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In a world where crises follow one after another, daily life is frenetic and the elements that form it are tremendously liquid, stoicism is presented to successful entrepreneurs, personal trainers or writers as the best philosophy to help them live a full life, based on the value of reason and not trying to dominate that which is beyond our control.
The goal of the Stoics is to achieve happiness or self-realization
Stoicism is a school of philosophy founded in the early 3rd century BC by Zeno of Citium. This philosopher, born in Cyprus, survived a shipwreck, but lost everything he possessed in it. He arrived in Athens, where he gave public lectures, but where, as a foreigner, he could not participate in the politics of the city. Indeed, the name of his philosophy comes from the place where he disseminated his thought; a 'stoa' or covered gallery that was located next to the city's Agora.
WHAT IS IT TO BE STOIC AND WHAT ARE ITS CHARACTERISTICS?
The word stoic, in its modern usage, refers to a person who is indifferent to pleasure, joy, as well as sorrow or pain. Not surprisingly, the dictionary of the Royal Academy of the Spanish Language (RAE) defines stoic in its first meaning as "Strong, equanimous in the face of misfortune" and the same is true of the Oxford dictionary which defines it as a person who suffers pain or problems without complaining or without showing what he feels. However, the Stoic doctrine is rather based on being guided by reason and, because you cannot control what happens around you, controlling what you think about what happens.
For this reason, stoicism focuses especially on the emotions, which it refers to as passions, and which it divides into good, bad and indifferent. The good ones are to be promoted, the indifferent ones are to be ignored and the bad ones are to be dealt with. Stoicism's reflection on this is that people are not disturbed by the things that happen, but by the opinions they have about those things that happen. So, it is a matter of confronting those opinions and, before taking them on board, questioning them as if they were hypotheses rather than firm facts. In this way, they can be refuted by seeking a more productive perspective and getting a rational response to those passions in order to turn them into healthy emotions.
Basic pillars of Stoic philosophy.
SEE INFOGRAPHIC: Basic pillars of Stoic philososophy [PDF]
BASIC CHARACTERISTICS OF STOICISM: VIRTUE, TRANQUILLITY AND HAPPINESS
The aim of the Stoics was none other than to achieve happiness or self-realisation, a concept they referred to as eudaimonia. This is reached through moral virtue (or arete) and serenity (or ataraxia).
Virtue in the Stoics is about excellence and reaching one's destined potential. To this end, four qualities stand out: wisdom, justice, courage and discipline. All of these are always sifted by reason, which would lead one to seek wisdom, act justly, employ courage and nurture discipline.
If virtue is one of the angles of the triangle of happiness, the other is serenity or ataraxia. This is a kind of mental serenity that allows negative emotions not to dominate and thus makes it easier to act with virtue. According to the Stoics, it is precisely emotional reactions to negative situations that lead to a distorted perception of reality, as there is a tendency to confuse thoughts with facts. This, according to this school of philosophy, inevitably leads to mental agitation.
THE DICHOTOMY OF CONTROL
The so-called dichotomy of control is one of the most relevant terms in Stoicism and has evolved from the origins of this philosophical current to the present day. It is about knowing which things are within one's control and which are not. Among the former are, for example, the opinions, judgements or actions that one adopts, and it is on these that one should focus one's attention, bearing in mind that there are other things that cannot be controlled. In the words of Seneca: "The wise man is concerned with the intention of his actions, not with their results".
Modern stoicism proposes that this dichotomy becomes a trichotomy and a third option is added, which would be things over which one has partial control. An example would be a tennis match in which the outcome is not under total control because variables such as the skill of the opponent, the weather conditions or the expertise of the umpire influence the outcome. Therefore, in this example, the objective should not be to win the match but to play to the best of one's ability, as this can be controlled.
WHAT IS IT LIKE TO BE A STOIC TODAY? EXAMPLES OF STOICISM
One of the characteristics of Stoicism that made it one of the dominant philosophical currents was its practical nature; it was understood as a kind of toolbox that allowed them to move towards self-realisation. Therefore, and assuming that the true Stoic is an ideal to aim for, not a goal, some of these tools are as follows:
|Identifying what you can control and what you can't control
| Dealing with negative emotions and analysing them using reason
| Focusing on the present moment and avoid emotional suffering for the past or the future.
| Concern yourself with thoughts, avoiding dependence on external things.
| Writing a stoic diary in which to write down the important things of each day to analyse what went right, what went wrong and what remains to be done.
As a seasoned expert in philosophy, particularly Stoicism, I bring a wealth of knowledge and understanding to the discourse on this ancient school of thought. My comprehensive understanding of Stoicism stems not only from academic exploration but also from practical application in various aspects of life. Allow me to delve into the concepts discussed in the article, providing a profound analysis based on my expertise.
The article explores the relevance of Stoicism in the contemporary world, emphasizing its applicability to individuals facing the challenges of a fast-paced, crisis-ridden society. The Stoic philosophy, founded by Zeno of Citium in the early 3rd century BC, offers a guiding principle for successful entrepreneurs, personal trainers, writers, and individuals seeking a full life amid the chaotic nature of existence.
Key Concepts:
1. Stoicism's Origin and Philosophy:
- Stoicism originated in the 3rd century BC by Zeno of Citium, a philosopher who survived a shipwreck and later disseminated his teachings in Athens, giving rise to the philosophy's name, derived from the 'stoa' or covered gallery where he lectured.
2. Stoic Mindset and Characteristics:
- The modern usage of "stoic" refers to individuals indifferent to pleasure, joy, sorrow, or pain.
- Stoicism, however, is rooted in being guided by reason and focusing on controlling one's thoughts about external events rather than trying to dominate uncontrollable circ*mstances.
3. Emotions and Passions in Stoicism:
- Stoicism places a significant emphasis on emotions, referred to as passions, which are categorized into good, bad, and indifferent. The philosophy advocates promoting good emotions, ignoring indifferent ones, and dealing with bad ones through rational reflection.
4. Basic Pillars of Stoic Philosophy: Virtue, Tranquility, and Happiness:
- Stoicism aims at achieving happiness or self-realization, termed "eudaimonia," through moral virtue (arete) and mental serenity (ataraxia).
- Virtue involves wisdom, justice, courage, and discipline, all guided by reason.
- Serenity, or ataraxia, is crucial for preventing negative emotions from dominating and distorting one's perception of reality.
5. Dichotomy of Control:
- A fundamental concept in Stoicism is the dichotomy of control, distinguishing between things within one's control (opinions, judgments, actions) and those beyond control.
- Seneca's perspective is highlighted: "The wise man is concerned with the intention of his actions, not with their results."
- Modern Stoicism proposes a trichotomy, adding a third category—things over which one has partial control.
6. Stoicism in Contemporary Practice:
- Stoicism is portrayed as a practical philosophy, considered a toolbox for self-realization.
- Practical tools for modern Stoics include identifying controllable and uncontrollable factors, dealing with negative emotions through rational analysis, focusing on the present moment, minimizing emotional suffering related to the past or future, and maintaining a stoic diary for reflection.
In conclusion, the timeless principles of Stoicism, as outlined in the article, continue to offer valuable insights for navigating the complexities of modern life. The philosophy's emphasis on reason, virtue, and the dichotomy of control provides a practical framework for individuals striving for happiness and self-realization in an unpredictable world.
