Stoicism is one of the oldest Socratic philosophies that deals with life’s big questions and lays the foundation of a different worldview. Stoicism is as ancient as other philosophies of hedonism or scepticism. But with time, various outgrowths of this philosophy exist in English literature, myths and real-life examples. In the modern day and age, people are looking for answers, and since the hold of religion on people’s lives is decreasing, the chaos is thriving.
By no means the presence of chaos is a 21st-century exclusivity, but in the past, people had all sorts of ways and philosophies to deal with it. Today, there is a spiritual decline in people’s lives, and a yearning for something meaningful is present in our hearts. Different answers and theories can indulge us in the plays of our lives, but deep down, the void of chaos will strive. However, the popularity of stoicism and stoic philosophy has recently increased, and many people are adopting stoic principles. But what is stoicism, and how can it be an answer to this world of Chaos?
Chaos Is The Reality Of Perception
It is not wrong to say that our life, apart from the experiences, consists of not many things. We live, and we die. Unfortunately, it’s the reality; in this life experience, one can find chaos. It is how the world works; earthquakes, fires, lightning and cyclones are all part of the world, and we have zero control over them. These are the chaotic elements of this planet, but at the same time, they brought life over 3.7 billion years ago. It’s strange to say that chaos got us in this life, and now it’s our ultimate test.
We perceive life as it’s happening, and there’s nothing wrong with that, but what makes us human is that we can respond to it with a conscious nature. It’s like observing a rainbow—a phenomenon that exists but only through human vision; it’s called a rainbow. Similarly, many negative things do the opposite and make us wonder about the meaningless abyss of life. The search for meaning is not about thoughts but actions, and even if the universe is pointless, our mere existence gives it sense, which is quite phenomenal.
We Born, We Live, And We Die
Our lives have three phases: birth, life and death. Birth and death are universal to all, and there’s nothing much one can do about those. However, life is different for us. People are not the same—our faith, cultures, traditions and living conditions lead us to different paths in life. And that’s the only difference or uniqueness among the countless similarities. And life may pose us with the same questions, but our answers can differ.
In scepticism, there is humility, which can also be seen in stoicism, that we don’t have answers, let alone knowledge of right or wrong. We can’t even say that there are answers; there’s only nature, and a stoic man is the one who lives his life according to nature. However, the acts of stoicism are derived from the morality of traditions, which lay claim to right or wrong. So there’s that.
Acting On Things You Can Control
A stoic believes he can’t control nature but can control his actions and keep himself directed with his virtues. For him, the ultimate sin is to deviate from his virtues—honesty, morality, justice, responsibility, courage, and moderation. No matter what he’s doing, he must keep his virtues aligned, and the rest will occur. Thus, even in the dark times, a stoic acts as he should, with his integrity.
Fear Of Death Is Acceptance Of Fate
The stoics do not fear death in a fashion that we people experience. They are confident, and it’s a great relief to be free from their moral obligations and duties. It’s their only way to escape the chains of lives and rest peacefully. It seems pretty easy to be stoic, but think about it again. How often do we do wrong in a day at the most basic level, even if our speech is foul, while our actions are also horrendous? We are not even on a human level and aim towards God. The irony is that we can’t be human and try to rule the world—a place where even the animals do not question their lives and die according to nature. We can’t even do that without complaining endlessly about what we think matters, but it is just a getaway.
Marcus Aurelius: A Prominent Stoic Figure
We can’t talk about stoicism without Marcus Aurelius because he’s the one who is the best example of stoicism. Marcus was a Roman emperor who ruled for 19 years and was a wise and noble king. People might not be talking about stoicism to this extent if not for Marcus’s journal, which was not meant to be published. His journal, or today what we call ‘Meditations’, is a masterpiece of a book that explains the struggle of a lone man with the power of God struggling to live by virtues.
Unlimited Power In A Capable Man
Being an emperor is not easy, and people tend to think they can rule very effectively, but ultimate power can corrupt anyone. However, Marcus Aurelius was not the same. He had unlimited power, but it did not corrupt him, and in fact, he ruled over the empire with great responsibility and humility. It’s not wrong to say that there are not many equals to Marcus, as he was free from his bodily desires for lust and power. His goal was to live with virtue and die by it.
Pity Yourself Against Marcus Aurelius
Since Marcus Aurelius had no equals in his empire, he was alone, and no one understood the concept of stoicism as he did. However, he can’t abandon his people because responsibility is also one of his virtues. He might hate the mundane matters of people, but he can’t look away from them. People exploit him for power and things that he can see, but still, he need to act in a certain way. How sad must have been the life for this person?
But is it sad, or was he the only one to live the life as it should be? Indeed, Marcus acted more humanly than any person of this day and age. Our greed for power, money, and sex is animalistic behaviour in the eyes of someone as profound as Marcus Aurelius. That’s why he might have felt bad for us—irrationality and thirst for worldly desires are qualities of people today.
