Philosophy, Stoicism, and timeless wisdom applied to modern engineering challenges and everyday life.
Beyond engineering, I find meaning and guidance in Stoic philosophy. The ancient practice offers timeless wisdom for modern challenges, teaching us to focus on what we can control and accept what we cannot.
Love of Fate
"Love of fate" - Accepting everything that happens in life as good or necessary. Associated with Nietzsche's "eternal recurrence" and deeply rooted in Stoic philosophy. It's not merely accepting what happens, but embracing it as if you had chosen it.
Learn MoreRemember You Will Die
A reminder of mortality that encourages living more consciously. As Seneca wrote: "Let us prepare our minds as if we'd come to the very end of life." This awareness transforms how we spend our time and prioritize what truly matters.
Learn MoreJustice, Temperance, Wisdom, Courage
The four cardinal virtues Marcus Aurelius considered the foundation of ethical living: fairness in dealings with others, moderation in all things, knowledge applied wisely, and bravery in the face of adversity.
Learn MoreThe Premeditation of Evils
Visualizing potential obstacles and challenges before they occur. This Stoic practice of negative visualization prepares the mind for adversity and reduces the shock when difficulties arise in engineering projects or life.
Learn MoreWhat Is Up to Us
Perhaps the most fundamental Stoic concept: distinguishing between what we can control (our judgments, impulses, desires, aversions) and what we cannot (external events, others' opinions, outcomes). Focus energy only on what is "up to us."
Learn MoreThe Highest Good
Living in accordance with virtue is the highest good. External goods like wealth, fame, or pleasure are "preferred indifferents" - nice to have but not essential to the good life. Virtue alone is sufficient for happiness.
Learn MoreThese principles inform both my personal life and professional approach to problem-solving in engineering.
When systems fail, the Stoic approach means accepting the current state without frustration, then methodically working through what we can control: testing hypotheses, isolating variables, and iterating toward solutions.
Premeditatio Malorum applied: anticipating potential failure modes during design phases. What could go wrong? How do we build redundancy and graceful degradation into our systems?
The pursuit of wisdom (Sophia) drives continuous improvement. Each project, each failure, each success is an opportunity to learn. The Stoic engineer embraces not knowing as the first step toward understanding.