationships. We should think very carefully about the appropriateness of our lifestyle choices to make sure they are consistent with our values. Stoicism is not about doing the impossible or trying to singlehandedly solve complex social or environmental issues. It’s about consistently doing what you can within the life you lead using the personality, knowledge, social role, network, and skill set that you already have.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.