We explain what Stoicism is in philosophy, its principles and representatives. Also, what is it in everyday life and other philosophical schools.

What is Stoicism?

Stoicism is a philosophical school from the 3rd century BC. C. that proposes a personal ethic. The ancient Stoics maintained that, even though you cannot control what happens around you, Yes you can control the way you think about it.

Stoicism is based on a logical system and a law of cause-effect relationship. For the Stoics, the entire universe is a rational and understandable structure, even when said structure cannot be visualized and understood.

According to his doctrine, People have to be disciplined, self-controlled and tolerant using courage and reason. Through this path (the only path that leads to true happiness), a harmonious and virtuous life can be achieved.

See also: Philosophical thought

History of Stoicism

Stoicism It was founded in Athens during the 3rd century BC. C. by Zeno of Citium (336-264 BC), philosopher of Phoenician origin. Among his most famous followers are Cleanthes of Aso (330 to 300-232 BC), successor of Zeno, and Chrysippus of Solos (281-208 BC), disciple of Cleanthes and important figure of the Stoic school.

Originally known as Zenonism, Stoicism took its name from the term Stoa Poikilewhich in Greek means “painted porch”. He Stoa Poikile It was a portico located to the east of the city, adorned with scenes of mythical and historical battles. There Zeno met with his disciples, and for this reason they became known as Stoics.

Stoicism was very successful in ancient Greece. It is said to have had three phases: old, middle and new stoicism. After its beginnings in Athens, it spread to other Mediterranean towns especially in the Roman Republic. Roman Stoicism originated there, whose representatives are Panaetius, Posidonius, Seneca, Epictetus and Marcus Aurelius. These authors were even better known than the Greek Stoics. More works are preserved from Roman Stoicism than from Greek.

Stoicism re-emerged in the 16th century as neo-stoicism. His doctrine was mixed with different elements of Christianity. Its founder was the Belgian humanist Justo Lipsio (1547-1606). In 1584 he published his best-known work, of constantiawith which he introduced the bases of the renewal of Stoicism.

Both classical Stoicism and Christian Stoicism or Neostoicism had a lot of influence on the thinking of different philosophers of modernity. This can be seen especially in the work of I. Kant, G. Leibniz, B. Spinoza, A. Smith and even JJ. Rousseau.

Principles of Stoic philosophy

The foundations of Stoicism can be summarized in the following points:

• The virtue is the supreme good or virtue is the only good. This means that the human being has to aspire to inner virtue. External elements such as money, success, health or pleasure are neither good nor bad in themselves. Nor should they be confused with what is truly important: wisdom as a fundamental condition of all goods.
• Happiness, knowledge and virtue are one and the same thing. Strictly speaking, goods, whether misused or well used, must be unconditional goods, and only virtue, understood as knowledge, qualifies as an unconditional good.
• The spirit has to be calm, self-controlled and disciplined to face misfortune or abundance. Only the attitude of indifference can lead to freedom and tranquility, and thus achieve the calm known as ataraxiathe maximum state sought.
• The human being must imitate the universe in its balance governed by your inner nature and not by the distractions of the world. Certain errors in thinking can generate harmful emotions, and that is why we must keep our will close to nature, accepting things as they present themselves, renouncing desire, fear and ambition.
• The nature of the human being is seen in the way he acts. Therefore, human beings are all equal and are part of the same family as citizens of the world.
• Luck and chance do not exist, but causality: everything is a consequence of something else, even if it cannot be understood.

The four great virtues of the Stoics

The Stoics considered the following points to be great virtues:

• Practical knowledge which allows you to handle challenging situations with a calm head.
• The temperance to moderate and control the seduction of everyday pleasures.
• justice which must be exercised even in the case of receiving injustice from others.
• The courage both in extreme situations and in everyday life, to preserve clarity and integrity.

Stoic ethics

Ethics was one of the great philosophical problems addressed by the Stoics. The relevance of ethical themes and problems was in dialogue with the works of Socrates, Plato and even Aristotle.

