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Of all the philosophies from ancient times that arose, first, from Greece, then the Hellenistic Period, and finally Rome—prior to it transitioning into the theology of Early Christianity and the writings of St. Augustine, I find Stoicism to be the most interesting—possibly because it’s seemingly easier to grasp, but also due to it appealing to my outlook…although I’m hardly a stoic in my behavior.
As explained in Wikipedia, “The Stoics believed that the practice of virtue is enough to achieve a well-lived, flourishing life. They identified the path to achieving it with a life spent practicing certain virtues in everyday life such as courage or temperance and living in accordance with nature.”
A rational control of passions and detaching yourself from emotions so that they did not rule your actions.
They thought that emotion was a confused idea; that moral evil such as greed was due to our irrational passions and being out-of-harmony with nature.
These are eight of the main ethical notions held by the Stoic philosophers.
Nature: Nature is rational.
Law of Reason: The universe is governed by the law of reason. Humans can't actually escape its inexorable force, but they can, uniquely, follow the law deliberately.
Virtue: A life led according to rational nature is virtuous.
Wisdom: Wisdom is the the root virtue. From it spring the cardinal virtues: insight, bravery, self-control, and justice.
Apathea: Since passion is irrational, life should be waged as a battle against it. Intense feeling should be avoided.
Pleasure: Pleasure is neither good nor bad. It is only acceptable if it doesn't interfere with the quest for virtue.
Evil: Poverty, illness, and death are not evil.
Duty: Virtue should be sought, not for the sake of pleasure, but for duty.
As modern-day stoic philosopher Massimo Pigliucci (b. 1959) describes the stoic philosophy: "Briefly, their notion of morality is stern, involving a life in accordance with nature and controlled by virtue. It is an ascetic system, teaching perfect indifference (apathea) to everything external, for nothing external could be either good or evil. Hence to the Stoics both pain and pleasure, poverty and riches, sickness and health, were supposed to be equally unimportant."
There’s much more, but this is a highlight.
Any thoughts or comments?
Notes on Stoicism
Seems like little room for compassion to steer one's life.
I would say humaness should be experienced. Living a life such as this is the model for a Mr. Spock existence.