Stoicism Justine Joo

Quick History  Founded in Greece by Zeno of Citium  ( BC)  From the “stoa” where he would teach his students  Was one of the most popular philosophies during the Hellenistic period  along with Epicureanism  Eventually died out in the 3 rd century AD from the rise of Christianity

Philosophy  Has no interest in normal human feelings  Grief, Joy, Hope, Fear  Free of worldly demands, especially pleasure-seeking  Ascete – one who has transcended the passions that create a disorderly condition in the soul  Knowledge is attained through reason  Believed in the Socratic equation  Virtue = Knowledge  If one behaves in a certain dispassionate manner, guarantees complete well-being, or human excellence

Philosophy cont…  Similar to Aristotelian notion that good consists of acting in accordance with one’s nature  However, must act in accordance with nature itself  Totality of reality  Reality is perfect.  Therefore, humans are perfect if they live in accordance with the divine plan of reality

Philosophy cont…  Recognize the truth that a person can do nothing but conform to the grand design  Requires one to make desires identical with the overall providential plan of the universe  Unhappiness and unfreedom are the consequences of those who try to impose their own selfish desire on reality   Only way to be free is to want what the universe wants  Get what we desire = NO  Desire what we get = YES

Famous Stoics  Seneca (4-65 AD)  Dramatist, statesman that was told to commit suicide by Nero  Epictetus (1 st century AD)  Was a slave  Marcus Aurelius ( AD)  16 th Emperor of the Roman Empire  Range of people followed the Stoic belief of resignation  Disdain for attachment to earthly things

Stoicism & Suicide  In certain circumstances, advocated suicide  Human excellence could be overwhelming  Harshness of reality could disturb one’s inner equilibrium  Could cause pain, anxiety  Enlightenment was indifferent  One had every right to escape through suicide

Stoicism & Christianity  Similarities  Doctrine of resignation  Concern with conforming to the will of divine Providence  Differences  Stoicism  Advocated suicide to prevent from going against divine plan of the world  Perfection - Reality  Christianity  Was prohibited by the same divine plan  Perfection - God  Christianity became dominant religion of the Roman Empire by the 4 th century