Unit III
Overview:
In this assignment, you’ll choose your own path to tranquility—Skeptic, Epicurean, or Stoic. After submitting, you’ll be paired with a classmate for a brief peer exchange. After all, the ancient schools of philosophy understood the road to the good life as something we walk together.
Option 1:
The Pyrrhonian Journal –
Living Without Beliefs
Goal: Practice epoché (suspension of judgment) and explore whether tranquility (ataraxia) can be cultivated by letting go of certainty.
Instructions:
For 3 days, experiment with bracketing your judgments in everyday life.
Each time a strong opinion or belief arises—about politics, people, yourself, or even your to-do list—pause and:
Consider the opposing side. This might mean researching an alternative view, asking someone with different experience, or listening to a lecture that unsettles your position.
Try to bring the perspectives into equipollence—a balance where neither side feels more convincing than the other.
Write 2–3 entries per day where you describe the moment, your attempt at suspending judgment, and the emotional or psychological result. Did you feel calmer? Frustrated? More curious? Disoriented?
End with a reflection:
Can one live a good life without certainty? What did you discover about yourself in the attempt?
Option 2:
Epicurean Hedonism –
The Simple Pleasures Log
Goal: Cultivate ataraxia (tranquility) by practicing the Epicurean art of simple living and wise enjoyment.
Instructions:
For 3 days, live like an Epicurean—seek peace, not luxury.
DO:
Eat only simple, nourishing meals (e.g., bread, fruit, soup—nothing fancy).
Spend time in quiet reflection, light reading, or calm conversation with a trusted friend.
Enjoy nature or stillness (e.g., sit outside, go for a walk, listen to the wind).
Practice gratitude for simple pleasures (e.g., warmth, rest, companionship).
Get enough rest, and honor your body's basic needs.
DON’T:
Indulge in decadent or rich foods, snacks, or stimulants.
Use social media, shop online, or binge shows—avoid anything designed to hook desire.
Chase status, attention, or validation—focus inward.
Over-schedule yourself—create space for quiet and ease.
Each day, log one moment where you noticed a shift from craving to contentment. This could be:
Realizing a simple meal satisfied you more than expected.
Feeling peaceful while doing nothing.
Letting go of a fleeting desire and noticing your mind settle.
Final Reflection Prompt: What did you discover about your desires and your capacity for joy? Did Epicurus get it right—that true pleasure is freedom from disturbance, not indulgence?
Option 3:
The Stoic Mindset Challenge –
Living by Reason and Resilience
Goal: Develop emotional resilience, self-command, and inner peace by living like a Stoic for three days. Practice attention to self, use Stoic mental exercises, and reflect on how these shape your daily experience.
Instructions:
Daily Practice (for 3 days):
Morning Meditation (Prospective Meditation)
Before starting your day, take 5–10 minutes to anticipate difficulties and prepare your mindset.Example from Marcus: “Today I shall meet with ingratitude, arrogance, deceit...”
Ask: What challenges might I face today, and how can I meet them with virtue?
Stoic Mindfulness (Prosochē)
Throughout the day, pause during moments of stress or emotion and:Identify your impression: What thought or belief is disturbing me?
Ask: Is this under my control?
Label the thought, evaluate its rationality, and, if irrational, replace it with a Stoic maxim or perspective.
Use the Reserve Clause
In setting intentions or goals, silently add “fate willing” or “Zeus willing.”
This separates your effort from your attachment to the outcome.Evening Meditation (Retrospective Meditation)
Before bed, recount your day:What moments tested your Stoicism?
When did you succeed or falter in maintaining composure or rationality?
What can you do differently tomorrow?
End by congratulating yourself on small wins and reaffirming your goals.
Final Reflection (approx. 500 words):
Did any Stoic practices help you regain perspective or calm?
What was hardest to apply—and what came more naturally?
Do you think this kind of mindset could help in your life going forward?
Pyrrhonian Screen Saver
Epicurean Screen Saver
Stoic Screen Saver
