Following up from last week, let’s get into Stoicism. My goal is to apply it to deconstruction, especially from Christianity (which is what I know), but a general introduction may help.

Whirlwind History of Stoicism

Following is a somewhat tongue-in-cheek history of Stoicism.

Once upon a time, in the West, Socrates asked questions. The wrong kind, apparently, because the Powers That Be had him executed for them. The right kind, also apparently, because he got lots of other people to begin asking questions. One of those same pepple started the school of Cynicism, which said, Virtue is the only thing you need to live well. A while later, a Cynic student concluded Virtue may be the only thing you need, but having a house isn’t bad. His name was Zeno, from Citium (not this Zeno), and he started teaching to the public on a porch (“stoa” in Greek).

Time passed, and Stoicism came to Rome, where it was hip for rich kids to study Stoicism. Some of those rich kids turned out alright and, along with a formerly enslaved person, wrote valuable things for us..

Then Christianity came along, becoming the dominant life philosophy. In the 20th century, people began picking up virtue ethics as a way of living ethical lives—outside of religion—and Stoicism picked up steam again. Psychotherapists—inspired by Stoic psychology—developed Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and other cognitive therapies.

Key Writings

It’s probably better to read about Stoicism before reading the primary sources. See last week’s post for resources to get you started. Stoic technical language uses words we use in everyday speech; this can be confusing until you have a basic grasp of the terminology. That said, they’re pretty easy to read.

Seneca the Younger

Lucius Annaeus Seneca was a tutor, then advisor to the emperor Nero. He wrote letters and essays on anger, fortune/fate, grief, inner peace, friendship, and more. His writings are relatively easy to read, especially with footnotes (Which “Gaius” is he referring to this time??). Fun fact: Seneca died after Nero condemned him to death by suicide.

For a solid introduction to his letters, see Letters from a Stoic.

…hold every hour in your grasp. Lay hold of to-day’s task, and you will not need to depend so much upon to-morrow’s. While we are postponing, life speeds by.

Letters of Seneca 1.2

Epictetus

Epictetus was born into slavery in what is now western Turkey. Somehow he studied philosophy while enslaved and later gained his freedom. He became head of the Stoic school in Rome until all the philosophers were banished.

We don’t have any of his writings. However, Arrian, who studied under him, took (apparently?) excellent notes, and then translated them into lectures in the voice of Epictetus. These included the Discourses (4 of 8 books survive) and the Handbook (A.K.A. Enchiridion).

For a solid introduction to the writings of Epictetus, see Discourses and Selected Writings. You can also find a modernized version of the Handbook in A Field Guide to a Happy Life and The Art of Living.

People are troubled not by things but by their judgments about things. Death, for example, isn’t frightening, or else Socrates would have thought so. No, what frightens people is their judgment about death, that it’s something to fear. So whenever we are obstructed or troubled or distressed, let’s blame no one but ourselves—that is, our judgments.

Enchiridion of Epictetus, 5

Marcus Aurelius

Marcus Aurelius Antoninus was an emperor of Rome. He wasn’t a teacher of Stoicism but a practitioner, and part of his practice involved writing out philosophical ideas to force himself to think better. These have been published since then in the Meditations.

He has a way with words, as do his translators. My favorite translation is the one by Gregory Hays, but there are other good ones, as well.

The fraction of infinity, of that vast abyss of time, allotted to each of us. Absorbed in an instant into eternity.

The fraction of all substance, and all spirit.

The fraction of the whole earth you crawl about on.

Keep all that in mind, and don’t treat anything as important except doing what your nature demands, and accepting what Nature sends you.

Meditations 12.32

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In my next post, we’ll get into some of the most important ideas of Stoicism, especially from a deconstruction perspective.