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The Virtue of Stoicism 

More times than not, humans are mistaken about what is good and what will actually make them happy in the end, living a flourishing life. As a species, it is easy to fall into traps of destructive emotions, negative self-talk, procrastination, attachment to external validation and material possessions, and overindulgence. Originated as a Hellenistic philosophy and founded by Zeno of Citium, also known in modern as day Cyprus, circa 300 B.C.E, followers of Stoicism engaged in fierce debates with the Skeptics, Academics, and Epicureans while being influenced by Socrates and the Cynics. Although Stoicism was dependent on who was the ruler at the time, it was a very popular idea during the Roman Empire, especially with Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius, 161 to 180, who was also a Stoic philosopher and believed “perfection of character is this: to live each day as if it were your last, without frenzy, without apathy, without pretense” and to “remember that very little is needed to make a happy life” (Pilat, Sekoul “The Philosopher King: Marcus Aurelius”). According to Zeno, conflict is one of the main reasons for unhappiness, therefore, in order to achieve a said “happy and flourishing end to life” is to “live in agreement”, specifically with nature and the cosmos. The Stoic approach to knowledge and wisdom emphasizes that interdisciplinary disagreements should prompt a reevaluation of our beliefs and encourage a more holistic view of knowledge and ways of living, where wisdom is not confined to a single field but is pursued through a harmonious integration of multiple perspectives, including the Stoic ideas of ethics, logic, and physics. 

The core of Stoicism is ethics, which emphasizes how people should live in harmony with reason and nature and how to develop virtue as the ultimate good. According to the Stoics, ethics is about knowing what is under one's control, living in accordance with the rational order of the cosmos, developing inner serenity, and being resilient in the face of adversity. It is not about following social conventions or finding personal fulfillment. Four cardinal qualities were recognized by the Stoics: justice–behaving in a way that advances the common good, courage–the capacity to face difficulties and persevere, temperance–the capacity to exercise self-control and moderation, and wisdom–the capacity to recognize what is good and act appropriately. By highlighting the fact that genuine satisfaction and contentment come from the development of virtue rather than from outside factors, these virtues help the Stoic make moral decisions. It is often misunderstood that Stoics are promoting a lack or elimination of emotion, but instead, they approach a teaching of a “well-disposed emotional life” and being “appropriate to and consistent with the nature of things, both regarding the truth of judgment and the degree of the response” (Rubarth, "Stoic Philosophy of Mind."). Apatheia, sometimes misinterpreted as emotional detachment but more accurately described as a condition of emotional hardiness, is fostered by Stoicism. It is the capacity to remain composed in the face of difficulty, neither overcome by passion nor rendered insensitive to the emotions that inevitably surface. Passions are said to be an impulse, and according to Chrysippus, once it’s there, it becomes very difficult to get rid of, like running down a hill unable to stop. The Stoic who cultivates apatheia is able to live more clearly and purposefully, unaffected by outside events and always led by virtue and reason. Aiming at the highest kind of happiness—one that depends on the integrity of a person's character and deeds rather than on material possessions—it offers a framework for moral clarity and personal growth.

Alongside ethics and physics, logic is one of the three main ideas of Stoicism. The Stoics saw logic as a vital instrument for bringing one's ideas and deeds into harmony with the universe's natural order and rational structure, not just as a tool for reasoning. The Stoics believed that virtue could only be attained by rigorous, clear thought because it enabled people to separate fact from fiction and make choices that were in line with nature. With the use of logic, one can express reason and critical thinking, along with differentiating what may be true and false. In his exploration and article on the pillars of Stoicism, Tomas Kucera states, “By cultivating a disciplined and logical mind, one is better prepared to confront life’s challenges with clarity and composure. Stoic logic includes the study of formal reasoning, epistemology, rhetoric, and psychology,” (Kucera, “Exploring Stoicism: Unpacking the Pillars of Logic, Physics, and Ethics”). Earlier Greek philosophers, particularly those of the Aristotelian tradition, had a significant influence on the Stoic approach to reasoning and logic, however the Stoics also created a system of their own. The syllogism, a type of deductive reasoning that draws conclusions from premises, is a fundamental component of Stoic logic. According to the Stoic perspective, syllogism enables people to proceed from general facts to specific conclusions. Logic is an important idea of Stoic philosophy, as the identification of truth plays as a backbone to the teachings. Being virtuous means acting in line with nature, which calls for rational thought, and in this way, the Stoic's ethical decisions are supported by the cognitive framework that logic offers. A person's capacity for logical reasoning aids them in deciding on the most beneficial course of action when confronted with a moral problem or challenging circumstance.

In Stoicism, physics encompasses a deeper comprehension of the cosmos and the logical, divine order that controls it, in addition to the study of the natural world. Because it offers the basis for comprehending ethics– how we should live– and logic– how we should reason–, the Stoics viewed physics as an essential component of their philosophical teachings. Understanding nature and its laws enables us to live morally and in balance with the natural world. The Stoics held that everything that occurs in the universe is the outcome of a logical, divine plan coming to pass. The way the universe is set up, everything that happens—from the motion of the planets to the deeds of specific people—follows from the previous condition of affairs and is governed by the rules of nature. Within Stoicism, this point of thinking is frequently called determinism or fatalism. The Stoics held that although this deterministic viewpoint may appear to imply a lack of free will, people nevertheless have responsibility and their freedom is determined by how they react to the situations and events they face. In other words, although the logos determines the universe's events, people have the freedom to choose how they respond to them. For instance, the Stoic sage, someone who has mastered the Stoic lifestyle, lives virtuously in harmony with nature, accepting the course of events with composure and not rejecting or trying to control what is ultimately out of their control.

