We previously considered whether comedians are modern philosophers, and now we must ask whether they too build on the work of other philosophers. Few of today’s most prominent funny men and women live a philosophical life as openly as Jerry Seinfeld, or have cultivated the temperament necessary to lead a philosophical life. This is suggested by, among other things: 2012 new york times magazine Profile by Jonah Weiner. “Seinfeld would take a joke and spend years revising it, condensing it, reworking it piecemeal and making it exactly what it was,” Weiner wrote. “It’s like calligraphy or samurai,” Seinfeld says. “I want to make a cricket cage. You know the Japanese cricket cage? It’s small and it has a door. For me, that’s it. It’s about solitude and precision, so refining something small.”
Or, as Seinfeld would say, Recent interviews on With podcaster Graham Bensiger, he wants to know what time it is, but wants to take apart a clock to find out how it works. This has been his lifelong pursuit, both in his professional comedy field and in his other obsessions.
To cultivate both his understanding and himself, it was necessary to indulge his penchant for difficult situations, or rather, for challenges within what he called the proper “bracket of struggle.” At this point in his journey, he found what at first glance might sound like an amazing guide. That person was Marcus Aurelius, the 2nd century Roman Emperor, whose book meditationof Epictetus Enchiridion and the works of Seneca the Younger constitute the core texts of Stoicism.
Living stoically in the Aurelian sense means, as Seinfeld says, “Everything you’re worried about goes away just like that. The people who criticize you go away, you go away too. ‘How people look at me,’ ‘Someone said something bad about me,’ all this hand-wringing, worry, concern, and being so upset about it all goes away in time. “It’s a waste of time, a waste of energy.” In the opinion of Marcus Aurelius, “You should only focus on getting better at what you are doing. Times magazine profileis called the “ultimate craftsman” among comedians.
In addition to meditationSeinfeld also relied on his actual meditation practice, which he credits with providing him with both the physical and mental energy he needed to continue pursuing his goals into his 70s. “Meditation is like I said to you, ‘Take a bath once a day and sit there for five minutes. Can you do it? It’s so easy. Meditation is even easier than that.'” Exercise is the opposite, “more effort than anything else,” but it has become as important a part of his life, and he lists three keys to its success: “Transcendental Meditation, strength training, and espresso.” I like to imagine that if Marcus Aurelius had set up Marzocco on Palatine Hill, he too would have enjoyed a few shots throughout the day.
Related content:
Marcus Aurelius’ 9 rules for living a stoic life
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Jerry Seinfeld gives commencement address at Duke University: Humor is needed to overcome the human experience
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The Stoic Wisdom of Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius: Presented in 6 Short Videos
Based in Seoul, Colin Mbemust write and broadcastIt’s about cities, languages and cultures. he is the author of the newsletter books about cities books as well Home page (I won’t summarize Korea) and korean newtro. Follow him on the social network formerly known as Twitter. @Colinbemust.
Source: Open Culture – www.openculture.com
