What we can Learn from Stoicism

It’s interesting how the philosophy of stoicism has resonated with humanity since its inception. Established in early 300 BC, there have been revivals via Neo-stoicism in the 17th century and most recently modern stoicism at the end of the 20th century. But why? What is the nature of stoicism that has affected people throughout human history?

Stoicism is a philosophy of personal ethics that reflect wisdom, courage, justice, and temperance. It is informed by the natural world that surrounds us and teaches us how to react to the natural world while reflecting these ethics.

Often time, stoicism is imagined with being a large rock; an immovable solid with little to no reaction to natural or external forces. While the philosophy is deeply rooted with everything in nature, there is more to it than that.

Whether it is improving ourselves or changing how we react to any external forces, stoicism is the core of doing things better.

For example, the ancient Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius, was a master stoic philosopher. In his meditations, which were a collection of his thoughts and writings, he once wrote, ”Read diligently and do not be satisfied with light and superficial knowledge.”

It is important that we read, but the diligence of reading deeply to understand subjects and materials is what truly differentiates being a better person from a stoic point of view.

We understand what it takes to do things better. After all, it’s because we have reason. Do you have reason? Yes. Why not make use of it? If reason does their part, what more do you require? It’s the power within ourselves in which we control our minds to actually understand and follow that reason. The stoics believe that we must listen to the God within ourselves in order to do that.

What we must also understand is that the universe will move forward no matter what we do. Nature will run its course and people will be the way they are no matter what we do. We have no control on what others will do, say, or act.

What we do have control in is ourselves. We have control over our emotions, actions and even reactions to what others do. Once we become aware of this, we achieve a level of maturity over things that made us sensitive before.

In essence, the ideas and ‘rules’ of stoicism were created to help humans become better versions of themselves. Once we improve ourselves to fully understand and reflect the stoic virtues, we can then in turn help others around us. And since humans are naturally social, the grander idea is for the better versions of ourselves to treat each other better; to be patient and just with one another.