Introduction to Stoicism

Stoicism is the personal practice of growth, fulfillment, learning, action, and freedom. It teaches you to grow and become the best version of yourself, to become a better person and a good individual. Through discipline and continuous practice, you work on yourself and strive toward a better soul, mind, and body. Central to Stoicism is the pursuit of virtue and wisdom, recognizing the importance of distinguishing between what is within our control and what is not. Stoics emphasize rationality, resilience, and the acceptance of fate, aiming to maintain tranquility and inner peace regardless of external circumstances.

Origins

Stoicism was founded in Athens by Zeno of Citium around 300 BC.

History

Since 300 BC, there have been many famous Stoic philosophers embodying the common traits and practices associated with the philosophy, along with many other branches inspired by it.

Here are a few of the most famous or well-recognized people:

Marcus Aurelius

Marcus Aurelius Antoninus was Roman emperor from 161 to 180 and a Stoic philosopher. He is the most widely known Stoic philosopher, and his work, Meditations, has been his most influential piece of work. They were his personal diary entries to himself, reminding him to be better, reflect, practice, and embody his principles and philosophy every day.

Epictetus

Epictetus was an exponent of Stoicism who flourished in the early second century C.E., about four hundred years after the Stoic school of Zeno of Citium was established in Athens. He lived and worked, first as a student in Rome, and then as a teacher with his own school in Nicopolis in Greece. His original name is not known; epiktētos is the Greek word meaning “acquired.” As a boy, he was a slave but managed to attend lectures by the Stoic Musonius Rufus. He later became a freedman and lived in ill health, but still embodied the Stoic philosophy and principles, teaching people that regardless of one's circumstances, one could live a true and happy life.

Seneca

Lucius Annaeus Seneca, known simply as Seneca (or Seneca the Younger), was a Stoic philosopher and rhetorician. He's one of the first Stoics for which there are considerable literary remains for us to study. Born over 2,000 years ago in Spain as the son of Seneca the Elder, Seneca agrees with the Stoics that virtue is sufficient for happiness. One's virtue, unlike one's circumstances, is within one's power. Knowledge of one's nature is importantly connected, in Stoicism, with one's knowledge of nature generally. Seneca often appeals to the importance of understanding nature in his works, most notably Letters from a Stoic, to which he writes to his friend and emphasizes the lessons of Stoicism in his daily life.

Diogenes

Diogenes, also known as Diogenes the Cynic or Diogenes of Sinope, was a Greek philosopher and one of the founders of Cynicism. He was born in Sinope, an Ionian colony on the Black Sea coast of Anatolia, in 412 or 404 BC and died at Corinth in 323 BC. Cynicism came to be seen as an idealized form of Stoicism, a view which led Epictetus to eulogize the ideal Cynic in a lengthy discourse. Diogenes lived his life with little and truly embodied both the Cynicism and Stoicism principles in his daily life.

Philosophy

Quite literally, the term "philosophy" means "love of wisdom." In a broad sense, philosophy is an activity people undertake when they seek to understand fundamental truths about themselves, the world in which they live, and their relationships to the world and to each other. Therefore, one must seek out wisdom, truth, and the nature of themselves and the world, so one must continue at it, every day learn, grow, and become better than the person you were yesterday.

Action

Embody your philosophy; action is the fruit of your wisdom. Knowledge is good but useless if not used. Knowing what is right and acting on it, knowing what is good, knowing what is wrong, and acting accordingly.

Core Principles of Stoicism

1. Dichotomy of Control: Focus on what you can control and accept what you cannot. This helps maintain inner peace by reducing anxiety over external events.

2. Four Cardinal Virtues:

   • Wisdom: The ability to make sound decisions and discern what is truly important.
   • Courage: Acting rightly in the face of challenges and adversity.
   • Justice: Treating others fairly and understanding the importance of community.
   • Temperance: Practicing self-control and moderation in all aspects of life.

3. Living in Accordance with Nature: Align your life with nature and reason, understanding your place in the universe and living harmoniously with others.

4. Rationality: Use reason as a guiding principle in life, helping to navigate emotions and maintain a balanced perspective.

5. Acceptance of Fate: Embrace the concept of amor fati—loving one’s fate—by accepting and finding value in life's challenges.

Practical Applications of Stoicism

1. Managing Stress: Stoicism teaches focusing on what is within your control, helping to reduce anxiety by letting go of things you cannot change. This mindset promotes resilience in stressful situations.

2. Ethical Decision-Making: By emphasizing the importance of virtue and reason, Stoicism guides individuals to make ethical choices based on principles rather than emotions or external pressures.

3. Emotional Regulation: Stoicism encourages reflecting on emotions rationally, allowing for better management of reactions and promoting a calm demeanor.

4. Resilience in Adversity: Stoic practices, like negative visualization, prepare individuals for potential challenges, fostering a mindset that embraces difficulties as opportunities for growth.

5. Daily Reflection: Stoics advocate for regular self-reflection to evaluate personal progress and align daily actions with long-term values, leading to continuous self-improvement.

Common Misconceptions about Stoicism

1. Emotional Suppression: Stoicism is often mistaken for suppressing emotions. In reality, it teaches understanding and managing emotions through rational thinking, not ignoring them.

2. Lack of Empathy: Some believe Stoics are unemotional or indifferent. However, Stoicism emphasizes compassion and justice, encouraging fair treatment of others.

3. Fatalism: Stoicism is sometimes seen as passive acceptance of fate. While Stoics accept what cannot be controlled, they actively work to improve themselves and their circumstances within those limits.

4. Detachment from Life: It is thought that Stoics avoid pleasure and joy. Instead, they advocate moderation and find deeper satisfaction in virtue and personal growth.

5. Rigidity: Stoicism is perceived as inflexible. In truth, it values adaptability, using reason to navigate life’s complexities and make wise decisions.