Stoicism, an introduction
The philosophy of Stoicism originated in ancient Greece in the third century BCE as an evolution from Socratic teachings. In the Hellenistic world it was believed that the study of philosophy would lead one to a more contented and fulfilled life.
There are two key elements of Stoic philosophy. The first is that one’s life should be lived in agreement with nature, and the second is that one should be guided by virtue. This means that one’s natural reason (rational thinking) should be used as a guide for behavior as the only true good. The four key virtues of Stoicism are wisdom, justice, courage, and moderation.
Therefore as one is guided by rational thinking about life’s challenges and tries to live a life of virtue, a sense of satisfaction and contentment (eudaimonia) can be realized.
In the video to the left, Jared Henderson, a non-academic philosopher, shares a lucid explanation of Stoicism and its virtues. Please see our Resources page for other references that cover Stoicism in depth.
Modern mental health therapies inspired by Stoic philosophy
Modern mental health therapies are derived from or inspired by some of the teachings of the ancient Stoics. Donald Robertson, a psychotherapist describes Stoicism as the “grandaddy of all self-help”. Albert Ellis, founder of rational emotive behavior therapy, and Aaron Beck, founder of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), both reference Stoicism as the philosophical inspiration for their work. CBT has the “strongest support of any modern form of psychological therapy (Robertson).
One of the central Stoic beliefs is that it is one’s thoughts or feelings about an event, not the event itself that causes the most distress. CBT recommends practices that help one interpret events objectively.
Please see Donald Robertson’s book “Stoicism and the Art of Happiness Practical Wisdom for Everyday Life” on our Resources page for an in depth introduction to Stoicism.
Interest in Stoicism is growing
One can search for “Stoicism” at your favorite online book vendor and find hundreds of titles published in the last decade or so. Similarly, the same search on YouTube yields thousands videos. Nancy Sherman, a professor of philosophy at Georgetown, described Stoicism as the “new Zen” as its philosophical practices can reduce stress and cultivate goodness.
People today are seeking new ways to find calm and live a purposeful life. Reasons for this include the frantic pace of many jobs, the obsession with productivity, and the recent pandemic-induced stresses. Needless to say, existential anxieties loom large such as climate change and attacks on basic rights and freedoms from authoritarian leaders. Sherman says that “we are hungry for ways of dialing down anxiety and tempering despair”.
Find Nancy Sherman’s book “Stoic Wisdom Ancient Lessons for Modern Resilience” on our Resources page as a “field guide for credible Stoic practical philosophy”.
Contemplative Stoic practices for life
Given this backdrop of increasing anxiety, there has been a growing interest in Stoic contemplative practices that have been found to help with anxiety and other mental health issues. Examples of such practices include mindfulness meditation, reflective journaling, and ‘the view from above’.
Mindfulness is a broad term that covers self-awareness in the present moment, recognition of involuntary negative thoughts and detachment from them. Donald Robertson links mindfulness to the Stoic quality of objectivity meaning “constant self-awareness of the movements of the mind, assuming full responsibility for our own judgements, actions, fears and desires”.
A practice constantly exercised by the Stoic Marcus Aurelius in the 2nd century was that of journaling and his journals have been published as his “Meditations”. In the Stoic view meditation and journaling are often linked since the reflective form of journaling requires self-examination of one’s actions and beliefs. Robertson says this practice reinforces mindfulness throughout the day.
The practice of contemplating ‘the view from above’ came from the French philosopher Pierre Hadot. Robertson quotes Hadot to describe this as “recognizing oneself as part of the Whole, elevating oneself to cosmic consciousness, or immersing oneself within the totality of the cosmos”. Robertson adds that “Stretching your mind in this way and expanding consciousness is linked to the virtue of magnanimity, the ability to look down with indifference on the things people mistakenly value, such as wealth, property, and social status”.
More Stoic practices can be studied in Donald Robertson’s work, Nancy Sherman’s work, and other resources here.