Rob Riggle And Ryan Holiday Dive Into Stoicism
Actor and comedian delves into ancient philosophy.
Pratibha holds a master's degree in English from Madras University. A bookworm from a young age, she devours books and digital humanities to nourish her writing projects. Pratibha began her writing career in 2018 and has experience writing formal, informal, and technical content.
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Comedian and actor Rob Riggle has taken a philosophical turn in his latest social media offering, sitting down with renowned stoicism expert Ryan Holiday for what he calls an ‘amazing interview’ about ancient wisdom and its modern applications.
In a recent Instagram post, Riggle shared a glimpse of their conversation with the caption ‘Different century, Same problems. #stoicism.’ The image shows both men in conversation, suggesting that despite the passage of time, humans continue to face similar existential challenges that ancient philosophical traditions like Stoicism addressed thousands of years ago.
The Timeless Wisdom Of Stoicism
The post invites Riggle’s followers to ‘Check out our amazing interview with the brilliant Stoicism expert and author @ryanholiday.’ Holiday is widely recognized for his work popularizing stoic philosophy through books like ‘The Obstacle Is the Way,’ ‘Ego Is the Enemy,’ and ‘Stillness Is the Key,’ making ancient wisdom accessible to contemporary audiences.
Stoicism, a philosophical tradition that originated in ancient Greece and flourished in Rome, emphasizes the development of self-control and fortitude as means of overcoming destructive emotions. The philosophy teaches that virtue, the highest good, is based on knowledge, and that the wise live in harmony with the divine reason that governs nature.
A New Side Of Riggle
While Riggle is primarily known for his comedic work on ‘The Daily Show,’ ‘Saturday Night Live,’ and films like ‘The Hangover’ and ’21 Jump Street,’ this interview reveals a more reflective side of the performer. His interest in stoicism suggests a depth that extends beyond his public persona as a comedian and actor.
According to his Wikipedia page, Riggle is also a retired United States Marine Corps Reserve officer who served in Liberia, Kosovo, and Afghanistan. This military background might explain his interest in stoicism, a philosophy often embraced by those who face challenging circumstances requiring mental fortitude.
From Comedy To Contemplation
Riggle’s recent Instagram activities reveal a man of varied interests. Just days before sharing the stoicism interview, he posted about participating in the Ace Shootout golf tournament to raise donations for children’s hospitals. He’s also been celebrating Rory McIlroy’s recent Masters win, completing the golfer’s career Grand Slam.
In another recent post, Riggle served as MC for a gala for Merging Vets and Players, an organization that supports military veterans and former professional athletes. He captioned that post with hashtags including #Veterans, #Service, #resilience, and #truegrit – values that align closely with stoic philosophy.
Balancing Humor And Wisdom
This exploration of stoicism represents an interesting evolution for Riggle, who turned 54 on April 21. The American Comedy and Veterans Film Festival recently celebrated his birthday alongside other April-born celebrities who will be returning for the ACC Golf tournament.
Riggle started 2024 by announcing a new project titled ‘Badman,’ and has maintained his enthusiasm for sports, particularly the Kansas City Chiefs’ AFC Championship win earlier this year.
Ancient Solutions For Modern Challenges
The pairing of Riggle and Holiday highlights how ancient philosophical traditions continue to find relevance in contemporary society. As Holiday has written extensively, stoic principles can be applied to everything from business challenges to personal relationships and mental health.
Whether this philosophical exploration represents a new direction for Riggle or simply reveals an existing interest, it demonstrates that even celebrities known primarily for making people laugh can find value in ancient wisdom traditions that help us navigate life’s persistent challenges.
As the post so succinctly puts it: “Different century, Same problems.” Some things, it seems, never change – which is precisely why stoicism continues to resonate with people seeking timeless solutions to the human condition.
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