In the digital and fast-paced world, it’s hard to imagine that an ideology older than Rome could be of use to us today, but if time has proven anything, it’s the eternal wisdom of Stoicism. It speaks to us not just because it has survived, but because we sometimes practice it without realizing.
The founder of Stoicism was named Zeno of Citium in the 3rd Century B.C. Tragedy struck when he lost his fortune in a shipwreck, but he commended fate for taking away his wealth. He discovered he didn’t need the fame and power which came from copious amounts of money to be happy and live virtuously. That tragedy led him to create the Stoic school of thought.
At the forefront of a Stoic’s mind is the dichotomy of control. They recognize they must separate what they can control from what they can’t. The goal of this philosophy is to achieve three things: Ataraxia, Eudemonia and Apatheia. Ataraxia happens when someone has cleared their mind and their inner mental being is fully present. Eudemonia is what happens later in the practice of a Stoic, when they repeatedly find happiness in what they can control. The latter is a complete apathetic attitude toward external events. To clarify, Stoics don’t pretend external things aren’t happening. Instead, they internally separate themselves from events, viewing them as abstract.
Pneuma is another key Stoic term. It translates to “breath of life,” and is the singular force which animates the human body. It’s a collective consciousness that holds the cosmos, that is, everything visible and invisible in space together, including us. The closest equivalent in science would be consciousness, which is having thoughts, beliefs, desires, and the closest in religion would be the soul. Humans, through the eyes of a Stoic, are carrying pneuma and that piece of them will return to the cosmos, otherwise called the Cosmic Fire, after death.
Stoics wake each morning and give thanks for the chance, or “precious privilege” as quoted by the famous Stoic Marcus Aurelius, for the chance to exist. When Stoics go to sleep, they examine their day — looking for, according to Stoic philosopher Seneca, “What weakness did I overcome today? What virtue did I acquire?” Stoics say we must get back up and do the things nature has crafted us to do. We are made to work together, “as simply as a horse runs or a bee makes honey.” We do this every time we collaborate on projects or espouse ideas off the other in classroom discussion.
They are saying that living in accordance with nature and offering themselves up to fate is the ultimate duty of a good man. When we stop trying to control, we are free.
One of his dictums best shows this when Aurelius wrote in “Meditations,” “Receive without conceit. Release without struggle.” Aurelius was telling us to flow with life, not to control it. You can only dedicate yourself to what lies in your control. Do so fully.
This is only supported more by Seneca when he said, “Do not wish that all will go well with you. But that you will go well with all things.” Life is made to be lived, and we are made to live it. It’s in accordance with nature to experience the full spectrum of emotions.
These quips of wisdom are made to guide Stoics from the day they begin their practice to the grave. Though seemingly morbid, death makes several appearances throughout Stoicism. Seen as a part of nature, we are not to run away from it. Instead, we are to accept it when it comes.
Stoics accept that death will come for us all eventually. Epictetus died of natural causes after years of slavery and serving under Nero, Seneca committed suicide by poison alongside his wife to avoid torture and Aurelius succumed to the plague.
After asking his family to grant him the chance to say goodbye, Aurelius placed a bandana over his eyes to get some sleep, and as the sun rose high into the sky he never woke back up. Stories like these lead Stoics to one of the most moving and spine-tingling quotations from the philosopher king himself. “Do not act as if you were going to live ten-thousand years. Death hangs over you. While you live. While it is in your power. Be good.”