You're listening to the Stoic Philosophy Podcast - practical wisdom for everyday life.

I'm Justin Vacula and this is episode 26 titled 'Is ignorance bliss?'

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Visit my website at justinvacula.com where you can connect with me on social media and see past
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Some of the stressors in daily life may come about as a result of facing reality – hard truths to accept
about life some may say. Recognition of daily suffering in life, taking responsibility as an adult, or
having to face some difficult consequences may lead people to voice sentiments about preferring to be
ignorant, that life is too difficult, that they'd prefer a much easier lifestyle knowing less, having fewer
obligations, and being happy in the moment rather than contending with a harsh reality.

The song 'Rebels' by the band Cellar Darling contains themes of dealing with a harsh reality, a
“fradulent utopia” as the lyrics note, a person lying for leaders wishing they were a fool, but coming to
a realization of knowledge, “a call to arms” leading one to adjust, breaking away from society in some
way. Rather than persisting in ignorance or preferring ignorance, the character in the song must adjust
to reality rather than ignoring what's really happening especially when harm is being done as the song
notes, leaders burning the vacant stakes. Their album 'This is the Sound' contains many Stoic themes,
some from the song Hullabaloo formerly titled 'Tears of a Stoic' I have commented on in a previous
episode titled 'Coping with Negative Emotions.'

Stoic writers want us to be mindful of suffering in the world, to strengthen our minds in order to best
cope with the inevitable ups and downs in life, our mortality, the fragility of life, the deaths of others,
and much more – life is not a dance, life is not a dainty affair, there will be hardships – but we can, in
working to cultivate a strong mindset and adopting virtues like acceptance, gratitude, and prudence,
shun ignorance and face the world as it is – being better for it, using knowledge to live a better life.
Stoic writers talk about how knowledge, philosophical reflection, and paying attention to the world
around us will improve our quality of life.

We should take a big picture view of life rather than focusing on small elements of life when
considering whether ignorance is bliss. Alright, maybe we're a bit downtrodden when learning a
handful of facts about our lives – perhaps that a good friend we trusted was really deceiving us or that
some of our priorities in life were not the best to follow for example. A sudden realization or even a
gradual discovery of a game-changer, an existential crisis even which really makes us question our
directions in life may be shocking, painful especially at first, but we can look to the positives of
orienting ourselves in the right direction rather than foolishly focusing our efforts on something which
is not worthwhile – especially when we rightly feel a call to action based on new information, should
we just continue pretending?

Let's consider someone who was raised in a relgious tradition and later came to question the existance
of god, relinquishing belief and having to restructure life – maybe looking for a new social community,
questioning their moral ideas, dealing with a fear of death given lack of belief in an afterlife, and
coming out as an atheist (or not) to friends, family, and society. The adjustments may be difficult,
especially initially, and may prompt the person to say they wished they still believed, maybe to not
have been exposed to certain information, but there can be many consequences for maintaining
religious belief contrary to some formulations of the common Pascal's Wager arguments which say that
one has nothing to lose in believing in god and everything to gain – donating money to churches,
spending time in religious events, supporting politicans because of their religious ideas, limiting
directions in life, shunning non-believers, and much more. Hopefully we can go along and adjust to
new information having a more accurate picture of the world – looking to improve our beliefs and the
reasons we have for them or discarding ideas when we find they have no solid grounding.

Again, as I commonly say on this podcast, change can be difficult, uncomfortable, but it's for the better
– having a more accurate view of the world and the ability to orient ourselves to the right path. Let's
have the courage to face adversity, overcome a challenge, and be better for it rather than dwelling in
ignorance. One can even see life as a puzzle, a game, looking for how to make sense of chaos, how to
respond, how to solve the problem.

We may envy people who, as we think, seem to have it easy living with little worries, going about their
day in ignorance – but at what of a cost might that come? Is there room for personal development?
Which goals are being accomplished? Are they engaging with the world? In which areas of life are they
faltering – are they making good life choices, being taken advantage of, spending their time well? Shall
we envy the life of someone who, for instance, watches mindless television programs throughout the
day eating frozen dinners facing no challenge, not improving in some way? That's not a life I'd like to
live.

Perhaps we can look more away from that extreme and consider some areas of ignorance. Maybe we
can disengage from 24/7 news streams and be better off for it – for what benefit might we gain in
spending time reading about the political stories of the day, what celebrities are saying on Twitter, and
the drama of the day, this and that disaster in the world, another bloody conflict, and ongoing problems
like human and animal suffering, environmental concerns? Perhaps it pays to know something about
daily strife, exercising moderation may be key – to not completely tune out or be immersed and have a
negative mood, but rather to be aware and adjust our lives accordingly. What can we do about the
suffering in the world? We can question the use of our time and whether we're using it well. We can
make small adjustments in our lives and help others in some way, help make the world a better place
with some information rather than being completely oblivious and disengaged.

