Stoicism: What It Is and Why You Should Care

Feb 3

Stoicism was created by Zeno around 300 BC in Greece. It has been found all throughout history and is currently going through a resurgence in popularity. Websites such as The Mindful Stoic and Modern Stoicism preach certain aspects of Stoicism, for example, mindfulness and the dichotomy of control, with the goal of helping people to live more fulfilled lives. The Daily Stoic’s article “What Is Stoicism? A Definition & 9 Stoic Exercises To Get You Started” offers some great exercises and quotes to inspire you.

You will also, inevitably, find critics. In his article “The False Promise of Stoicism”, Aaron Smith raises issues with the idea that we cannot control events or our actions or choices, only our judgments, saying that it is disempowering to believe we have no choice in our lives. Smith also discusses the concept that valuing things out of our control will only lead to pain and instead argues that the possibility of the joy we may get from things such as family, wealth, and love outweighs the risk of pain. This reminds me of Alfred Lord Tennyson’s quote, "'tis better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all".

Another Stoicism critic, Carlos Fraenkel, addresses in his article “Can Stoicism Make Us Happy?” the fact that Stoics believed Zeus created everything and that we must embrace his divine control. The core ideas of Stoicism are based on this fact and bringing the philosophy to the modern world without a belief in the universal power of a God undermines the entire way of thinking. Fraenkel says “On the whole, the Stoics were much more focused on coping with the world as it exists and as we suffer in it than on changing it”. In today’s world, this mindset is not effective.

For these reasons, I do not say that I am a Stoic or that I follow Stoicism, however, I appreciate and agree with some of its ideas, 6 of which are listed below. As with all philosophy, I encourage you to do your own research, take it with a grain of salt, and consider its perspective without being tied to an outcome. There is much to learn and be inspired by with Stoicism but don’t accept its teachings blindly.