Stoicism And Epicureanism Essay

Stoicism and Epicureanism Essay
With their philosophical roots grounded in ancient Greece, Stoicism and Epicureanism had contrary yet significant impacts on Roman society. These
two philosophies differed in many of their basic theories. Stoics attempted to reach a moral level where they had freedom from passion, while
Epicureans strove for pleasure and avoided all types of pain. Stoics like the Epicureans, emphasized ethics as the main field of knowledge, but they
also developed theories of logic and natural science to support their ethical doctrines.
Epicurus, the founder of Epicureanism, saw death as a total extinction with no afterlife to ensue, he regarded the universe as infinite and eternal and as
consisting only of space and atoms; where the soul or mind is ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
This led Lucretius to write 'where space exists, or what we call the void, /matter cannot be found; what substance holds /void cannot occupy . . .
therefore atoms are solid and voidless . . . and if there is a void, it has to be surrounded by solid material'; (Lucretius 458). This was one of the essential
theories of Epicurean belief.
With this fundamental background of the universe, Lucretius could then convince the Roman people that gods did not create the universe, or even run
their lives, but that the matter and void controlled the universe. Lucretius held firm with the belief that fear and superstitions of the gods were the main
causes of unhappiness. His characterization of the universe as an accidental collection of atoms moving in the void, and his insistence that the soul is
not a distinct, immaterial entity but a chance combination of atoms that does not survive the body, and also his postulation of purely natural causes for
earthly phenomena are all calculated to prove that the world is not directed by the divine agency and that fear of the supernatural is consequently
without reasonable foundation. He wrote that 'our starting–point shall be this principle: /nothing at all is ever born from nothing /by the god's will';
(Lucretius 453). He opposed the public idea that the gods had created the universe, and that they were the reason for the things that happened to
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Essay on Christianity and Stoicism
Stoicism emerged in Hellenistic Greece as a new way of reasoning. A way of fulfilling one's spiritual duty. It quickly became one of the most
important Post Classical Greek philosophies. For the purpose of my analysis, I have focused on the period 100 BC to 100 CE. During that time period,
Stoicism became extremely influential in the Roman Empire. It was no longer just a Greek school; it became a semi–official Philosophy for the Roman
elite. Throughout this time period, Christianity also began to emerge. Through influential missionaries, like Saint Paul (10–67 CE), Christianity began
to spread and gain recognition, despite the fact that the Roman Empire was predominately pagan during the first century. Ironically, many early
Christian ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
As evidence, he compares 1 Cor. 7:29, a text from the Bible written by Saint Paul to the Stoic text, Ad Marc. x. 11. Pfleiderer does not quote the
Bible, he only cites it. For the purpose of this paper and to make the argument presented clearer, I am going to quote the Bible. Cor. 7:29 states, "I
mean, brothers and sisters, the appointed time has grown short." Ad Marc. x. 11 states, "Make haste to enjoy the love of your children and to let
them enjoy your love and to drain every drop of joy, for you have need of haste; death is at hand!" (43). Due to the vague similarities of concepts in
the Christian and Stoic writings, especially the idea of life being short, Pfleiderer reasons that Paul was influenced by Stoicism. Pfleiderer also argues
that both Stoics and Christians write about "the source of evil" (44). He cites Seneca, Ep. I 4; "Why do we deceive ourselves? Evil is not without
us, it has its seat within us, in our inward part" (43). He compares this Seneca quote to one from the Bible, specifically Rom. 7:14. "For we know that
the Law is spiritual, but I am of flesh, sold into bondage to sin." Using these two quotes to argue that sin and evil are synonymous, Pfleiderer claims to
have found yet another "remarkable parallel" between Stoic and Christian text.
Charles N. Smiley also claims that Stoicism was "the mould in which Roman Christianity was cast" (647). Like Pfleiderer, Smiley makes equally vague
assumptions

