Questions tagged [stoicism]
an ancient Greek school of philosophy founded at Athens by Zeno of Citium. The school taught that virtue, the highest good, is based on knowledge, and that the wise live in harmony with the divine Reason (also identified with Fate and Providence) that governs nature, and are indifferent to the vicissitudes of fortune and to pleasure and pain.
79
questions
0
votes
2
answers
88
views
There is nothing good or bad, but thinking makes it so. Are these words of Shakespeare,inspired by Marcus Aurelius, true?
This question is not about ethics. It is about our perceptions of positive and negative value. I take the original meaning of the great emperor to be that we have control only of our own thinking, and ...
- 1,979
1
vote
0
answers
49
views
Is there a standard, modern reference on Stoicism?
What I'm wondering is if there are any well known, modern references (books) that summarize the history and philosophy of Stoicism, preferably written in the past 50 years or so. The more modern the ...
- 997
0
votes
0
answers
21
views
What are the main elements of Stoicism? [duplicate]
My question is this: What are the main elements of Stoicism?
As a secondary question, it would also be nice to know how Epicureanism compares to or contrasts with Stoicism.
Primary source material ...
- 101
1
vote
0
answers
63
views
What is "what we can or can't control" in stoicism?
Stoics, as a rule, shouldn't be psychologically affected by what they don't have any control over. But what kind of control are we talking about?
I do not have any control over the weather, therefore ...
2
votes
0
answers
48
views
How Can I grow from this? [closed]
Everything that's unpleasant makes me upset, I know that's the sign of weakness. How can I master my emotions? How can I grow from this?
- 21
3
votes
2
answers
113
views
Hegelian dialectic to transcend Stoic vs Nietzsche?
I would like to apply Hegel's dialectic to the following thesis/antithesis and that you help me find sublimating synthesis ideas. Here is the thesis:
"to live a happy life, you must accept your ...
- 141
3
votes
4
answers
148
views
Are there any stoic suggestions around dealing with unneeded hard truths and happy unknowing minds?
Say I really liked sausage, one day decided to learn how it was made, and came out disgusted though not morally opposed.
Later, someone is telling me they really like sausage. They are happy liking ...
- 131
4
votes
4
answers
194
views
Why is self-control good?
Self-control is not like the other three cardinal virtues (justice, courage, and wisdom).
Self-control presupposes that something about you needs to be controlled. And why would something about you ...
- 413
2
votes
0
answers
99
views
What is the distinction between Ancient Philosophy and Religion?
I'm currently reading Pierre Hadot book What is "Ancient Philosophy?" (Qu'est-ce que la philosophie antique?) and as I reach the third part of the book i can't stop thinking about, how ...
- 43
6
votes
6
answers
817
views
Should happiness be attained by reforming the world around us for the better or by accepting it as it is?
Two of the most influent philosophers in the antiquity proposed different perspectives on how we should attain happiness: Plato and Epictetus.
Plato points out that our civilization contains ...
- 61
4
votes
1
answer
90
views
What is "the problem of the criterion" and how does the Stoic solution of catalepsis attempt to solve it?
The concept of truth criteria appeared while browsing the Wikipedia article on Truth. What is the motivation behind this problem? Why is it important? In addition to the two questions in the title.
- 413
14
votes
2
answers
3k
views
What's the point of this quote from Seneca (Stoicism)?
If anyone says that the best life of all is to sail the sea, and then adds that I must not sail upon a sea where shipwrecks are a common occurrence and there are often sudden storms that sweep the ...
- 141
1
vote
0
answers
72
views
Has anyone described etc. Ataraxia from not asking needless questions?
Has anyone described etc. Ataraxia from not asking needless questions? I am most familiar with the idea of ataraxy from Epicurus
if one is frightened by the empty name of death, the fear will persist
...
user62946
0
votes
1
answer
260
views
What does Marcus Aurelius' "Lower things for the sake of higher ones, and higher ones for one another" mean and how does it relate to stoic ideals?
From Book Seven of Marcus Aurelius' Meditations:
Everything has to do what it was made for. And other things were made for those with logos. In this respect as in others: lower
things exist for the ...
- 49
3
votes
1
answer
327
views
Epictetus quote on Love and Wise
"If someone is incapable of distinguishing good things from bad and
neutral things from either – well, how could such a person be capable
of love? The power to love, then, belongs only to the ...
user56799
4
votes
1
answer
140
views
What is the importance of compassion in stoicism?
