Al-Ghazali vs Seneca: Managing Anger in the Age of Social Media
Sufi Mystic - Artwork created by me using AI
“If you are aware of your ego craving importance and domination, you are aware of your enemy”
We've all been there - scrolling through our feeds, when suddenly an inflammatory post or picture makes our blood boil. Before you know it, you're fuming at the state of the world all because of that one annoying post. In an era of nonstop social media, managing anger can be a challenge. That's why the wisdom of philosophers like Seneca and Al-Ghazali resonates now more than ever. But whose teachings truly help us keep our cool?
Seneca, the ancient Roman Stoic, advised expecting imperfection and not getting attached to desired outcomes. But let's be honest - with the constant provocations of social media, simply adjusting expectations isn't always effective today.
Here's a hypothetical thought experiment illustrating the limitations of Seneca's Stoic anger management advice in the modern world:
John is constantly outraged by the polarized political rhetoric he encounters on social media. As a Stoic practitioner, he tries to adapt by lowering his expectations that public discourse will be civil and rational. But the algorithms keep feeding him extreme views from the opposite side, stoking his anger.
He tries to control his information inputs, but his friends share infuriating clickbait articles that pop up in his feed. He ends up getting into heated arguments frequently, although he knows Seneca would advise calm detachment.
When a politician he despises gets away with an injustice, John tries to accept the imperfect nature of human systems. But with a 24/7 outrage cycle dissecting the story, he cannot quell his indignation.
Over time, John's anger starts affecting his mental health and relationships. No matter how much he lowers expectations and practices non-attachment, the triggers keep coming. He cannot sustainably apply Stoic teachings meant for a different media era.
Without addressing the systems amplifying outrage, the Stoic self-discipline becomes an uphill battle for John. When rage goes viral, adjusting individual expectations has its limits. He may need to rethink how he engages with social media altogether to maintain equilibrium.
In this hypothetical case, the mismatch between modern information systems and ancient Stoic practice renders Seneca's advice ineffective in isolation.
Seneca, after opening his veins, goes into a bathroom and his friends, possessed of pain, & swear hatred to Nero who decreed the death of his master - Painting by Manuel Sanchez [Source: Wikipedia]
“We suffer more in imagination than in reality.”
Here's where medieval Islamic philosopher Al-Ghazali provides a valuable complement to Seneca. Al-Ghazali saw anger as arising from the ego, the demanding self that's always seeking importance, dominance, and validation. Rather than merely adjust superficial expectations, Al-Ghazali's path involves spiritual practices like meditation, remembrance, and self-reflection to diminish the ego's control over us.
Here's one way the scenario could play out if John adopted Al-Ghazali's spiritual perspective on anger instead of Seneca's Stoicism:
As provocative posts flood his social media feed, John tries to remember Al-Ghazali's teaching that anger arises from the ego or nafs feeling harmed. He sees the triggering content as an opportunity to practice detachment from his ego.
John spends time each morning meditating and reflecting on the deeper meaning of life. He consciously reconnects with his true spiritual purpose beyond petty politics. This helps immunize him from reactive anger when inflammatory news arises.
When injustice occurs, rather than indulge in rage, John practices contemplative rituals to nourish his soul. He focuses on living the virtues of his faith tradition, rather than fixating on flawed leaders.
John is kinder to friends who share polarizing clickbait, understanding they too are struggling with ego attachments. He responds with empathy rather than anger.
With regular spiritual practice, John increasingly disidentifies from his ego and feels less disturbed by the information overload. He relies on wisdom teachings rather than social media to gauge reality.
While reforming exploitative systems would also help, by transforming his inner life, John is able to navigate the modern media landscape with less anger. Al-Ghazali's emphasis on ego purification provides him an accessible spiritual pathway beyond Stoic expectations.
In this hypothetical scenario, Al-Ghazali's advice equips John with an effective framework for overcoming anger even amidst modern systemic dysfunction.
Artwork created my me using AI
“The most powerfully destructive of egoistic qualities is anger, for it is fire, and fire consumes all things.”
Now this isn't to say Seneca lacks wisdom for the modern world. But at times, his Stoic detachment can become exhausting when outrage goes viral. Al-Ghazali penetrates deeper to the root of anger - the commanding ego self. His teachings remind us social media should serve our spiritual growth, not our ego. With consciousness and care, we can all be a bit more like Al-Ghazali in these reactive times.
So the next time your feed makes your blood boil, pause and ask - is this my ego or my soul responding? The answer can help you find peace in a provocative world.
