Stoicism

We tell you what stoicism is and its characteristics. Also, its history and the difference with skepticism.

What is Stoicism?

Stoicism is a Greek philosophical school that was founded in Athens in the 3rd century BC. C. and was later developed by the Romans. It is, along with Epicureanism and skepticism, one of the most important intellectual movements of Hellenism.

The Stoic wise man is the one who does not make mistakes because he does not express false opinions, make assumptions or be affected by his emotional states. He is a completely rational person.

The Stoics were concerned with ethical problems. In particular, the internal irrationality of the action, the lack of education of the dispositions of character, virtue, moral progress, responsibility, happiness and other moral issues.

The founders of Stoicism were Zeno of Citium (336-264 BC), Cleanthes (331-232 BC) and Chrysippus (281-206 BC). They all believed in a rational system that could explain the structure of reality. Through the study of that system, as well as one's own behavior, moderation, and self-regulation, happiness could be achieved.

Beginning in the Modern Age, interest in the study of Stoicism was renewed. Elements of Stoic thought have been found in the works of authors such as John Locke (1632-1704), Gottfried Leibniz (1646-1716), Immanuel Kant (1724-1804) or Jean Jacques Rousseau (1712-1778).

Characteristics of Stoicism

Classical Stoicism is an ancient philosophy that originated in Hellenistic Greece and developed in Rome. It focuses on ethics and self-discipline as means to achieving wisdom and inner tranquility.

Some of its main features are:

• Virtue as supreme good. The Stoics believed that virtue, thought of as wisdom, courage, justice, and temperance, was the only supreme good. Furthermore, they believed that pursuing virtue was the key to a meaningful and happy life.
• Indifference towards material desires. The Stoics advocated indifference toward material possessions and sensory pleasure, considering them indifferent in comparison to virtue.
• Acceptance of destiny. The Stoics promoted acceptance of fate and believed in the idea that the individual must accept circumstances that he cannot change and focus on what he can control: his own actions and attitudes.
• Self-discipline and self-reflection. Stoicism emphasized self-discipline and self-reflection as means to enhance personal virtue and achieve emotional tranquility.
• Control of emotions. The Stoics advocated the control of emotions through reason and logic, believing that negative emotions were the result of incorrect judgments and could be corrected.
• Life according to nature. The Stoics believed that living in accordance with nature meant living in accordance with reason and virtue, in harmony with the laws of nature and universal reason.
• emotional detachment. The Stoics promoted emotional detachment, which means not becoming overly attached to people, things, or circumstances, to avoid unnecessary suffering.
• Cosmopolitism. The Stoics advocated the idea that all human beings are citizens of one world and promoted universal brotherhood and equality.

History of Stoicism

Skepticism was founded by Zeno of Citium in the 3rd century BC. c. Zeno was the son of a merchant named Mnaseas of Kition, present-day Cyprus. Zeno met with his disciples in the stoa poikile or “Painted Porch” to the east of Athens, a fact that gave them the name “Stoics.”

Zeno's Stoics believed that The wise man was the one who had educated his character not to desire what he should not and, furthermore, he was never wrong, he did not make false assumptions, he did not give an opinion nor was he affected by any emotional state.. He was the figure of the apathetic.

Although Zeno was the founder, Stoic philosophy was developed and expanded by his successors, including Cleanthes of Asso and Chrysippus of Soli. Stoic philosophy had a significant influence on Greek culture and, later, Roman society.

Thus, the Stoics believed in the importance of living in harmony with nature, following reason and virtue, and calmly accepting the circumstances of life, regardless of what might happen. They considered suffering and negative emotions to be the result of attachment to external things that could not be controlled.

As Stoicism spread throughout the Roman world, it gained popularity among different social strata, from slaves and commoners to emperors and philosophers. Among the latter are Seneca, Epictetus and the emperor Marcus Aurelius. The writings and teachings of these thinkers had a lasting impact and continue to be studied and read today.