I am quite attracted to a lot of buddhist ideas, but have always had a problem in that compassion is a cornerstone of the buddhist way, and I don't have any. There are tools for developing compassion, ...
- 41
0
votes
0
answers
61
views
What do Ancient philosophers mean by matter?
For example Stoics thought that Pneuma pervades all matter.
There are several definitions of matter but I think the most reasonable is the one based on Elementary fermions.
But in the ancient times ...
- 793
0
votes
1
answer
206
views
Does Stoicism condone passivity?
According to Google, Stoicism means:
"The endurance of pain or hardship without the display of feelings and without complaint."
So does it mean that amid most difficult circumstances where ...
user34484
2
votes
1
answer
134
views
Differentiating between key Stoics
At first blush, the major Stoics - Epictetus, Marcus Aurelius, and Seneca - seem quite similar in the somewhat limited selections of their works that I have read.
Gen. Mattis carries Marcus Aurelius, ...
user49216
0
votes
1
answer
495
views
Modern-day examples of Stoicism? [closed]
Having listened to the Meditations audiobook on YouTube, and having watched Professor Michael Sugrue's lecture on Marcus Aurelius - it seems to me, the essence of Stoicism is: to accept what is, as it ...
user48972
1
vote
1
answer
375
views
wisdom vs thoughts vs meditations of marcus aurelius
i don't know anything about stoicism but am trying to buy a present for someone who likes it a lot. i am seeing books called 'meditations of marcus aurelius', 'wisdom of marcus aurelius', and 'the ...
- 113
-1
votes
3
answers
289
views
Is stoicism still relevant in modern world?
As the world with each day is becoming more hyperconnected and communication-centric, will being emotionally enduring and closed up self-destructive in the long-term? Is stoicism still relevant in the ...
3
votes
0
answers
805
views
Marcus Aurelius' progression in stoic thought
In what is ascribed to be Verse 18, Book V of Marcus Aurelius' Mediations, Marcus writes:
[1] "Nothing happens to any man which he is not formed by nature to bear."
Alternative ...
- 183
5
votes
1
answer
4k
views
What are some of the most effective arguments against stoicism?
I searched the question a bit and I found these two articles that present some arguments against stoicism. I found some of their more general arguments like Crantor's argument against stoicism ...
- 552
2
votes
0
answers
88
views
What are the reasons as to why many important ancient philosophers ascribed to stoicism whereas few ancient philosophers were epicurians?
It seems to me that there were relatively few prominent ancient (if not prominent at least with wikipedia entries with their names) philosophers that espoused Epicureanism while there were many ...
- 552
3
votes
2
answers
853
views
Stoic way of dealing with insults and humiliation
Are there any stoic writings lecturing on dealing with insults, humiliations and even extreme physical humiliations that might drive one to commit suicide?
- 131
1
vote
1
answer
229
views
Are there historical connections between the concepts of apatheia/ataraxia and nirvana?
These concepts seem very similar to me: loosely speaking, it's all about how limiting our desires is good. Knowing that there was contact between ancient Greece and ancient India, could it be that one ...
- 113
7
votes
1
answer
300
views
How can I understand references in Seneca's Moral letters to Lucilius?
I have been reading Seneca's Moral letters to Lucilius, and some times I find references that I don't understand. I'm not sure if this is a notation specific to these works or if it's a notation ...
- 173
0
votes
0
answers
170
views
Reference request for philosophies like Stoicism
I'm doing a bit of a review of philosophical systems... At one end being the logic and reason of Critical thinking, in the middle are logical problems with "accepted" answers, and at the other end "...
- 147
3
votes
1
answer
513
views
What is the essence of stoicism?
I am a materialist, and I heard that stoic philosophers can be described (to some extent) as materialists. I am a big fan of stoic logic and ethical philosophy (and attitude towards death, emotions, ...
- 2,369
9
votes
1
answer
752
views
Enchiridion, 16: Does a stoic moan, or not?
The translation of Epictetus' Enchiridion, part 16 by Elizabeth Carter (http://classics.mit.edu/Epictetus/epicench.html) seems to contradict that of Thomas Wentworth Higginson's (https://www.gutenberg....
- 93
1
vote
1
answer
2k
views
The meaning behind Seneca's quote
Seneca once said, "What need is there to weep over parts of life? The whole of it calls for tears". I have read this quote over and over again and I have searched for a clear explanation about this ...
- 11
3
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Criticism of stoicism
In relation to the writings of Epictetus or Seneca, what is some adequate criticism to stoicism? Any writings/papers dealing with that in particular?
