Lessons from Stoicism and The Military | Nancy Sherman | The Knowledge Project 126

Military Leadership

Nancy Sherman explores the unique connection between Stoicism and military leadership. She recounts her experience at the Naval Academy, where she was called to teach ethics during a major cheating scandal. Sherman emphasizes how Stoic principles like self-command and control were crucial for military figures like James Stockdale, who relied on Epictetus' teachings during his time as a POW.

Stockdale memorized Epictetus' pithy wisdom about control, which became his command for all those years.

--- Nancy Sherman

Sherman also highlights the importance of promoting a gentler form of Stoicism that goes beyond the traditional 'suck it up' mentality, advocating for mental health awareness in the military 1 2.

   

Resilience

Building resilience in military personnel through Stoic teachings is another key focus for Sherman. She contrasts the ancient Greek concept of honor and virtue with modern societal values, stressing that true worth comes from internal virtue rather than external accolades. This perspective is particularly relevant in today's social media-driven world.

Your worth has to do with something much different. So the story really is that goodness is virtue or virtue is wisdom.

--- Nancy Sherman

Sherman also discusses the importance of understanding different perspectives and being open to new information, which is essential for resilience and adaptability in both military and civilian life 3 4.