• Seneca's writingsadvisor and tutor to Emperor Nero, addressed topics such as ethics, self-control, and the pursuit of happiness.
• The practical lessons of Epictetus They focused on the importance of self-control and acceptance of what is outside the individual's control.
• The reflections of Marcus Aureliusdeveloped in Meditationsrevealed his personal struggles and efforts to maintain composure amid his responsibilities as ruler of the Roman Empire.

Stoicism also influenced Christian philosophy, especially its ideas about morality and ethics. Many Stoic principles, such as virtue, compassion, and self-discipline, found resonance in Christianityalthough with fundamental differences in their worldview and religious approach.

Over the centuries, Stoicism has remained an important philosophical current and has influenced the thinking of various philosophers, writers and thinkers. Although it had its heyday in classical antiquity, many of its ideas and teachings remain relevant today.

Classical Stoicism, with figures such as Epictetus, Seneca, and Marcus Aurelius, remains an influential philosophy today due to its focus on self-control, ethics, and the pursuit of wisdom and inner peace.

The stoic wise man

The early Stoics characterized the sage of Stoicism in a way similar to the Aristotelian virtuous man. However, while the Aristotelian was one who had educated his character in such a way that he should be pleased and pained according to the customs of morality, the Stoic wise man was one who had learned not to desire what he should not.

The wise man was the figure of one who was never wrong, did not assume falsely or was affected by his emotions. His life and actions were always rational and he was free of passions. This was often pointed out as a difficulty, since there were no people who could behave that way. However, the Stoics maintained that the wise man did not change his mind or make mistakes because, instead of having opinions, he possessed knowledge.

Some Stoics said that there were people who were partially virtuous, that is, who revealed traits of virtue, since no one was absolutely virtuous.. However, it is worth clarifying, the figure of the wise man was not that of someone quiet and alienated from life but rather he was someone in a state of maximum rational activity, with a complete understanding of human affectivity.

In any case, what could be pointed out about the wise man was that his emotional states were those that the Stoics considered correct: joy, caution, and rational desire or longing. All of them were opposed to the states of those who were not wise, which were: joy to pleasure, caution to fear, and rational desire or longing to irrational appetite or desire.

Stoicism and skepticism

Stoicism and skepticism are two different philosophical currents that differ in their fundamental approaches. While stoicism promotes virtue, acceptance of fate, and determinism, skepticism is characterized by doubt, suspension of judgment, and the pursuit of ataraxia through the absence of firm beliefs. These two philosophical currents have contrasting approaches towards life and knowledge.

The Stoics believed in the importance of living a virtuous and wise life. They considered wisdom to be living in accordance with reason and nature, and they held the idea of ​​cosmic determinism, in which everything was predestined by divine reason or nature.

Skeptics, on the other hand, embraced doubt and suspension of judgment. They questioned the possibility of achieving absolute knowledge or definitive truth and maintained that an attitude of disbelief should be maintained in the face of dogmatic statements.

Furthermore, the Stoics advocated accepting life's inevitable events with serenity and tranquility. They believed that external events could not be controlled, but the reaction to them could be controlled. In this sense, the skeptics were similar to them, since they sought ataraxia, which is the tranquility and peace of mind that is achieved by freeing oneself from firm beliefs and the disturbances they cause.

References

• Boeri, Marcelo D. (2004). The ancient Stoics. Santiago de Chile: University Publishing House.
• Boeri, Marcelo D., and Salles, Ricardo (2014). The Stoic Philosophers: Ontology, Logic, Physics and Ethics. Sankt Augustin: Academia Verlag.
• Intr., trans. and notes from Á. J. Cappelletti. Rev.: P. Ortiz García (1996). The ancient Stoics. Madrid: Editorial Gredos.
• Ferrater Mora, J. (1984). Dictionary of Philosophy (Stoicism, Cataleptic). Barcelona: Editorial Alliance