Some of these ethical problems are:

• The explanation of why irrational decisions are made.
• The problems that accompany a lack of education in character dispositions, that is, the consequences of an excessive personality.
• Virtue, moral progress and individual responsibility.
• The proper and truly correct acts according to strict morality.
• Happiness as the goal of life.
• The emotional states and the consequences of carrying out a certain course of action while being in a certain emotional state.

Main representatives of Stoicism

The main names associated with Stoicism in ancient times were the following:

• Zeno of Citium (336-264 BC). Founder of Stoicism, he was born in Cytium, Cyprus, and was a disciple of Polemon, Crates of Thebes and Stilpo of Megara. Initially he became interested in the school of cynicism. His personal doctrines founded the basis of the philosophical school. His works were lost in time, so that there are only scattered fragments and mentions in the works of third parties.
• Cleanthes of Aso (330-232 BC). He was the main disciple of Zeno, and after the death of his teacher, he directed the Stoic school until he died at the age of 99.
• Chrysippus of Solos (c.281-c.208 BC). Considered the “second founder” of Greek Stoicism, he was its most emblematic and important figure and the father of Greek grammar in ancient times. He was a disciple of Cleanthes and is said to have also attended the Platonic Academy.
• Seneca the Younger (4 BC – 65 AD). Philosopher, politician and writer, he was an important figure in Roman politics during the reigns of Claudius and Nero. He was one of the greatest exponents of Roman Stoicism: his work is the main source of knowledge about the Stoic doctrine that is preserved. His influence on later thinkers, both Christian and Renaissance, was enormous, along with Epictetus and Marcus Aurelius.
• Epictetus (55-135 AD). He was a Greek philosopher of the Stoic school, who lived a good part of his life in Rome, as a slave. He founded his own school in Nicopolis and his doctrine imitated that of Socrates, so he did not leave any written work. His thought is preserved thanks to his disciple, Flavius ​​Arrian.

Examples of stoicism in everyday life

Some examples of everyday life events stoically gone through are:

• A breakup taken with stoicism does not mean that it does not hurt, but that it is experienced trying to think as rationally as possible and not in impulsive terms, typical of emotion and pain.
• Winning a highly desired prize while being stoic does not mean that you feel joy, but rather that you experience it knowing that it is a temporary feeling and that it cannot be the basis for certain decisions. Stoicism suggests that, even in joy, you must keep your mind clear.
• Participating in a party, for the Stoics, is an exercise in complete moderation. Pleasures and desire are useful and welcome when they lead to transcendent virtue, the rest serves only as a distraction. A Stoic will enjoy only what is just, without going overboard or losing control.

Stoicism, Epicureanism and skepticism

Stoicism should not be confused with other philosophical currents such as Epicureanism and skepticism.

• Epicureanism Of Greek origin, (like Stoicism) it is a philosophical doctrine associated with hedonism and its search for pleasure as the only good. Unlike other hedonistic schools, the doctrine created by Epicurus of Samos around 307 BC. C. proposed seeking pleasure through a state similar to ataraxia of the Stoics: the absence of pain and fear, as well as the absence of physical pain (the aponica). This state was attainable through modest and sustainable pleasures, simple living, and knowledge of the workings of the world. Epicureanism was a rival doctrine of Platonism and then Stoicism, and existed until the 3rd century AD. c.
• The skepticism It is a philosophical current that affirms the impossibility of knowing the truth, or even the existence of a truth to know. Founded in Greek antiquity by the philosopher Pyrrho (c. 365-c. 275 BC), its initial maxim was that a philosopher should give his opinion, but not affirm anything, since nothing could ultimately be known for certain. Doubt and suspension of judgment (epojé) were the fundamental principles of this philosophical school.

References

• Guthrie, W. (1953). The Greek philosophers. From Thales to Aristotle. FCE.
• Cordero, N. (2008). The invention of philosophy. An introduction to ancient philosophy. Byblos Publishing House.
• Berraondo, J. (1992). Stoicism. Montesinos Publishing House.
• Cappelletti, A.. (1996). The ancient Stoics. Gredos
• “Stoicism” in Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. https://plato.stanford.edu/
• “Stoicism” at https://www.britannica.com/