A common quandary many find themselves in is how to reconcile an individual's virtuous purpose within the larger economic shift towards non-virtuous hedonism. A modern man can easily discipline and focus himself enough to give his individual life purpose: provide for family, maintain relationships, have interesting hobbies, etc.. But he may accomplish this by kowtowing to the large corporations who make their money by perpetuating society's addiction to dopamine. For Investors and Founders alike, the fattest margins come from exploiting those who are decidedly *not* in Monk Mode. And even if you have a product with pure intentions, you must play the Attention Economy game to find customers. I have been circling this theme in my own writing. How can one be a stoic individually, but not as part of a whole? Or is it even a Monk's duty to try to change the world?
A common quandary many find themselves in is how to reconcile an individual's virtuous purpose within the larger economic shift towards non-virtuous hedonism. A modern man can easily discipline and focus himself enough to give his individual life purpose: provide for family, maintain relationships, have interesting hobbies, etc.. But he may accomplish this by kowtowing to the large corporations who make their money by perpetuating society's addiction to dopamine. For Investors and Founders alike, the fattest margins come from exploiting those who are decidedly *not* in Monk Mode. And even if you have a product with pure intentions, you must play the Attention Economy game to find customers. I have been circling this theme in my own writing. How can one be a stoic individually, but not as part of a whole? Or is it even a Monk's duty to try to change the world?