Stoicism, ~171 C.E. to Today
In March 2024, The Washington Post reported that Stoicism had become one of the most popular, if not the most popular, non-religious, secular-spiritual, and ethical paths in the United States. (The Washington Post, Book Reviews, “Stoicism is More Popular than Ever,” March 29, 2024.)
The philosophy of Stoicism dates back to the ancient Greeks and Romans, who lived in the 700 years between the 3rd century BCE and the 4th century CE. Famous Stoics include Zeno of Citium, Seneca the Younger, Epictetus, and Marcus Aurelius, who was the 17th Emperor of Rome, ruling from 161 to 180 C.E. Stoicism became the most popular philosophy among the educated elite in the Hellenistic world and the Roman Empire. Marcus Aurelius’ book of Stoic Meditations is profound, and it remains widely read even today, including by your author, J.X. Mason.
“The Meditations of Marcus Aurelius,” Stoic Emperor of Rome
Stoics taught that virtue is sufficient for happiness; riches, power, and victories are not required. Stoics should develop self-control and fortitude as a means of overcoming destructive emotions. These virtues are supported by clear and unbiased thinking, enabling Stoics to understand Universal Reason (“Logos”) and align their minds with Nature. (Nature was held to be, at least on balance, good.) Personal relationships should be free from anger, envy, and jealousy. Stoics should even accept slaves as “equals of other men because all men alike are products of nature.” Of course, scholars of the Classics do not entirely agree on all the aspects of Stoicism.
Stoic theology is a fatalistic and naturalistic form of pantheism: God is never wholly transcendent (i.e., not outside the universe) but is always immanent. Stoicism equates God with the totality of the universe.
According to the Stoics, the Universe consists of passive matter and an “intelligent ether or primordial fire,” which can be called Fate or Universal Reason (Logos), which acts on the passive matter. Logos is the active reason or anima mundi that pervades and animates the entire Universe.
Humans, too, each possess a portion of the divine Logos, which is the primordial “fire and reason” that controls and sustains the Universe.
The Gospel of John, the last written and most theologically sophisticated of all the New Testament gospels, equates Jesus Christ with the Greek Logos, which was translated from ancient Greek into our English as “The Word.” This is an early instance of trying to bolster Christian doctrine with Greek philosophy. (See our Essay, Evaluating Jesus’ Teaching.)
For a Stoic, philosophy is not just a set of beliefs or ethical claims; it is a way of life that involves training and practice. Stoic philosophical and spiritual practices included (and still include) logic, Socratic dialogue, self-dialogue, contemplation of death, mortality salience, training attention to remain in the present moment (similar to some forms of Buddhist meditation), journaling, and daily reflection on everyday problems and possible solutions. For a Stoic, philosophy is an active process of constant practice and self-remembrance.
Stoicism can be likened to a military philosophy of duty, honor, and loyalty. A Stoic keeps on fighting even in the face of great hardship and great odds. Why? Because virtue (honor) is its own reward.
The Practice of Nature’s Continuing Creation aligns with much of Stoicism. However, we find it too fatalistic, probably because it was written and taught before there was limited understanding of progress in science, technology, and (maybe) government. — J.X. Mason