In many ways, the stoics offer important protections against what is sometimes the high-cost of being a human being--which can include being a slave to our passions and allowing our emotions to harm our ability to flourish. Certainly, there are occasions where we need to distance ourselves from fully acknowledging certain aspects of reality. This often is required in order to do a difficult task: surgeons, dentists, and warriors know that sometimes the hard aspects of their vocation require exactly this kind of distancing. 

At the same time, others would caution against so callousing ourselves against the difficult things we do that we deny essential components of being human. The readings and viewing below explore the role of emotions and connection with others in what it means to be a human being. 

READ THIS

Andrew Sullivan, “I Used to Be a Human Being”

Mike Good, "Tempering Corruption"

WATCH THIS (Optional)

Nancy Sherman on Aristotle, the stoics, and emotion

Reflect on these questions

1. Andrew Sullivan's provocative title challenges us to think about the ways that technology can scuttle our ability to live the good life. How? What do you think about his concerns?
2. One part of Sullivan's claim is that technology can create distance between ourselves and who we really are. Also, it can help divorce us from truly experiencing reality. How does this distance harm our ability to be truly human?
3. In what ways might Nancy Sherman's concerns about stoicism's view of the emotions compare with Sullivan's concerns about technology and being human?
4. Sherman has good things to say about stoicism--she's written books on the subject!--but she also believes that Aristotle offers important corrections. What are they?
5. Taken together, both Sullivan and Sheman might be understood to suggest that one can be both a good military officer as well as a good human being at precisely the same time. How do take seriously the stoic caution that we mustn't be slaves to our passions while at the same time heeding Sherman and Sullivan's warning not to too grossly divorce ourselves from essential parts of being human--including experiencing human emotions?
6. How do the emotions serve the military profession and our comrades in arms?