Two opposing philosophical schools—Friedrich Nietzsche and the Stoics—each have unique and differentiating perspectives on morality, human flourishing, and the place of pain. Although they both provide guidance on how people might lead fulfilling lives in a world that is frequently hostile, they differ greatly in how they see hardship, life's obstacles, and the essence of human strength. Nietzsche did not agree with most of the Stoic teachings because, “...he saw its emphasis on tranquility and control over emotions as a denial of life's dynamic and passionate aspects. He believed in embracing life's struggles and passions, not retreating into calm detachment,” (Buckles, “Why Did Nietzsche Reject Stoicism?”). Although Stoicism vouches for emotional well-being, not emotional suppression, Nietzsche believes in a more passion-centered and individualistic approach to life, unlike Stoicism, that has the idea of universal morality. Not only did Nietzsche disagree with Stoic values and virtues, but he also believed the logic side of Stoicism was untruthful, and that it did not acknowledge the diverse and intricate nature of humanity. Stoics believed in life in accordance with nature and accepting one’s fate as the world brings it, while Nietzsche believed in creating one’s own meaning of life and pressuring the standards of our day-to-day lives. The main reason for Nietzsche rejecting Stoicism is believed to be his prior rejection of traditional philosophy which plays a big part of his philosophical background.

Contrasting to Stoicism, the philosophical school of Epicureanism emphasizes the absence of pain with the ultimate life goal of pleasure. Stoicism on the other hand, emphasizes living in accordance with nature and virtue, virtue– wisdom, courage, justice, and temperance– being the only true good, while external objects and situations like pleasure, wealth, and status are, not inherently bad, but indifference to our lives. According to Epicurus, the founder of Epicureanism, pleasure is the ultimate aim of existence. He maintained that pursuing bodily and mental well-being is the path to happiness and that pleasure is the right and natural aim of human existence. Epicureans hold that moderation and the removal of unnecessary wants are the paths to pleasure rather than excessive indulgence. According to Epicurus, the best kind of pleasure is ataraxia, or mental peace, which is attained by controlling one's wants and conquering fears, especially the fear of death and the gods. In order to achieve a steady, peaceful emotional state free from excessive passions, Epicureanism advises people to concentrate on little, organic pleasures and friendships. Although they accept the reality of emotions, the Stoics believe that they are the product of illogical assessments or a misinterpretation of what is actually valuable. Feelings like fear, grief, rage, and envy develop when we become attached to things beyond our control. Stoicism promotes the transformation of emotions via the application of reason and wisdom rather than the pursuit of emotionlessness. Both schools of thought emphasize the need of reasoned thought in leading a calm, contented life and call for minimizing pointless cravings and anxieties, however, Stoicism emphasizes virtue and logical control over emotions and desires as the way to happiness, whereas Epicureanism focuses on the pursuit of pleasure.

The three primary tenets of Stoic philosophy—ethics, logic, and physics—were not seen as distinct but rather as a coherent system that allowed for a comparative analysis of life's complexities. Despite the oppositions and disagreements of Stoicism, the philosophical idea provides a lifestyle of positive emotions and ways of living. These three branches all play different but related roles in assisting people in leading moral, sensible, and peaceful lives. The central tenet of Stoicism is ethics, which holds that virtue—living in harmony with reason and nature—is the only real good. Regardless of the situation outside of our control, Stoics believe that we can attain inner peace (ataraxia) by concentrating on our thoughts, deeds, and judgments. Logic and physics add to this by using reason effectively and to explain the natural process of the universe. Since wisdom is not limited to a single field but rather is sought through the harmonious integration of multiple perspectives, including the Stoic ideas of ethics, logic, and physics, the Stoic approach to knowledge and wisdom emphasizes that interdisciplinary disagreements and thoughts should encourage a more holistic view of knowledge and ways of living, prompting a reevaluation of our beliefs and ideas.

Works Cited

Buckles, Shawn. “Why Did Nietzsche Reject Stoicism?” WisdomShort.Com, 3 Jan. 2024, wisdomshort.com/philosophers/nietzsche/rejected-stoicism.

Caffrey, Cait. “Stoicism.” Salem Press Encyclopedia, 2024. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=ers&AN=125600318&site=eds-live&scope=site.

Durand, Marion, et al. “Stoicism.” Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, Stanford University, 20 Jan. 2023, plato.stanford.edu/entries/stoicism/#Ethi.https://thedecisionlab.com/thinkers/philosophy/marcus-aurelius#

Eternalised. “The Stoic Virtues (Art of Living): Wisdom.” Eternalised, 3 May 2021, eternalisedofficial.com/2020/11/09/the-stoic-virtues-wisdom/#:~:text=Wisdom%2C%20for%20Stoics%2C%20can%20be,act%20appropriately%20under%20different%20circumstances. 

Kucera, Tomas. “Exploring Stoicism: Unpacking the Pillars of Logic, Physics, and Ethics.” The Geeky Leader, 3 Mar. 2024, thegeekyleader.com/2024/03/03/exploring-stoicism-unpacking-the-pillars-of-logic-physics-and-ethics/.

Pilat D., & Sekoul D. (2021). “Marcus Aurelius.” The Decision Lab.

Rubarth, Scott. "Stoic Philosophy of Mind." Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy, www.iep.utm.edu/stoicmind/.