The Meditations By Marcus Aurelius
The universe has a plan for all of us, and we need to follow it. When you asked me what book we should assign to all of our employees, I
immediately thought about The Meditations by Marcus Aurelius. In The Meditations, you read of ways to live your life without fear of
consequences. Forgetting past troubles and current issues will help our employees to work hard at what they have to do, working for our tire
distribution company. The universe sets out our life before we are born and it is important to not let fear or mistakes get in the way of the future. If we
assign everyone in the company, including those in satellite locations, Marcus Aurelius, I believe that our productions will benefit from the results. One
perk of reading The Meditations is understanding the impact Stoicism has on a person and society as a whole. If all of our employees understood that
everything happens for a reason and there is nothing you can do to change what has already happened, they will be able to focus on what is
happening right now. In addition to realizing that the past is over, our employees who learned about Stoic philosophy through Marcus Aurelius will
understand that the universe has set their path. If something gets in their way, they will be able to get past it knowing that that is how it is supposed
to be. Since life has a set course and nothing can stop the way it will play out, our employees will learn to understand the fact that the only thing they
have control over in their

Explanation and Analysis of Stoic Philosophy Essay
Explanation and Analysis of Stoic Philosophy
Stoicism is, without a doubt, one of the most widely misunderstood schools of Philosophy ever established and followed by a wide number of
people. The common opinion of Stoic adherents is that they are merely cold, somber individuals dedicated to the idea that happiness is evil, emotion
is to be avoided at all costs and pleasure is wicked. Although they do stress control over strong emotions and that pleasure is not the sole end of life,
this is a gross misunderstanding of Stoicism. According to Dr. Zeno Breuninger, "Stoics believe a person is born with everything he needs." The Stoic
seeks to lead a life at peace with himself and the world ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Where Aristotle would say, "All humans are mortal," the Stoics would phrase it "If some person is human then that person is mortal"(Fieser). This
method, later developed by modern logicians such as Bertrand Russell, is the logic of propositions, where a statement is true if it can be reduced to
one of the five in demonstrable forms of the If–Then statement, and is considered one of the greatest Stoic contributions(Stanford;Ecole). In the realm
of Metaphysics, Stoics were essentially materialists(Ecole). They adopted from Plato the idea that reality is marked by the ability to act or be
acted upon. To this they added that only a body can do this. "Thus, only bodies exist"(Stanford). God must, then, be material. The Stoic vision of
God is as a Cosmic order, also referred to as Reason, Logos, and a Creative Fire(Ecole). The Stoic God is, then, Pantheistic, one with the universe.
Matter is inert, there to be acted upon by this universal plan. This plan is crafted from the inside, and God acts not as external deity but as a living
seed from which the universal order is grown(Stanford).
The Stoics identified with the belief, in vogue at the time, that matter is composed of four elements: earth, fire, air, and water. Fire and air were
considered to be active, whereas water and earth were labeled passive. Fire and air, the active elements, combine to form pneuma or breath. This

Parmenides and Heraclitus
This paper looks at two Greek philosophers, Heraclitus, and Parmenides. It examines their different theories as to how the universe was created,
understanding of the universe, 'way of truth, ' 'way of opinion ' and the third way. The author explains that Parmenides, who came after Heraclitus,
addressed part of his writings as a refutation of Heraclitus? views. He objected both to Heraclitus? view of the universe and how Heraclitus felt people
could gain knowledge of it.
From the Paper:
"While we have discussed what both men see as the make up of the material world, it is equally important to take up how each man felt he could know
what he knows about the universe. Mimicking a bit the structure of Parmenides? own writings, this section ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
But between the Sophists and Socrates there was a fundamental difference. The Sophists showed that equally good arguments could be advanced
on either side of any issue; they were skeptics who doubted that there could be any certain or reliable knowledge. On the other hand, Socrates was
committed to the pursuit of truth and considered it his mission to seek out certain knowledge. Unlike philosophers before them, Sophists claimed
to be wise enough to teach whatever you might want to know as long as you were willing to pay them the required fees. Sophists traveled more
than ordinary Greeks and they learned that there is a real variety of correct ways to do things depending upon ones perspective. They believed there
was no universally appropriate way of doing anything. Therefore there can be no absolutes of any kind. Appearances are reality, at least the only
reality any of us can know. They were extremely doubtful about the possibility of discovering anything that was really true. Instead, they taught their
followers how to get along in the world, without certain knowledge. They taught their followers how to win disputes, how to speak well and
convincingly how to succeed. Their underlying theory developed from two remarks of two of the leading Sophists. Protagoras, perhaps the greatest of
the Sophists, said Main is the measure of all things and Gorgias, another great sophist, proclaimed, Nothing exists, and if it did, no one could know it,
and if they

