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I could begin with a brief history lesson about Stoicism but this is not the essence of it. Being Stoic: What is it? Doing stuff you don’t want to do but know that you have to do anyway. The expression ‘soldiering on,’ invariably comes to mind, as soldiers have to do a lot of shitty things they really would rather not. Duty is a big one for Stoics. Virtue, even, more so. WTF is virtue anyway? It is a word, which has not stood the test of time. It exists as an anachronism, a term draped in cobwebs and an echo from the ancient world. This is old stuff and does it truly have any bearing on our lives today?
What Is Stoicism?
Doing your duty is most often seen in light of military and civil service. But there are times in our lives when we all have that sense of having to do our duty. This lies at the core of Stoicism. The Stoic sensibility urges us from within to finish the job and complete the hard yards, to borrow a cliché. Traditionally, in movies and real life fathers have implored their sons to do the right thing – this is Stoic in nature. I am sure vey similar calls go out to daughters from mothers and fathers in applicable situations. Life is not always about pleasure and pleasurable things. The stereotypical scene sees older folk knowing this via life experience and wishing to impart this knowledge to their offspring.
Reading Letters From A Stoic
“The Epistulae Morales ad Lucilium, also known as the Moral Epistles and Letters from a Stoic, is a letter collection of 124 letters that Seneca the Younger wrote at the end of his life, during his retirement, after he had worked for the Emperor Nero for more than ten years. “
Seneca is well worth reading and there are modern translations to make that job a lot easier. There is a profound lucidity to the writing in Letters From A Stoic. It touches on many themes still relevant to our lives today. The meaning of life and its applicability is not something that has ever gone away, in my book. You could say that Seneca spoke truth to power in a Stoic kind of way. Philosophy, more generally, was not an academic subject, as it is viewed today. No, it was more akin to personal development and taken very seriously. It was an alternate pathway of seeing the world through a lens of prescribed lifestyle values. The Stoic way is littered with names like Zeno, Epictetus, Socrates, Marcus Aurelius, and a host of other ancients. They all have a lot to offer individually, through writings that exist today. The life of Socrates comes to us through the writings of Plato and Xenophon. Lucuis Annaeus Seneca, however, speaks to me more clearly than all other Stoic Philosophers I have read.
“Lucius Annaeus Seneca, statesman, philosopher, advocate and man of letters, was born at Cordoba in Spain around 4 BC. He rose to prominence in Rome, pursuing a career in the courts and political life, for which he had been trained, while also acquiring celebrity as an author of tragedies and essays. Falling foul of successive emperors (Caligula in AD 39 and Claudius in AD 41), he spent eight years in exile, allegedly for an affair with Caligula’s sister. Recalled in AD 49, he was made praetor and was appointed tutor to the boy who was to become, in AD 54, the emperor Nero. On Nero’s succession, Seneca acted for some eight years as an unofficial chief minister.”
Doing Death Stoically
Being Stoic: What is it? Death appears on the horizon and no longer seems so far away. The Stoics of the ancient world were very concerned about how one died. A man’s death, and it was usually a man, was considered a great measure of his life. How you died was as important as how you lived. This may seem somewhat crazy to our modern sensibilities. Death by violent means was, often, only a heartbeat away in their lives. Soldiers as younger men this militaristic culture imbued their lives throughout. Seneca worked in the administrations of Caligula, Claudius and Nero. These Roman emperors were, according to history, unbalanced, unpredictable and dangerous to be around, especially Caligula and Nero. Seneca would be forced to take his own life by suicide on the order of Nero. All his references to death and suicide were, as it turns out, no idle chit chat. We are all going to die, some of us sooner than others. Death is on the horizon whether you can see it or not right now.
WTF Is Virtue?
Duty, death, and virtue. These three things are central pillars in the edifice called Stoicism. Virtue, as I have mentioned, is not a fashionable term in the current era. My kids did receive virtue awards from their school when growing up, I think I still have one of these floating about my stuff from long ago. What does being virtuous entail? I remember an old adage that patience is a virtue. So this must mean it is a good, a good thing. Perhaps, that old adage is a Stoic one? That to be patient and not to rush in is a virtuous characteristic. Today, we define Stoicism within a person as putting up with stuff. This individual patiently puts up with situations that possibly cause discomfort and are not pleasurable. You get the idea that this would play well during times of war in a battle, where the other guys are shooting at you but instead of ducking and running you fire back. I can also think of other circumstances when patiently sticking stuff out is not a good idea like when you are in an abusive relationship or being treated poorly at work. I would say that it was much harder to change the world a couple of millennia ago than it is these days. Therefore, putting up with stuff was a much more understandable stratagem back in the day.
Redefining Virtuousness
Returning to virtue, and trying to comprehend what this arcane term means in the 21C. Virtue is the undeniable good in Stoicism. It is only through being virtuous can you enter the promised land in this philosophical school. Seneca spends a great deal of time and ink defining virtue back in his day. Doing your duty is the way to virtue within the Stoic paradigm. Hierarchies are, on this basis, important constituents within the duty framework. Thus, leaders like emperors, consuls and all those below must be obeyed as per your duty to the state. Parents, likewise, are above you in the family hierarchy and must be respected and obeyed. Religious figures within this framework are there to be honoured and their instructions adhered to. You can see how this whole virtue and duty thing became so unpopular over time and fell out of use. Except for those in the military, church, and from old fashioned families. The modern era has been all about individualism over family ties and ties to church and state.