- 39
2
votes
1
answer
194
views
Is feeling motivated in our control, from perspective of stoicism? [closed]
People often don't feel motivated and there is ample psychological literature that acknowledges this. But from a Stoic philosophical perspective it is indeed worth pondering whether "feeling not ...
- 21
1
vote
2
answers
195
views
Can we adopt a certain perspective without subjective experience?
Introduction
I am not speaking about our conscious perspective that includes our conscious knowledge of what is rational and what is irrational. I am speaking about the deep perspective that controls ...
- 650
2
votes
1
answer
140
views
On the universal and preconception in stoic logic: the word "natural" (naturale) from Diog. L., VII, 54
Foreword: as an Italian student, I hope that I will not make many mistakes in translating the lexicon from my native language to English; sometimes this will happen, and so putting the Italian word in ...
user35385
1
vote
0
answers
127
views
As someone studying philosophy and applying it to my life with success, how far does one take the ideals learnt?
I am studying several philosophers and applying all the knowledge I am learning into a 'melting pot' of ideals and characteristics I am applying to my life to better myself and attempt to live more ...
- 171
4
votes
2
answers
4k
views
How does Stoicism relate to Existentialism?
I was wondering about the relation or influence that Stoicism had on Existentialism and Existentialist thinkers, such as Camus, Nietzsche, Kierkegaard, and Sartre.
In any of their works do they ...
- 51
7
votes
1
answer
290
views
How does Stoicism deal with human interdependence?
Well as humans are inherently social animals we tend to rely on each other for the specific duties which are sometimes voluntarily accepted or sometimes prescribed strictly.
For e.g. the duty of a ...
- 171
6
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Similarities between Jordan Peterson's 12 Rules for Life and Stoicism
I was wondering if these two paths have similarities in their implementation or if they are two different paths that lead to the same place?
Peterson is very interesting in doing something meaningful ...
- 323
5
votes
3
answers
1k
views
Stoicism: How can you be calm and uncaring and rush to do your best at the same time?
I've been studying stoic philosophy lately and I have incorporated more of the calmness and de-stressing elements of it into my daily life.
However, I have noticed that I also do not seem to try ...
- 323
0
votes
2
answers
308
views
What is your view of Stoicism as a philosophy for present day living? [closed]
Do you approve of the Stoic philosophy presented in the discourses of Epictetus, the meditations of Marcus Aurelius and the writings of Lucius Annaeus Seneca?
How do you reconcile the Stoic idea of ...
- 133
5
votes
1
answer
267
views
Can you apply Stoic Philosophy to a Business Goal?
I have recently read Irvine's book about stoic philosophy and I am interested about his take on the trichotomy of control.
He states that you have 3 options for control:
Some things that you have ...
- 323
5
votes
2
answers
240
views
What is the stoic response to something like the events in Las Vegas?
I have recently been trying to learn about stoicism. It is the one philosophy that I think closely represents me and how I live in general.
Reading a few sites and have ordered Meditations. http://...
- 185
4
votes
1
answer
347
views
How is contemporary Stoicism related to classical Stoicism?
Is the popular, modern conception of stoicism equivalent to the actual philosophy espoused in books like Epictetus' The Discourses? How are they different, and what might we misunderstand without ...
1
vote
2
answers
520
views
Stoic thoughts on sharing achievements
I've started practising and I wonder what are the stoic thoughts on sharing your achievements with friends/anyone.
I used to share all my achievements with everyone and it was causing some troubles, ...
- 113
3
votes
1
answer
398
views
Why does Philo skip Genesis 1?
In Νόμων Ἱερῶν Ἀλληγορίαι, (Legum Allegoriæ), Stoic Philosopher Philo of Alexandria sets out to make an allegorical commentary on Genesis 2-3. Why does Philo choose to pick up with chapter 2 instead ...
- 181
1
vote
2
answers
2k
views
Is there any other philosophy or belief system like stoicism?
I am looking for something similar to stoicism. I know buddhism and secular humanism have lots of similarity, but that's it.
- 31
1
vote
1
answer
221
views
What stoicism offers for platonic love? [closed]
There is a girl that I am in love with, and she is going to marry soon, not with me. We are friends, and I don't want to lose her; however, it hurts. Can stoicism help me with that? If it can, how?
- 31
3
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Death and Epictetus
In the Enchiridion, Epictetus seems suggest that goodness and badness are not “in” the world. They are “in” our reactions.
For example he says that, “Death, for instance, is not terrible, else it ...
- 31