Epictetus Essay
Epictetus was a Stoic philosopher who lived during the height of the Roman Empire, 50 to 135 CE roughly. He was born a slave in modern Turkey.
He was given his name from the Greek word ОµПЂО№ОєП„О·П„ОїП‚, meaning 'acquired' or 'slave'. As a slave he was permitted to attend
philosophy lectures, which were held by Stoics at the time. During his time as a slave, Epictetus' leg was injured, either from torture or an accident, and,
due to his familiarity with Stoicism, he was able to endure it. He got his freedom when Nero was appointed emperor; however, during the rule of
Domitian, Epictetus was exiled and moved to Greece. He started a philosophy school where he continued to teach about Stoicism and eventually died.
His student, Arrian, wrote and published his works: The Discourses and Epictetus' shorter book, the Enchiridion, or The Manual.
Epictetus' Enchiridion is said to be a shorter, and easier to understand, version of his Discourses. It consists of 52 aphorisms about how to achieve
happiness. Epictetus closely associated happiness with freedom, believing the two to be inseparable. [FIND HAPPINESS AND FREEDOM QUOTE]
Epictetus touches on subjects of control, desire, fear, ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
However, for a disabled slave in the Roman Empire, this attitude was what allowed him to stomach his life, and his options. Nowadays, a person
with an injury, theoretically, has options to heal and possibly correct it. Epictetus did not. He also did not live in a society where basic human rights
were exercised in the way we expect now. Stoic philosophy, for Epictetus, was a set of guidelines he could use to 'roll with the punches'. Many other
people, when in situations where they have very little control, have turned to Stoic, and specifically, Epictetus', philosophy. James Stockdale was a
prisoner of war in Vietnam. He endured years of torture and brutal conditions and survived because of Epictetus' Stoic

Classical Socratic, Socratic And Hellenic Views Of Thought...
Pre–Socratic, Socratic, and Hellenic views of thought are all incorporated in order to provide a holistic explanation of The Greeks' view towards
one's control of their own life. Even though Greek Philosophy encompasses many different ways of thought, Greek Philosophy assumes a general
disproval of one being able to determine the outcomes of their actions. The idea is theoretically possible to some Greek philosophers and schools of
thought but assumes complete knowledge of the cosmos and universals, which is also contradicted as being attainable by the same philosophers.
Pre–Socratic philosophers tended to seek natural explanations for happenings as Pythagoras does when determining one's will over the events that
occur in their life. Pythagoras' general association with mathematics is showed in his philosophy. Pythagoras claimed that philosophical inquiries were
all explainable by mathematics and physics if given accurate data (Boxing Pythagoras). In theory, Pythagoras says that one can control the occurrences
in their life, but in order to they would have to be completely knowledgeable of the physics behind the world and be able to apply it to the particular
situation. This also assumes that the data is correct and not obtained through false observation or measurement. According to Pythagoras' explanation of
controlling or predicting future events, it is possible to manipulate physical entities to change the outcome of events. However, by him explaining this
concept, he

Comparing Stoic And Buddhist Virtue Ethics
To the modern Stoic who sees this inconsistency and feels the need to engage the world to the betterment of all, it would be wise to look towards
Buddhism. Stoic and Buddhist virtue ethics have many similarities. Both systems hold knowledge and understanding, as well as cultivation of virtue as
the focal point of their ethics. They both contain within them the importance of understanding the impermanent nature of our universe. They both
involve the cessation of desire, an increase in mindfulness, and the requirement to treat others kindly. Most importantly they both use all of these
principles toward the same goal; eudaimonia. These similarities make it easy to exchange ideas between the traditions for the betterment of both. What
is it that ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
One does not need to look deeply into Stoic texts to find a basis for it within. As pointed out above, there have been many examples of lovingkindness
and cosmopolitanism across Stoicism. Furthermore, the similarities between Buddhism and Stoicism, as stated, make them rife with the possibility of
cross–traditional exchanges. Buddhism may find out that it has some things to learn from Stoicism as well. The mystical aspects of Buddhism that
hasn't been mentioned may make it hard for people from western traditions to adopt Buddhist philosophy wholecloth. Stoicism doesn't contain the
Buddhist concepts of karma or reincarnation, although Stoicism does contain a universal providence. As Owen Flanagan has asserted and has worked
toward developing, Buddhism may be improved by removing these

