Beyond the Individual breaks the Stoic stereotype of being self-centered and reconnects it to the cosmos in its purest rational form.
Summary
While Beyond the Individual by Will Johncock isn’t the first book one might read on their Stoic journey, it’s essential for anyone looking to go deeper. The book doesn’t negate the personal benefits of Stoicism, but instead argues that these benefits can only be truly achieved by understanding our place in nature.
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Johncock begins with an appreciation of the self-help angle many modern Stoic books take. He acknowledges its place in the tradition, but as the title suggests, there’s more to Stoicism than the self. It’s in going beyond the individual and embracing interconnectedness that the philosophy truly comes alive.
Review
The book starts by exploring the human mind, where connections reveal themselves through our rational nature. It then expands to the physical world, where these links interact. Eventually, Johncock brings it full circle: self-care, when properly understood in Stoicism, is also care for the universe, because we are part of nature.
We cultivate this understanding through knowledge. Chapter 5 offers a clear explanation of what knowledge is and why the right kind matters. The book ends with the Stoic concept of happiness, Eudaimonia, as the ultimate aim of philosophy. Here, Johncock draws on Plato and Aristotle to show where the idea originates.
The topic of God is woven throughout the book. Johncock does an excellent job of exploring this often contentious theme by grounding it in Stoic first principles and making space for both scientific and theistic interpretations.
Recommendation
As mentioned, this may not be the best book to begin your Stoic journey with, but if you’ve already read some of the ancient texts and perhaps a few titles from our Stoic Reading Guide for Beginners, Beyond the Individual is a must-add to your list
Here’s a link to Amazon to find Beyond the Individual.
Johncock brings attention to a vital but often overlooked principle in modern Stoic writing: the interconnected nature of Stoicism. Understanding this will deepen your grasp of Stoic physics and help you practice it with more clarity. He also provides one of the most balanced explanations of the “God or not” debate I’ve read in modern Stoic literature.
Final thoughts
Beyond the Individual offered me new insights and confirmed others. I’ve read many books on Stoicism, but this one helped me reach a new level of understanding.
That’s why I highly recommend it to anyone who’s moved past the beginner phase and is ready to explore Stoicism beyond the individual.
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