I've been talking with a few readers about Stoicism, particularly as it applies to the philosophy and approach of the Roman emperor, Marcus Aurelius. Perhaps it is because some of the subject matter ties in to the themes of resilience and mental toughness we’ve discussed recently.
Also, within my work in the Tom Woods School of Life (https://briandoleary.com/tsol/), I've found plenty of our members studying Stoicism and they regularly report on their findings.
Over the past decade or so, there has been a resurgence of interest in Stoicism, I think largely thanks to the work of Ryan Holiday, a writer and bookstore owner out of the Austin, Texas area. Discipline Is Destiny: The Power of Self-Control by Holiday (part of his Stoic Virtue Series) is a title that several folks have recommended to me.
I’m hesitant. Nonetheless, I’ve been working through some of the other material over the last couple years—particularly this month—as a few folks have contacted me and wanted to know my thoughts on Stoicism. Until recently, I hadn’t formulated any thoughts of much consequence.
What I have found is that Stoicism is one of the most enduring philosophical traditions of antiquity, and it has profoundly influenced Western thought. Marcus Aurelius was among its most famous adherents. His personal reflections (really a journal not originally intended for publication), now compiled in Meditations, continue to inspire people who seek out wisdom and resilience.
Stoicism was “founded” by Zeno of Citium around 300 BC. His ideas originally came from the Cynics, though that proper name should not be rightly considered synonymous with those who we know as “cynics” today.
Merriam-Webster defines cynic as “a faultfinding captious critic.” It also notes that a Cynic (note the capitalization) is “an adherent of an ancient Greek school of philosophers who held the view that virtue is the only good and that its essence lies in self-control and independence.”
After Zeno, the ideas were further developed by philosophers such as Cleanthes, Chrysippus, Seneca, Epictetus (a former slave of Emperor Nero’s secretary), and Marcus Aurelius. The philosophy emphasizes rationality, virtue, and acceptance of fate.
Core principles of Stoicism include:
Virtue as the Highest Good – Stoics believed that wisdom, courage, justice, and temperance were the four cardinal virtues leading to a fulfilled life.
Control Over Perception – External events are beyond our control, but our reaction to them is within our power.
Acceptance of Fate (Amor Fati) – The Stoic ideal is to embrace whatever happens as part of the natural order.
Living in Accordance with Nature – The universe is governed by logos, a rational principle that dictates the order of all things.
Indifference to Pleasure and Pain – Stoics sought equanimity, remaining undisturbed by external circumstances.
Marcus Aurelius, often called the “Philosopher-King,” was committed to Stoic principles and Meditations reflects his struggles and philosophical insights. While his Stoicism aligned with traditional Greco-Roman teachings, he further emphasized duty, humility, and self-reflection more than earlier Stoics.
While Aurelius adhered to Stoic principles, his philosophy was more introspective than that of his predecessors. Unlike earlier Stoics, who focused on logical discourse, the writings of Aurelius were personal reflections on how to live virtuously amid the burdens of leadership.
In his journals, the emphasis Aurelius put on self-discipline and duty was particularly strong.
Aurelius believed in the natural order, an idea that the universe operates according to a rational, divine structure. He saw human life as a small part of a greater cosmic system, governed by logos—literally “word, discourse or reason.” Through this belief, it led him to accept suffering and hardship as necessary components of human existence.
While Stoicism and Aristotelian philosophy do indeed differ, Aurelius was nonetheless influenced by Aristotle’s ethics, particularly the idea that virtue helps or leads one to obtain happiness. However, unlike Aristotle, who emphasized moderation, Stoics pursued absolute virtue.
Aurelius did acknowledge and worship the pagan gods of the Roman pantheon, but his Stoicism was more philosophical than religious. He saw the “gods” as manifestations of the rational order rather than personal deities. His belief in logos was related to a Roman concept of divine providence.
Aurelius also ruled during a time when Christianity began to spread across the Roman Empire. And while there is no evidence that Aurelius actively persecuted Christians, his administration upheld Roman law, which did lead to executions of Christian, notably 48 martyrs at what is now Lyon, France.
His Stoic philosophy, ironically, did share some similarities with Christian teachings. One will regularly see the ideas of self-discipline, humility, and acceptance of suffering in Aurelius. However, Stoicism lacks Christianity’s concept of divine grace and has nothing to offer about salvation.
Several Catholic thinkers did integrate some Stoic principles into their philosophy, notably St. Thomas Aquinas and St. Augustine:
• St. Thomas Aquinas. While primarily Aristotelian, Aquinas acknowledged Stoic ideas on virtue and reason. Aquinas called Aristotle “The Philosopher.”
• St. Augustine of Hippo. Augustine admired Stoic ethics but rejected such a deterministic worldview.
Marcus Aurelius does remain one of the most influential Stoic philosophers. His reflections on virtue, duty, and the natural order continue to inform and perhaps inspire individuals seeking wisdom and resilience. While Catholic philosophers have both embraced and rejected Stoicism, the fact that people—including your humble correspondent—are still talking about it today, demonstrates Stoicism’s impact on Western thought.
Yet as a Catholic, I can’t fully get behind Stoicism. I won’t. The Stoic philosophy is riddled with paganism, and the legacy of the “Aurelius Administration” is spotty, as satraps within the empire regularly persecuted the early Christians.
Plus, playing around in the sandbox of paganism inevitably puts the soul at risk. There are already enough things to worry about daily. But, like Aquinas and Augustine, I can admire some of the principles, particularly some of the discussions about virtue and reason.
If you’re looking for more, although I’m not a “philosopher” by trade, our (short) ebook, Mental Toughness – Mastering Resilience for Success, uses— though not explicitly—some of the positive principles one would find in a study of Stoicism.
Also, it won’t cost you more than 4 bucks. We include several strategies that will help you increase your inherent capacity to become mentally tough.
After that, it's up to you.
As always,
Brian
P.S. – I named one of my podcasts the Natural Order Podcast. I do it in partnership with Adam Haman, but we have not yet talked about Stoicism.
