Stoicism

By: Andy Sides

Mike Kurban

History

First appeared in Athens during the Hellenistic period, around 301 BC

Introduced by Zeno of Citium

Provided a unified account of the world, consisting of formal logic, materialist physics and naturalistic ethics

Basic Tenets

Teaches development of fortitude and self-control as means of overcoming destructive emotions

Becoming a clear and unbiased thinker allows one to understand universal reason

By mastering passions and emotions it’s possible to find equilibrium in oneself and the world

Basically said that Logic and Reason are more important than emotion

Impact on Western Thought

Stoicism didn’t really have much of an impact on Western thought until recently, because much of the first few centuries were marked by actions based on emotions, not rational or reasonable thought

Zeno of Citium

Background Info

Zeno (334-262 BC) was born in Citium, Cyprus, in Greece

Student of Crates of Thebes, the most famous Cynic living at the time

Was a merchant until the age of 42

Stoicism was given it’s name because he taught at the Stoa (Greek for porch).

These teaching would be beginnings of Stoicism

Ethics

Happiness is the single good in lifeonly be achieved through the use of good Reason

Virtue is the consistency of the soul which good actions come from.

Virtue can only exist with Reason, Vice only with rejection of Reason

These two can’t be increased/decreased

Passive states/emotions are irrational, because they have no reason

Ethics

Most important idea is that there are 4 distinct negative emotions: Desire and fear, pleasure and pain. He taught that these emotions must be completely rooted out and replaced with Reason. This would be a major part of Stoic philosophy.

Philosophy

Logic: True conception is either comprehensible or incomprehensible

Permitted the ability of assent for free-will

Logic is needed to avoid deception.

Physics: The Universe is God, a divine reasoning ability where all the parts fit into the whole

Divine artisan-fire is basis for all activity in Universe

Universe has undergone regular cycles of formation and destruction.

Marcus Aurelius

Background InfoMarcus Aurelius (121-181) was born in Rome, ItalyThe last of the “Five Good Emperors (of the Roman Empire)” (Nerva, Trajan, Hadrian, Antonius Pius) Fought many wars in Asia, most famously those against the Parthian Empire (covering most of Persia) Besides being one of the most prolific Emperors in Roman History, Aurelius is a distinguished writer and stoic philosopher. His most famous work is known as Meditations

Intro To Meditations

Written while on military campaign (170-180)

Meant to be solely for his own guidance and self-improvement, but is now one of the most highly praised literary documents.

Known as one of the greatest presentations of “Stoic Beliefs”

Key Ideas in Meditations

One must develop the ability to deny emotion, a skill that will “free a man from the pains and pleasures of the material world”

Emotions only blind man from true judgment, the less emotions one has, the more likely he is to make a just decision.

Only way a man can be harmed by another man is to let his reaction overpower him. (Similarly stated by Eleanor Roosevelt, 1800 years later)

Death in Meditations

Aurelius had no belief in an afterlife, which contributed greatly to his stoic thoughts.

Rationalized that since nothing lay beyond life, a life controlled by strong emotions was useless, and that man should be logical in thought.