Introduction:
As we sit in solitude and cast a glance on today’s fast-paced life, we see that people are living in a stress and uncertainty that seems constant with their life. So, many of the people are looking for the certain ways to navigate their life’s ups and downs with a feeling of calmness. There is an ancient philosophy that is making people calm and relieved that is Stoicism Philosophy. Though it is originated in the ancient time, its principles resonate with modern life and its difficulties. So, let’s dive into Stoicism Philosophy and its principles. It may offer all the people a kind of middle-way for living more peacefully.
What is Stoicism?
Stoicism originated over 2,000 years ago in ancient Agora of Athens, it was founded by Zeno of Citium around 300 BCE. Philosophers like Seneca, Epictetus, and Marcus Aurelius developed this school of philosophy through their literary work. Stoicism is a philosophy about how to live a good life by focusing on what we can control and accepting what we cannot. It focuses on to cultivate inner virtues and maintain our equilibrium while facing various challenges in our life.
Key features of Stoicism:
- To Maintain a Will:
It is one of the foundational ideas in Stoicism. This principle highlights our thoughts, actions, and reactions and appeals to maintain or control . According to Stoics certain destructive emotions are resulted from error of judgment. That’s why they believed people should aim to maintain a will. To live a good life, people have to understand the rules of the natural order since they believed everything is rooted in nature.
- Practice of Virtue:
Stoics believed that virtue is the only good and the key to a peaceful life. Virtues such as wisdom, courage, justice, and temperance are not just abstract ideals but practical guides for daily behavior. We should practice these ideals with our true nature and live harmony. Furthermore stoics believe that virtue is sufficient for happiness but not external material things.
- Emotional Resilience
Stoicism points out that our emotions are not caused by external events but by our perceptions of those events. By understanding this ideal, we can manage our emotions more effectively and change it according to the situation that comes in our life. Here, we are not going to suppress our feelings but we are going to understand the source of it. And we will think how to react.
- Memento Mori
Memento Mori does man mortal. It should be kept in mind that we are mortal human beings but not immortal. It will be a kind of reminder that death is inevitable. Far from being solemn, we try to live more fully and appreciate each moment of life. It helps us prioritize what truly matters and let go of trivial concerns.
- Passions:
There are four passions in Stoicism- Distress, Pleasure, Fear and Lust. The first two passions (Distress and Pleasure) are currently present and the remaining two are directed to the future. Again these four are subdivided in numerous passions. And the wise person is someone who is free from the passions, according to Stoics. There is the division of good feelings and bad.