Happiness Vs Happiness
What matters more in the real world in relation to life, its quality or quantity? Why would most unknowingly conform to following these so–called
'social norms'? What happens when one recognizes an illusion of control, yet cannot let go of actions that determine? What is the definition of true
happiness and how does one achieve it? What does it mean to live a good life? Are happy people with many of the latest material goods, people who
make do with what they have, or ones who prefer to forego a path of pleasure, or just something else? What is it that can I do to be happier?
In the realm of philosophy, "new" does not equate to "better". Ancient philosophers were very interested in the concept ofhappiness – particularly, the
relationship between having a good character and being happy. In fact, according to Cicero, working out the connections of character and happiness is
one of the most important question to ethics. Thus, when one tries to define and establish the subjective truth about happiness in the 21st century, there
is a great influx of ways to attack such a notion, especially in the justification of life and how to pursue it in the ideologies of Epicureanism and Stoicism
.
Epicurus was on a trip to Athens, however, he had to have first satisfied the obligatory two years of service in the Athenian Army. When Alexander the
Great died, a revolt ensued, spurred on by those who resented the previous rule and the newly appointed leader. The revolt was quelled;

The Stoic Theory
In modern society, a conflict exists between the accurate depiction of stoicism and the misconstrued, popular conception of it. Someone who is Stoic
is seen as a person who shows no emotion or who is in general a cold person. While this may be true to a degree, the reason why Stoics choose to not
have or show emotion is not understood by most. It is important to understand that their philosophy ends up affecting how they think about emotions,
as in showing no emotion is a byproduct of the way they think. It is important to first understand the reasoning behind Stoic theory in order to
understand why they show no emotion. While stoicism can be explained in many ways, their basic beliefs render its philosophy impractical and
inconsistent.
Stoics ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Stoic ethical theory starts with the interpretation of what Zeno, the founder of the Stoics, describes as 'living in agreement' or 'living in agreement with
nature' (Inwood). Later Stoics have changed this original meaning to various wording such as 'selecting the greatest most important things in
accordance with nature, not being able to overcome them' (Barney). But to spell out the theory, they say people are naturally programmed by
oikeiЕЌsis which appears in Cicero's On Ends as well as Diogenes Laertius' account of Stoic ethics (Fin. 3.16, DL 7.85). This is the idea that the
dearest thing to every animal, and human, is its own constitution and its consciousness (DL 7.85). In that way, we naturally do things for
self–preservation or what we think will be good for us and avoid what we think will be bad for us. However, since human beings are not just animals
and have rationality, they must also pursue things that preserve their rationality as well as goods taking care of the body. Many people become
confused because they have heard about Stoics committing suicide, which seems on the surface to go against what they believe. Yet, Stoics in certain
situations can commit suicide and not go against their philosophy because even though killing oneself may not contribute to self–preservation in the
sense that they are a living animal, it could preserve the independent rational being that is more important to what humans

Stoicism In Seneca, Epictetus And Marcus Aurelius
Stoicism owes its origin to Zeno of Citium that not only lived in Athens but also actively taught. This was way back in 300 BC. His ideals gained
enormous popularity amongst the ruling Romanian class. As a matter of fact, a majority of the surviving Stoic books were authored by Roman Stoics,
more especially, Seneca, Epictetus and Marcus Aurelius. Epictetus more particularly provides interesting ideas that help understand the role ofstoicism
in human life (Aetius, 1879). Many times, modern philosophers have questioned the role of stoic and stoicism in human succession as a result raising
the question "does stoic attitude lead to human succession in life" or does stoic attitude lead to thriving as a human being ?
Epictetus (55–135 AD) was a prominent Stoic philosopher that lived his early life in Greece and later in Rome. His philosophical works were
adopted by leading Roma statesmen including Seneca, Cicero, and more prominently, Marcus Aurelius. In perhaps his more direct reference to the
importance of stoicism looking at the fact Epictetus was a slave yet his ideals were later adapted by emperors, no doubt, stoicism ... Show more content
on Helpwriting.net ...
With the milestones humans have made, it is almost easy to argue against stoicism. However, the realities emerging from milestones that humans have
made render credence to stoicism. As a matter of fact, the misguided ones are those that have conventionally thought of stoicism as a speculative
though/dry academic analysis detached from life's realities. In reality and just as Epictetus put it,
"Stoicism in the West, like Buddhism in the East, was a philosophy that sought not only to explain the nature of the physical world and our
knowledge of it; but also to provide guidance on how to live the best life, and how to confront the challenges we all face in living (Bobzien, 1998, pp.

