Stoicism: what it is and its characteristics

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

Zeno of Citium was the founder of Stoicism in the 3rd century BC.

What is stoicism?

Stoicism is a Greek philosophical school that was founded in Athens in the 3rd century BC 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 sage is one who does not make mistakes because he does not express false opinions, make assumptions or is affected by his emotional states. He is a completely rational person.

The Stoics were concerned with ethical problems. In particular, the internal irrationality of action, the lack of education of character dispositions, 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 has been 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) and 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 attain wisdom and inner tranquility.

Some of its main features are:

• Virtue as the supreme goodThe Stoics believed that virtue, which revolves around wisdom, courage, justice, and temperance, was the only supreme good. They also believed that pursuing virtue was the key to a meaningful and happy life.
• Indifference towards material desiresThe Stoics advocated indifference to material possessions and sensory pleasure, considering them indifferent compared to virtue.
• Acceptance of fateThe Stoics promoted acceptance of fate and believed in the idea that the individual must accept the circumstances that he cannot change and focus on what he can control: his own actions and attitudes.
• Self-discipline and self-reflectionStoicism emphasized self-discipline and self-reflection as means to improve personal virtue and achieve emotional tranquility.
• Control of emotionsThe Stoics advocated control of emotions through reason and logic, believing that negative emotions were the result of incorrect judgments and could be corrected.
• Life according to natureThe 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 detachmentThe Stoics promoted emotional detachment, which means not becoming excessively attached to people, things, or circumstances, in order to avoid unnecessary suffering.
• CosmopolitismThe 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.Zeno was the son of a merchant named Mnaseas from Kition, present-day Cyprus. Zeno met with his disciples in the Stoa Poikile or “Painted Portico” 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, in addition, he was never wrong, did not make false assumptions, did not give opinions or was 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 Assus 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 accepting with serenity the circumstances of life, regardless of what might happen. They considered that suffering and negative emotions were 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 were Seneca, Epictetus, and the Emperor Marcus Aurelius. The writings and teachings of these thinkers had a lasting impact and are still studied and read today.

• The writings of Senecaadvisor and tutor to the 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 beyond 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 on morality and ethics. Many Stoic principles, such as virtue, compassion, and self-discipline, found resonance in Christianity.although with fundamental differences in their worldview and religious approach.

Throughout the centuries, Stoicism has remained an important philosophical movement and has influenced the thinking of many 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 because of its focus on self-control, ethics, and the pursuit of wisdom and inner peace.

The Stoic Sage

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

The wise man was the figure of someone who never made mistakes, did not make false assumptions, and was not affected by his emotions. His life and actions were always rational and he was free from passions. This was often pointed out as a difficulty, since there were no people who could behave in such a 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 that the figure of the wise man was not that of someone quiet and alienated from life, but rather 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 these 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 appetite or irrational desire.

Stoicism and skepticism

Stoicism and skepticism are two distinct 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 to life and knowledge.

The Stoics believed in the importance of living a virtuous and wise life. They considered wisdom to consist in 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 attaining absolute knowledge or definitive truth and held that an attitude of disbelief should be maintained toward dogmatic claims.

Furthermore, the Stoics advocated accepting life’s inevitable events with serenity and tranquility. They believed that one could not control external events, but one could control one’s reaction to them. In this sense, the Skeptics were similar to them, as they sought ataraxia, which is the tranquility and peace of mind that comes from freeing oneself from firm beliefs and the disturbances they cause.

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References

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