Let's look to some passages from Stoic writers on the topic of whether ignorance is bliss.

Marcus Aurelius, in the final passages of book four in his Meditations, urges himself to prioritize
reason, follow reason wherever it happens to lead him, and notes the benefits of living a life of reason
as opposed to ignorance. He writes, “say and do everything in conformity with the soundest reason. For
such a purpose frees a man from trouble, and warfare, and all artiface and ostenatious display.” Here,
we again see the theme, common in Stoic texcts, of people focusing their efforts on the wrong things –
matters we shouldn't concern ourselves so much with like appearance, “artiface and ostentatious
display” Marcus writes.

The ignorant person has gone astray, prioritized appearance to such a high level thinking this is a
supreme good, and squanders time in doing so, perhaps relies too much on external approval, wants to
impress others based on looks rather than simply conducting himself well and focusing on himself,
relying too much on others' strangers' approval. Maybe it's just not worth it, especially the spending of
money to attain such efforts, and we can instead dedicate our time and recources to other matters –
Stoics call on us to question our values and ask what is really worth it, to be mindful of our priorities
and question them.

Marcus also writes about being free from troubles, that reason can lead to more contentment. I see
having a strong mindset really being of great benefit when considering this verse – the person applying
Stoicism to everyday life may be much better capable to, as the popular expression goes, grin and bear
it, while others will be extremely distraught and create problems for themselves especially focusing on
things outside of their control, worrying so much, blaming others, endlessly complaining, being angry.

Application of Stoicism should allow us to better cope with events while the ignorant may have a very
negative, inappropriate reaction to an event – we're to again prefer reason here and not consider
ignorance bliss. Marcus writes in book five of his Meditations, “Nothing happens to any man that he is
not formed by nature to bear. The same things happen to another, and either because he does not see
they have happened or because he would show a great spirit, he is firm and remains unharmed. It is a
shame that ignorance and conceit should be stronger than wisdom.”

In book seven, Marcus writes more about the benefits of reason, we have more arguments for
lamenting a life of ignorance. He writes, “The third thing in the rational constitution is freedom from
error and from deception. Let the ruling principle, holding fast to these things, go straight on, and it has
what is its own.” Here, living a more reflective life, we should note, makes us less of a mark for
scammers and others who seek to take advantage of us – a materialistic consumer culture, at least here
in the United States, as well, which promises happiness if only we buy this or that new product and a
follow a specific life path which may ultimately lead to dissatisfaction and a craving for more and more
– never satisfied.

We can be free from error and deception or at least less likely to make grave mistakes in this limited
time of life we have, to have fewer regrets later in life, avoid empty temptations, and learn from our
possible naivety, mistakes we have made rather than continuing in the same ways that have not worked
for us, bashing our heads against the wall and not even realizing it. Appreciate that you realize certain
leaks in life – areas in which you can improve – and shun ignorance.

In his letter 'On Blindness and its cure,' Seneca talks about making progress, unlearning bad habits, and
reforming our lives for the better. Change may be difficult as I mentioned, we may feel an urge to
prefer ignorance to reality, but Seneca urges us not to fear change, to accept it, and says that we will be
better for it. He writes, “the first steps in the approach are toilsome because it is a characteristic of a
weak and diseased mind to fear that which is unfamiliar. The mind must, therefore, be forced to make a
beginning; from then on, the medicine is not bitter; for just as soon as it is curing us it begins to give
pleasure. One enjoys other cures only after health is restored, but a draught of Philosophy is at the same
moment wholesome and pleasant.” We can look to benefits of reason in the long-run although some
initial changes after learning new information which prompts us to change our lifestyles may be
uncomfortable and disorienting. To live in accordance with reason, not value ignorance, that's what the
Stoics aim for.

Thanks for listening and stay tuned for more content.

____

Visit my website at justinvacula.com where you can find links to my social media portals and see past
content on Soundcloud, YouTube, iTunes, or Stitcher. Support my work by becoming a donor through
Patreon or Paypal. Share, comment, like, subscribe, and leave a review to help support my efforts and
keep this project going.

Podcast music, used with permission, is brought to you by Phil Giordana's symphonic metal group
Fairyland - the song titled 'Master of the Waves' is from their album 'Score to a New Beginning.' Find
more information in the show notes.