The quest for wisdom and the good life has been present throughout the history of mankind. Among the many groups and individuals who have attempted to convey a natural philosophy of living, the Stoics stand out with their steadfastness and perseverance as a philosophical school, as well as their influence on the history of mankind.
We all want to live a good life, but many of us easily accept ready-made answers provided by society, the educational system, and the media. The Stoics believed that the true answer to the question of the good life should be sifted through the sieve of one’s own reason, which should not be confused with intellect.
Stoicism developed at a time when people had lost their connection to the metaphysical values and wisdom of ancient civilizations. Today, driven by the loss of moral traditions in our cultures, we also seek an answer to the question of how to live rightly in this chaotic world. The pragmatic teachings of Stoicism come from a time that greatly resembles the present, which is why they have sparked interest among contemporary seekers. involving wisdom.
From Zeno, an eclectic philosopher who taught at the Athenian stoics, to Marcus Aurelius, a great philosopher-emperror who left his thoughts for future generations, this is the story of stoics and their teachings.
Stoicism and Social Responsibility
It is clear that humanity is currently going through a period of crisis. The consequences of this crisis are visible, among other things, on a natural, economic, political, and cultural level. In its essence, the crisis is not ecological or economic, but moral. All these different segments reflect the same hidden cause. This crisis starts in the heart of man and it will end there as well.
Let us ask ourselves why we have ecological and economic problems. Why do we have conflicts and wars? How long will the wars against drugs, poverty, and hunger continue until we realize that we are approaching the problem in the wrong way?
Some say it is a god-given reality. However, what I can say is that God does not tell anyone what to do. All these conflicts and wars are the result of greed, apathy Well, even the laziness that is found in the human psyche. So it’s not divine intervention, but rather our human mistakes and weaknesses.
If we don’t like the content of a television program, we don’t call a mechanic to fix our television. If the television program is bad, what we want to change is the content, not the television. However, at the societal level, this usually happens. Instead of fixing the cause, we introduce reforms to this or that program, enact or revoke regulations, and change managers.
In the realm of humans, the content is found in the inner world – in the psychological, ethical, and spiritual spheres. While the spiritual sphere is beyond our reach, in a way that we cannot influence it, we must work in the ethical sphere that reflects the spiritual in our everyday activities.
The Stoics have resisted tyranny and corruption since the early days of the Roman Empire, but this resistance was not against the tyrant personally, but rather an internal resistance against those who act unethically or neglect “The Epictetus writes: When Vespasian sent for Helvidius Priscus and commanded him not to enter the Senate, he replied: ‘It is within your power to not allow me to be a member of the Senate, but as long as I am, I must enter.’ ‘Well then, enter,’ said the emperor, ‘but do not say anything.’ ‘Do not seek my opinion, and I will remain silent.’ ‘But I must seek your opinion.’ ‘And I must say what I believe is right.’ ‘But if you do, I will kill you.’ ‘When did I ever tell you that I am immortal? You will do your part, and I will do mine: your part is to kill me; mine is to die, but without fear: your part is to send me into exile; mine is to leave without mourning.’ (Discourses, 1.2.19-21)
This is a beautiful example of impersonal Stoic resistance. We cannot control other people’s actions, especially those in power, but we can certainly control our own and make decisions considering the consequences they may have.
This is highly relevant in today’s political climate, which is largely characterized by power struggles and control.” focus on the personality of politicians rather than their ideas. Attacking someone’s personality is not only undignified but also useless. Instead, stoics offer a much more reasonable form of resistance, based on our own initiative and action – in our sphere of influence, I choose to take responsible and conscious actions and not go against my conscience.
We cannot control the greed of corporations, but we can control our own greed, our incessant desire for more than we need. Snake oil salesmen can only succeed if they have a loyal clientele looking for magical and simple remedies for their ailments. There will always be ignorant predators who cannot see the greater consequences of their actions, but their success or failure depends on whether we choose to be ignorant prey.
Change cannot begin from the outside, it must begin within each of us. The reason for this is that we have no control over external circumstances, only over ourselves. When we talk about stoics, it is easy to see to lose focus on emotional and mental control, on duty, on finding solutions for life’s trials, but we must not forget that the Stoics were good people, or that they strive(d) for it. This is something that should not be overanalyzed. Marcus Aurelius wrote: “Do not spend too much time debating what a good person should be, be one.”
This ethical-moral backbone cannot be overstated. Stoicism is a rational and practical method that we can apply to improve ourselves in all aspects of life. However, contemporary writers sometimes underestimate this aspect of Stoicism, its central idea of goodness. Why? Because Stoics did not only strive for personal happiness and success. In fact, the word “success” does not appear once in the writings of Marcus Aurelius.
It is important to fulfill our own duties in the best possible way and be a good person. Strive to reach lofty ideals by climbing, not lowering them. Epictetus tells us that we should never miss the opportunity to help a friend in need. Do not let our lower mind, a constant profit calculator, prevent us from being ready to help.
“What are my duties?” was the question that every stoic asked himself, a question that each of us needs to ask ourselves. According to the stoics, we all have duties in life, some bigger, some smaller, but each of us must ensure that we fulfill our own duties in the best possible way, whether as a citizen, a family person, a friend, a teacher, or a ruler.
Stoicism is a philosophy of participation, responsibility, and dedication – words that can be intimidating until we realize that they are synonymous with purpose and a sense of meaning. Deep within ourselves, we all want to be part of something greater than ourselves and that gives meaning to our existence.
The ideals of stoicism do not belong to the stoics. They strongly resonate among Japanese samurais, as well as indigenous warrior tribes of North America like the Lakota and Apache tribes. They characterize a way of life that emerges and is reborn with cycles of history in which individuals find meaning and purpose, and fulfill their duties with steadfastness and honor. Different cultures and places offer unique perspectives. It is an aspect of human experience, a way of life for the inner warrior.