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The Stop
Stoicism was an ancient philosophical school of thought that flourished in Greek and Roman Classical antiquity. Considered one of the ‘loftiest and most sublime philosophies’ in the history of Western civilisation, Stoics believed the goal of all intellectual inquiry was to ‘provide a mode of conduct characterised by tranquillity of mind and certainty of moral worth’.1
Stoicism arrived at a time of great change in Greek philosophical thought. After the deaths of Alexander the Great in 323 BCE and Aristotle in 322 BCE, the ‘greatness of the life and thought of the Greek city-state’ (or polis) ended. Athens was no longer the ‘centre of worldly attraction’, and other cities - for example, Rome and Alexandria - were beginning to claim cultural prominence. Additionally, local rule - a unique democratic feature of the Greek polis - began to be replaced by larger political structures ruled by ‘distant governors,’ and the resultant loss of freedom by ‘subject peoples’ led to a reality in which rulers had little if any moral authority. A general philosophical world view that had been characterised by a sense of ‘cosmic and civic’ order had degenerated into ‘social and political disorder.’
Around 300 BCE, Stoicism appeared in this changing world with its philosophy based on reason. Taking its name from the place where its founder, Zeno of Citium (Cyprus) lectured - the Stoa Poikile in the Agora at Athens which was decorated with mural paintings - Stoicism held that ‘reason alone could reveal the constancy of cosmic order.’ As such, Stoicism’s adherents portrayed the philosophy as uniquely suited to become the ‘true model for human existence.’ In a world in which human existence no longer reflected a ‘uniform, calm, and ordered cosmos,’ this carefully balanced, systematic philosophy quickly became fashionable.
Zeno divided the philosophy of Stoicism into three parts - logic, physics, and ethics - each of which were believed by the Stoics to function together in an ‘interconnected and coherent system’. Most Stoics believed that ‘human flourishing’ required ‘mastery’ of all three components, the central doctrines of which Zeno established so fully that ‘later Stoics were to expand rather than to change radically the views of the founder’. Zeno’s framework of Stoic philosophy was built upon a series of themes including the belief that (a) logic is a tool, not an end in itself,2 (b) happiness is a product of ‘life according to nature’, (c) the ‘wise person’ is the correct ‘model of human excellence’, (d) everything in existence is physical, and (e) that humans have a duty to choose ‘only those acts that are in accord with nature.’ These five - in combination with other themes - eventually became codified as Stoicism’s four Cardinal Virtues: Wisdom (the navigation of complexity in a logical, calm fashion), Temperance (the exercise of self-restraint and moderation), Justice (treating everyone - even our enemies - with fairness), and Courage (the ability to face daily challenges with clarity and integrity).
As a philosophy, Stoicism’s popularity would grow for several hundred years, becoming ‘particularly fashionable in the Roman period’. Cicero (107 - 43 BCE) - though never identified as a Stoic - ‘engaged extensively’ with the school’s thoughts, the Stoic philosopher Arius Didymus (died 10 BCE) was appointed as a teacher to the Emperor Augustus’s court in late 1st century BCE, and the Stoic philosopher Seneca (4 BCE - 65 CE) was an advisor to Nero. Perhaps most influentially, Epictetus (50 - 135 CE) - a former slave who, once freed, became a popular lecturer in the philosophy - ‘heavily influenced’ the Roman Emperor and self-proclaimed Stoic philosopher Marcus Aurelius (121 - 180 CE): author of today’s Recommendation.
For more information (including a good introduction to the philosophy and its influences today), check out this short video (5:29) from TED-Ed: The Philosophy of Stoicism.
The Detour
Today’s Detour is to a short (3:51) video of Yuja Wang’s performance of Rachmaninov’s Prelude in G Minor (Op. 23, No. 5). It’s a brilliant piece - and she’s obviously enjoying every moment.
The Recommendation
Today’s Recommendation is what has become the classic text of Stoicism: Marcus Aurelius’s Meditations. It is a ‘profound yet practical roadmap for navigating life's challenges with resilience and equanimity.’ Written two thousand years ago by the Roman emperor, this text continues to offer 'timeless wisdom that resonates as powerfully today as it did in ancient Rome’.
From the back: Written in Greek by the only Roman emperor who was also a philosopher, without any intention of publication, the Meditations of Marcus Aurelius offer a remarkable series of challenging spiritual reflections and exercises developed as the emperor struggled to understand himself and make sense of the universe. While the Meditations were composed to provide personal consolation and encouragement, Marcus Aurelius also created one of the greatest of all works of philosophy: a timeless collection that has been consulted and admired by statesmen, thinkers and readers throughout the centuries.
The Sounds
Today’s playlist is a selection of five great tracks that have nothing to do with the Stop. Most of them have been languishing in my To-Use playlist for months, just looking for an opportunity to work together: ‘Bad Luck Blue Eyes Goodbye’ (The Black Crowes, 1992), ‘Where It’s At’ (Beck, 1996), ‘Independence Day’ (Elliott Smith, 1998), ‘Ah! Leah!’ (Donnie Iris, 1980) and ‘Short Skirt/Long Jacket’ (CAKE, 2001).3 Enjoy!
The Thought
Today’s Thought is from Marcus Aurelius - and excellent advice:
‘If it is not right, do not do it; if it is not true, do not say it.’
If you have a thought on this Thought - or any part of today’s issue - please leave a comment below:
And that’s the end of this Stop - I hope you enjoyed the diversion!
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Until the next Stop …
Stoicism seems to have been in air recently. Bus Stops are usually scheduled weeks and sometimes months in advance (it’s easier to produce an issue on a predetermined topic rather than trying to sort out something on the fly), and today’s is no different - it’s been on the calendar for a month. However, last week Marcus Aurelius’s Meditations showed up as the weekly recommendation from and an article on Stoic principles in the current day popped up on Medium. (Unfortunately, that one’s paywalled so I won’t be providing a link). Like most philosophies, Stoicism is rather complicated and far beyond the scope of a single Stop. Elements of it (and some of its adherents) will probably inform future Stops, but if you’re interested in more information please check out today’s sources: Stoicism (Britannica) and Stoicism (Stanford).
For the Stoics, God was ‘eternal reason’ or the ‘logos’, which was 'immanent throughout the cosmos’ and directed its ‘development down to the smallest detail’. This idea of God as logos (or ‘word’) would soon find itself in the opening verses of The Gospel of John in which Christ is equated with the Word: ‘In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.’ Hmm. Stoic philosophy in nascent Christianity? Imagine that.
Though my favourite Black Crowes album is Amorica, this track - from 1992’s The Southern Harmony and Musical Companion is one of their best. The other tracks are also brilliant and representative of the different musicians at their heyday, but of all of them it’s the incomparable ‘Ah! Leah!’ that stands out. And, I must confess, I’m just a recent member on that song’s bandwagon, having completely forgotten it until and gave it the attention it deserves. Definitely listen to this one. ‘Ah! Leah!’, indeed.
Thanks, Bryan! I try to read at least some of Meditations a few times a year. I think the older I get, the more Stoic I become. Or at least, want to be.
Good stuff Bryan. I’m a little too skeptical of my own intellectual coherence to think that I live by a philosophy … but if I did, it would be stoicism. When I saw this was your subject today, I was intrigued to see your playlist … alas! No stoic songs.