An Ideal Life Is Full Of Virtue
For stoics, the world takes place, and bad things happen all the time, but keeping their virtues on hold is essential. Under no circumstance they can break and fall into the trap of complaining and worrying about everything. For them, complaining is a waste of time and effort which can be utilised in a resourceful manner. That’s why there are prizes if you’re on the stoic path and do your work responsibly. You did what you’re supposed to do in your life, and it can be brutal for someone in this day and age.
It is why philosophy bridges the gaps between economic differences and social constraints. Anyone from the king of an empire to an enslaved person can be stoic, and it does not mean an ounce of difference in their situation makes life easy or difficult for either. It’s the internal virtues, behaviour, and actions that count. So, a dash of virtue is all you need to be a stoic. But it’s not easy enough because some of life’s most complex things are the easiest.
Death Is The Ultimate Liberation
Stoicism has a beautiful take on life and how we should act out in the world. However, the moral responsibilities of life can be too much for a stoic person. And the only way to escape this is death. Suppose you did your best at work (life), then afterwards, you take your shoes off and take a deep breath. Well, death is the same relief for a stoic. He acted upon the will of God (for ancient stoics) and took time off his life. It is probably one reason that stoics are not afraid of life because they find death much easier per their standards.
God In Stoicism
Stoics have a great take on God, and Marcus Aurelius was entirely agnostic and believed that existence and God do not make a difference in one’s life. The liberation of humans from the ego is the ultimate purpose, and if there are Gods, they will judge the man on his rational behaviour; if not, then there’s nothing to worry about. It’s a tremendous encouraging take by stoics to eliminate the fear of death from people’s minds and live a rational life.
His Presence
If God is present and moral, behave like him because he will not harm a man who acted on his will in the afterlife. It’s a speciality about stoicism that always comes back to the person and does not complain about the complexities of life. A person can only control his actions, vices, and virtues and should not worry about God.
His Absence
If the universe is made of atoms and elements, there is no need to worry about death. You live a prosperous and self-improving life with rational thought, and that’s it. The prudence of your character is all that matters, and if people think about you after death, they respect you and if they don’t remember, then at least you lived your life respecting the virtues of outstanding moral character.
Beliefs Of Marcus Aurelius
Marcus Aurelius seemed like an agnostic, but he believed in the God of ancient Rome and celebrated their presence in festivities. It was as if he was confident of their presence but, because of the rationality of his philosophy, could not prove their existence. Yet he acted Godlike and always tried to free himself of the ego and the bondage of human flesh and desires.
Developing Stoicism In This Day An Age
One can always strive to be a better person; stoicism is one way. It’s impossible to be stoic within a day, but anyone can succeed with consistent practice and good behaviour with moral codes and virtues. However, a person needs to understand that it’s a battle of self and that no outside influence can affect the person’s stoic journey. Finally, a person should focus on his virtues and act upon them.
Conclusion
Stoicism, an ancient Socratic philosophy, addresses life’s big questions and lays the foundation for a different worldview. It posits that chaos is the reality of perception, and humans can respond to it with conscious nature. Life has three phases: birth, energy, and death, with each stage unique to each individual. Stoicism emphasises humility and the morality of traditions, stating that we cannot control nature but can control our actions and virtues. Stoics believe that the ultimate sin is to deviate from virtues, and fear of death is acceptance of fate.
Marcus Aurelius, a prominent Stoic figure, is considered the best example of stoicism, as his journal, ‘Meditations’, explains the struggle of a lone man with the power of God struggling to live by virtues. Marcus Aurelius, a powerful emperor, ruled with great responsibility and humility, free from the desires for lust and power. He acted more humanly than any person of his time, focusing on virtue and living a life of virtue. Stoicism, a brutal but beautiful take on life, allows individuals to live rational lives with internal virtues and actions.
Death is the ultimate liberation for stoics, as they act upon the will of God and take time off their lives. Stoics believe in God’s presence and morality but cannot prove their existence due to their rationality. They believe in a prosperous and self-improving life with rational thought, and prudence of character is all that matters. Stoicism is a battle of self, and anyone can succeed with consistent practice and good behaviour with moral codes and virtues.
Frequently Ask Questions (FAQs)
How do you become a Stoic in chaotic times?
To become stoic, one needs to start by living virtuously. Many virtues exist, but one should begin with truth, courage and justice.
How would a Stoic respond to your obstacle?
A stoic would respond to an obstacle by being thoughtful and through decisive action based on rationality.
Is the world orderly or chaotic according to the Stoic philosophers?
The world is full of chaos, but it is not the duty of the man to think about the chaos but act as if he is to attain control of himself.
What is the attitude of Stoicism toward the universe?
Stoicism teaches that the universe is a giant space, and we are part of it, and our rationality makes us unique among animals.
Does Stoicism go against human nature?
No, stoicism accepts human nature—goods and evil do not object to their presence in people’s lives. The only thing that worries the stoic is to give in to evil.
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