The WWMD Book Club Explores Rivalry

This month’s selected text is:
Wanting: The Power of Mimetic Desire in Everyday Life by Luke Burgis

How does one engage in rivalry while practicing virtue?

Upon ascending as Roman Emperor in March 161 AD, Marcus Aurelius immediately insisted the Senate recognize his adoptive brother, Lucius Verus, as co-emperor, marking the first time Rome was ruled by two emperors with equal power.

In a world where the imperial title could lead to lethal altercations between family members, how did Marcus transcend the desire to eliminate his brother, and instead choose to share power?

Think of any inspiring figure and you’ll often find a contemporary who pushed them to be better.

While rivalry can easily lead to lesser emotions such as jealousy, fear, or hatred, how are we as good Stoics meant to see rivalry as a necessary condition for self development?

How can we follow in Marcus’ footsteps and place our rivals in a position where they provide a healthy example or healthy competition?

How can we resist the urge to crush them, and instead compete fairly, allowing them to become a tool in bringing about our best selves?

What would Marcus do?
For those who wish to go deeper into this month’s theme, we also recommend watching portions of The Last Dance as a supplementary work exploring rivalry, competition, and greatness.

📍 Location:
The Speakeasy at Lowertown Brewery

🗓 Date:
Wednesday, May 28

🕖 Time:
7:00 PM - 10:00 PM

🎟 Tickets:
Tickets are completely free, but if you enjoy the work we do and would like to support the continued growth of the club, optional donations are now available. Buy us a coffee if you’d like ☕️

Please still reserve a ticket if you intend on attending so we know how many people to expect.

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