Finding role models in an age of influencers
Philosophical and historical role models can help us feel inspired and optimistic about human flourishing even in difficult times. I'll be giving a talk on some of my role models March 23 - join me!
In earlier times, people were often encouraged to look to examples of excellent humans (however their society defined excellence) to learn how to live well. These days, it’s different. We live in an era of influencers, rather than role models.
We are immersed in a corporate reality, where online influencers do paid partnerships, sponsored content, and collabs with products and businesses. And their incentive is not to improve our character…. but to improve their bottom line.
On top of that, much of online culture is about tearing down folks who show themselves publicly, ensuring we see their warts and flaws and decry all that they do wrong.
This isn’t completely new—there is a tradition going back at least as far as the Roman writer Suetonius to expose the underbelly of famous leaders (such as the Caesars), and to share gossipy stories of their failings, their crimes and misdemeanors. But today, that impulse is on steroids. There is a vigilance about people’s mistakes in everyday life; folks worry about being blamed for anything they do that can be observed by others—a kind of exposure that’s more apparent than ever with the omnipresent Internet. And to add just one more layer, we also encounter data scrapers, who create digital systems that take data, often without our consent or compensation, and use it to both mimic and manipulate us digitally, minus the moral content.
What’s missing in this picture? A place for positive, hopeful role models.
After we expose questionable influencers and get real about their incentives, can we find good people to look up to in the public sphere? Someone in whom we could find enough positive characteristics—or even, a mix of positive and relatable qualities—to capture our sense of wonder and optimism about what humans are capable of?
I think it’s something we should pursue for our own sense of encouragement to do tough things. The effort to discover role models is happening in pockets of our society, sometimes very effectively. I was a Girl Scout leader for many years when my kids were younger. One reason I liked it was the emphasis on positive role models for the girls in the troop. We had examples of girls from all kinds of backgrounds doing amazing work in their awards projects, and examples of Girl Scout alumnae who had gone on to do remarkable things. On top of that, the curriculum often emphasized women who’d made a difference in science, art, environmentalism, and activism. Major events invited them to speak to girls across the country. The girls could be inspired by looking up to these role models.
There’s another benefit. In my career and volunteerism, I’ve personally found that having role models who have done/do what I aspire to do can be super helpful for understanding the path forward. They also humanize it. Not only are these folks able to advise me on how to explore my interests and learn how to pursue what they have achieved, they also give me a reality check when I encounter a barrier or challenge. That’s because even role models have had to deal with tough stuff, which actually makes them MORE appealing, rather than imperfect or less-than. In fact, it makes me respect what they have overcome.
Recently, I’ve been working on understanding the lives of ancient thinkers. As I have studied many prominent figures in ancient Greek and Roman philosophy for an upcoming book, I’ve come to see many potential role models among the philosophers of the Hellenistic world. Of course not all of them led exemplary lives in every sense. But despite their shortcomings, their struggle with how to become flourishing humans, and with how to navigate a chaotic world, inspires me.
That’s why I talked with my colleague in Stoic practice and writing, Brittany Polat, author of Stoicism for Humans Substack, about creating an online conference focused on our philosophical role models—and how we can learn from their messages and lives today. From this germ of an idea, Brittany and colleagues from The Walled Garden have planned a conference on Philosophical Role Models for Saturday, March 23, starting at 9 am PT (ending before noon PT). I will be speaking, and I hope you’ll join us by registering for tickets for a small donation.
In my talk at the conference (shortly after 9 am PT), I’ll share an exploration of three of my philosophical and historical role models, and how they inspire me: Hipparchia (the Cynic philosopher); Seneca (the Stoic thinker and Roman statesman); and Hypatia (the Neoplatonic philosopher and mathematician).
All three inspire me and interest me for their unique lives and ideas. Hipparchia lived in ancient Greece, and going against the common practices of her time, she embraced philosophy. She married the philosophy teacher of Stoic founder Zeno of Citium, Crates of Thebes, and her decision was part and parcel of her choice to become a Cynic and fully embrace a Cynic lifestyle, homelessness and shamelessness and all.
Seneca, on the other hand, lived a wealthy and privileged life in Rome, serving as tutor to emperor Nero and seeking to guide him as he took the reins of the Empire. He was a writer through-and-through, and his ability to examine himself, raise his own awareness, and to improve himself, though imperfect, led to a raft of fascinating texts and a life that shows us a unique mixture of blessings and curses. The ways in which he navigated it, and the practices he developed, offer lessons that are relevant today. (I wrote about Seneca here.)
Hypatia of Alexandria’s work in mathematicians was legendary in her time, as was her ability to influence and counsel Roman leaders. She’s often today most known for her tragic death at the hands of a violent Christian mob, but this pagan thinker spent most of her life as a remarkable example of reaching across boundaries and seeking for higher, soul-fulfilling ideas that could transcend religious backgrounds.
My desire to find inspiration in other people and their lives, and to understand how to grow and expand my own interests, is also at the heart of work I’ve been doing on personal and professional development coaching. I’ve been studying at the Co-active Training Institute and plan to pursue certification. In addition, I’m launching a Substack focused on this effort, The Stoic Coach.
Can we still look for those who inspire us to make brave choices and to improve our character, even if they lived hundreds of years ago? Yes! Finding role models may be take a bit of seeking… but digging into the traces of their lives can give us a new perspective. I hope you’ll join me to hear more and to learn from other speakers and panelists at the online Conference on Philosophical Role Models on March 23!
I look forward to your presentation, we all need role models...we can use our skills to mentor others..thank you for being an inspiring role model.
Having heroes is so important to our moral orientation!