The Importance Of A Happy Life
Would you be willing to let go of your deepest darkest fears to pursue the honorable? According to Seneca, "For what prevents us from saying that the
happy life is to have a mind that is free, lofty, fearless and steadfast – a mind that is placed beyond the reach of fear, beyond the reach of desire, that
counts virtue the only good, baseness the only evil, and all else but a worthless mass of things, which come and go without increasing or diminishing
the highest good, and neither subtract any part from the happy life nor add any part to it?
A man thus grounded must, whether he wills or not, necessarily be attended by constant cheerfulness and a joy that is deep and issues from deep
within, since he finds delight in his own resources, and desires no joys greater than his inner joys." Seneca's statement shows the rejection of all base
pleasures and desires to be the foundation for good stoic philosophy. Stoicism, a Hellenistic philosophical school started by Zeno of Citium in the early
3rd century B.C, flourished in Ancient Rome during the time of Cicero and Caesar. The Stoics stressed personal freedom, virtue, natural law, reason,
and self control. Stoic philosophers such as Marcus Aurelius and Seneca claimed a life of discipline and moderation in which one would give up their
pleasures and ignore pain. In Shakespeare's "Julius Caesar", Brutus, one of Caesar's best friends who conspired against him, was determined to be an
honorable Stoic. At first sight, Brutus's attempt to

Comparing Stoicism And Buddhism
Stoicism and Buddhism are two popular belief systems pertaining to life and living. Stoicism, a philosophical school which arose in 300 BCE
(Lecture [Oct 17], Slide #5), speaks of "living in accordance with nature" and otherwise understanding that everything happens for the well being of
everyone and everything as a whole (Lecture [Oct 17], Slide #7–8). This is shown through distinguishing between what is and is not in your control
and putting a barrier of sorts between you and what is not in your control (Lecture [Oct 17], Slide #10). Stoics as well view friends as a positive thing
to have, as they benefit the whole, but are easy to replace and not a necessity. Buddhism, a religion that does not preach on our relation to a God, but
emphasizes teachings of our relationship to one another and the end of suffering. Buddhist views revolve around everyone being interconnected and
striving for the destruction of craving in order to end suffering for you and in turn everyone who is connected to you, the ultimate goal being to
transcend karma allowing you to exit the cycle of rebirth (Lecture [Oct 24], Slide #6). Buddhists and Stoics both show their own views on ethics and
friendship, although overlapping in respect to understanding oneself in relation to others, but have quite different views on how you should be living
and the purpose and the need for friendship.
Buddhists and Stoics have quite radically different approaches to living and how to live correctly. A significant part of Buddhist beliefs is rebirth and
nirvana, which is the end of suffering and exiting of rebirth. Rebirth has six forms, humans, gods, titans, animals, hell, and ghosts, which are
determined by karma although ultimately, exiting the cycle of rebirth requires transcending karma (Lecture [Oct 24], Slide #5–6)."Kamma is the field,
consciousness the seed, and craving the moisture." (BR1), explaining how in order to transcend karma you must eliminate the craving so karma is
unable to grow. Buddhists live to eliminate suffering, a by–product of ignorance of dependent arising which causes craving, allowing you to enter
nirvana which could be a total extinction of your person or existence in a realm without craving (Lecture [Oct 24], Slide #16).

Comparing Christianity and Stoicism Essay
Introduction Over the course of human history every society, even the most culturally isolated of civilizations, has developed some form of
faith–system for interpreting and understanding the spiritual and material worlds. Thousands of such systems have existed over the centuries, and as
tribes and cultures expanded, these faith–systems inevitably met each other face–to–face and clashed. Two thousand years ago there was a particularly
important collision; one between the Roman stoic and the gentile Christian. At this time in Western civilization, Christianity was just planting its seeds
and beginning to grow, whereas stoicism was already legitimate in its foundation and strong in its following (Stavrianos 100). One might wonder ...
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In doing so, some fundamental conclusions can be drawn pertaining to the eventual succession of Christianity over stoic thought. Christianity and
Stoicism: Logic, Physics, and Ethics
In terms of logic, Christianity can be understood in three parts. Initially, there is the undeniable doctrine of "the Trinity," which teaches that God, as
revealed in the Old and New Testaments, actually exists in three persons. In essence, God is the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit all at once.
However, Jesus is not the Father, nor is he the Holy Spirit; He is separate, and yet they are all God. Mathematically this makes no sense. If one
considers that God=A, God=B, and God=C, it logically follows that A=B=C. An intellectually honest person questions if the Trinity is truly logic at
all. As a matter of fact, this particular dogma has no true Biblical origin. The concept of the Trinity does not even arise until the formation of the
Nicene Creed (Metzger 90). This is interesting to note though, for it was primarily used to falsify the so–called "heretical" systems that rivaled it
(Metzger 782). A second main tenant of Christian logic is the idea that the Bible is inerrant. In other words, all scripture is "God–breathed," and as
such, what is written was done so in accordance with His will, and thus, must be true (2Tim 3:16). This argument is often used