Bemoaning The Freedom Of Youth
You do get a backlash against all this perceived freedom in those that bemoan the lack of discipline within today’s society. Most often this is focused upon the youth of the moment. Nowadays, we get a popular concern with youth crime, as if this is a wave affecting all of us across the nation. In reality, the instances of crimes involving young people are not statistically significant within populations of millions of citizens. Rather, they are political and media beat ups promoted to rally voters and sell newspapers or get eyeballs on screens to sell advertising space. You see, law and order is a perennial issue pushed by political parties to galvanise voter interest across the globe. Demonising and incarcerating young adults does not ever address the root causes of why these individuals choose to transgress. That is not the point, as it is about getting political parties elected. A section of the community, usually older folk, fear the natural passions and energy of younger members of the tribe, it seems. I suspect for some it involves envy and they get off on supporting things that will arrest and lock up any signs of wildness. A wise person knows that many young folk go through transitional phases of rebelliousness and usually come out the other side when they get older. Even restrictive religious groups like the Amish know this and act accordingly toward their young. If, however, you are heavy handed with punishments you set these individuals on more permanent criminal trajectories. There are exceptions, of course, which is why you cannot have hard and fast rules when dealing with human beings. A clever society spends more on prevention than punishment. Asking ourselves why these people are breaking laws and what constructive things can be done about it will serve us all better in the long run. Patience is a virtue, remember!
21C Virtues?
Being Stoic: What is it? What else is a virtue in the 21C? Not beating up your wife or girlfriend is one I am sure that the Stoics would support. Domestic violence and physical violence, more generally, are not virtuous actions. Born of frustration, in the main, and throw in some inebriation from alcohol and maybe other drugs, beating up on your intimate partner sucks. Respecting the sanctity of your relationship is a virtue. Go take out your frustrations and money worries somewhere else. Work it out in the gym or via running or riding a bike. If you are a tough guy you better know that real strength in the Stoic sense is employed as a last resort to protect family and loved ones.
Pulling Your Weight
Doing your fair share in life is another important virtuous behaviour. A life stratagem devoted to hacks and shortcuts will not cut it in the Stoic sense. Getting out of work is an all too common trait of many that flourishes in childhood. It is childish behaviour to carry on with this intention as you enter adulthood. What did someone famous once say – put away childish things. Paul, who was Saul, wrote this apparently. He was involved in beating up and killing early Christians prior to his conversion, so not an entirely saintly bloke. Getting back to Stoicism, however, being diligent is another virtue – working hard is an important aspect too. Laziness and avoidance are not part of the program for Stoics. Rather, contribute as much as you can in all your essential life commitments for best results.
We Live In A Narcissistic Age
The Stoics were modest folk, they did not trumpet their own worth. Quiet achievers would fit well with their ideal description. Seneca was endlessly advising Lucillius to keep a low profile and not waste time hanging out with the wrong kind of people. This was difficult in Rome because client relationships meant that hangers on were an institutionalised thing. Wealthy and powerful people had folk literally lining up at their door every morning. Extended family and tribal networks were big back at this time and place, some two millennia ago. Despite this, Seneca advised keeping a low profile if you were devoted to philosophy and the Stoic way. Marcus Aurelius writes a lot about the problems suffered due to envy and jealousy from those around the greasy pole within the Roman state administration. Courts and senates abound with backstabbing. Those seeking power and influence are endlessly involved in a nasty game. Stoics did not parade their wealth about town. Flashy dressers, sports cars or chariots, these things were not recommended for the serious Stoic. I think gravitas when I imagine true Stoic characters. Speaking softly and carrying a big stick out of immediate sight is another Stoic kind of thing, I reckon.
Cato Would Be Appalled
Being Stoic: What is it? Greed is frowned upon by Stoics too. Amassing large stockpiles of money and wealth are not virtuous activities according to Seneca and all other Stoic philosophers. Nor is extreme poverty, by the way. Moderation is more the Stoic road. Ancient Stoic proponents warned about the dangers of becoming soft and dependent upon luxury. Marcus Cato was an exponent of the Stoic lifestyle all his life. Cato bemoaned the Hellenistic degradation of Rome via the Greek influence. Living in overly comfortable conditions was anathema to their idealisation of the soldier. Remaining battle-hardened was important, as one needed to be ready for misfortune at any moment. Sleeping on the hard ground was a favourite of Marcus Aurelius from a young age despite being destined to wear the purple. Too much rich food and easy living weakened the resolve of those who portrayed this lifestyle. Virtuous living embraced simple tastes over pleasure pursuits. Indulging in too much sexual conquest and activity was further warned against. Inundating the senses was ultimately fruitless and damaging to the rational individual.
Conclusions About Stoicism
As you can glean from this account so far, Stoicism is not suited to everyone. I can think of a bunch of people, I know, who are so far from these virtues listed that they will in no way fit the Stoic picture. Some folk feel the need to blow their own trumpet constantly about what they have and why they are the greatest. Dressing up to attract attention is their favourite thing. I don’t know if the world would be a better place if everybody was Stoic – it might be a tad boring. We need a variety of types and philosophies at play, I reckon. Stoicism can, however, help us when the chips are down. Especially, at times like that of personal betrayal by a loved one or friend. Also, when financial disaster comes knocking or serious misfortune in whatever guise. When life strips us of our pleasures and luxuries we are left in our true state, according to the Stoics. The soul or the tranquil mind are best served by moderation and modesty in the view of these philosophers. Death, remember will one day come knocking upon our door and we will not be able to barricade ourselves via wealth and luxury from our ending. Will you be able to die with honour? Do you even know what that means in the 21C? Some things to think about, anyway.
Robert Sudha Hamilton is the author of a number of titles on ancient history and other things. His most recent book is America Matters: Pre-apocalyptic Posts & Essays in the Shadow of Trump.
©MidasWord