Roman Values In William Shakespeare's Julius Caesar
In William Shakespeare's Julius Caesar, great emphasis is placed on what it means to be a good Roman. Honour, honesty, service, and dignity were
among the qualities considered virtuous and which contributed to a sense of Roman duty. Along with the virtues, Shakespeare also seems to examine
the nature of philosophical Stoicism. The treatment of constancy and Stoicism has many thematic and moral implications in Julius Caesar. In analysing
Brutus' supposedly noble character, Shakespeare calls into question Stoicism's place as a guide for human conduct. Roman values and their
importance to the state play a central role in Julius Caesar. These values are portrayed as integral to the success of Rome, because the majority of
these virtues act in favour of the state. Each person in Roman society has their own role which is part of a more important collective whole.
Characters in the play seem to identify more with being a citizen or "soul of Rome" rather than a unique individual (Shakespeare, 2.1.323). The play
emphasizes Rome as "an alien society" and analyses the relationship "between Rome and the Romans, who see themselves as 'citizens,' rather than
'men'" (Miles, 2). Shakespeare emphasizes the importance of the state over personal thoughts or feelings: "not that I loved Caesar less, but that I loved
Rome more" (Shakespeare, 3.2.21–22). Each of the Roman virtues arises out of a sense of duty to put the state over the self. Following this duty
evokes a necessary recognition of

Comparing Brutus And Cassius: Comparing Humans Essay
To compare humans you are simply comparing ideas. Thoughts, experiences and philosophies that all combine together to create individuals. Two
experiences and two people who see the same scenario with different perspectives. Such is the way with Brutus and Cassius. This pair of Roman
senators shows us the difficulty of having a realist and an idealist work together, yet the pair manages to overcome their different views on the world
to work together and assassinate "the foremost man of all this world." Though, the pair of friends and lovers differences does not simply end at
idealism versus realism. The pair seems to be naturally against each other in terms as ideas, it's a wonder that with such different personalities,
oeadership and ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
This scene happens to show us how idealism and realism can clash as the two have a disagreement over what course of action to take. The argument,
however doesn't take us deeper as Cassius's realistic point of view is overshadowed by his need to have Brutus on the side of the conspirators.
Though, it does show us the beginning of what can possibly be a very slippery slope of future disagreements.
The opinions of our conspirators on the main stage are highly varied as they both have two completely different ways of leading others. Brutus for one
was a strong and honorable man, forcing himself to stand tall and do whatever the noble thing is no matter what the resulting consequence would be. If
it was something that could have been deemed dishonorable then Brutus wouldn't give it a second thought. Honor was Brutus's selection of tactics, no
matter which way the wind would blow. This is shown in the play when Brutus refuses the oath in act two, scene one. His honorable tactics were what
paved his road when he said that they should head to Philippi to meet Octavius and Antony in act four scene three, rather than wait for them to wear
themselves out. This shows his honorable nature by presenting us with the fact that he would rather meet his opponent half way and defeat them on
equal grounds rather than wait for them to approach and to fight with them when they were at a

Epicureanism Vs Stoicism Essay
Stoicism is similar to Epicureanism: they both share the view that eudaimonia is attained by atraxia, a calmness or tranquility of the mind that comes
from apathy, or more specifically, indifference. This indifference has to do with ignoring things related to human life, which is viewed as mundane:
things like health, money, political office, and material possessions cause pleasure that is bad, and when you ignore these things and become
indifferent, your mind becomes calm. This is similar to Epicureanism in that Epicureanism defines happiness as the absence of pain, like the need for
earthly pleasures; in Stoicism, happiness is found in the indifference towards these things. However, the difference between the two is that
Epicureanism understands that desires and some external pleasures are part of being human, and ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Epicurus somewhat diminished traditional religion, because he also viewed that as we shouldn't fear death, we should also not fear gods. Gods are
happy (in terms of well–being) and immortal by definition, so why should we fear any of that? The gods, according to Epicureanism, should be
comparable to role models, exhibiting the perfect amount of well–being, because they had no concerns or anxiety:
The most accurate...conception of the gods is to think of them, as the Greeks often did, in a state of bliss, unconcerned about anything, without needs,
invulnerable to any harm, and generally living an enviable life. So conceived, they are role models for Epicureans, who emulate the happiness of the
gods, within the limits imposed by human nature (Hutchinson 1)
Although the gods are regarded as examplars, Epicurus still held that the world around us is material, and that the laws of matter govern everything.
This connects to his views about atomistic reincarnation (as well as the nonbelief in the after–life) and how the absence of the fear of death is
extremely important to

Seneca 's Theory Of Ethics Caught My Interest
Born in 1 BCE, Lucius Annaeus Seneca was a Stoic philosopher whose writings cover a vast range of topics concerning the human experience. The
public's conception of stoicism as a school of philosophy predominantly focused on "embracing misfortune without complaint" is somewhat distorted
from the actual beliefs its outstanding figures held. Seneca's approach to ethics caught my interest, after thinking over his arguments, I found myself
agreeing with much of what he had to say, that is if I interpreted it correctly. I believe the principles espoused by the stoics to be particularly relevant
over the past century. The 1920's is often associated as an age of materialism, an unsustainable time–period inundated with mass–consumption and
fixated on pleasure. Perhaps it is not as extreme as then nowadays, I would not know for I was not alive; however, it feels like we are in a similar
climate. Everyone wants the newest products, the new iPhone that comes out every year, that new pair of shoes, that new videogame system, that
new watch, or that new house, etc. Although we have yet to reach the world described by Aldous Huxley in that of the literary classic "Brave New
World," which depicts a society constructed upon drowning in excess consumption of sex and soma, where John, the savage, is perceived as a lunatic
for his quaint habits of being virtuous. More interesting, is the growing desire to be happy, this is shown by the increasing amounts of literature and
social science

Stoicism In Ancient Times
The dictionary defines Stoicism as "the repression of emotions and indifference to pleasure or pain." [Ref. dictionary.com]. In ancient Greece and
Rome, Stoics believed "people should strictly restrain their emotions in order to attain happiness and wisdom. Hence, they refused to demonstrate joy
or sorrow." [Ref. dictionary.com]. Some 2,000–plus years later there is still a belief that stoicism is something to be admired or copied as it infers to
and supports an exalted sense of knowing. It is not difficult to envision a lot of profound Greek thinkers, philosophers, astrologers, etc. who possibly
identified with a false sense of superiority based on some profound understandings they had. It's also not farfetched to envision many Roman politicians,
military strategists, gladiators and such who saw stoicism as a manner of behavior that kept them elevated from the uninformed masses.... Show more
content on Helpwriting.net ...
Straight–forward, honest self–reflection will prove this understanding to anyone who welcomes such a commitment to life. Granted it's tough to
undercover and dissipate an ego the size of Texas; it's even tougher and infinitely more difficult to undo what is set into motion when stoicism prevails.
Stoicism doesn't allow others to sense what it means to falter and fall; to pick yourself up and get on with living in such a way that doesn't keep others
in the dark; questioning their own interpretations, which may be appropriate but lacking a certain degree of maturity. Courage, sincerity, and
authenticity reside in the willingness to humbly acknowledge infinite unknown factors that were part of an equation that was faulty from the get–go.
Unbridled joy and ease does not mask the intangible wounds of our psyche, it puts life in perspective akin to the essence of our wisdom which is not
achieved through

De Montaigne On The Inequality There Is Between Us
Stoicism is a philosophy that emphasizes the importance and goodness of virtue. Virtue is the only thing worth striving for and the only thing that
can bring true happiness, according to the stoics. In John Sellars' "Stoicism" essay, he stated that "we shall focus all our attention on cultivating and
preserving virtue (the only good)" (2006, p. 110В¬). This form of thinking appears in De Montaigne's "On the Inequality There is Between Us"
essay. Montaigne was a French writer who refined the essay as a literary genre, and many of his arguments and main points in this essay are centered
around stoic ideas. Many of the beliefs he voices in the essay would agree with stoicism as well. Thus, it appears that Montaigne is a stoic. One
fundamental principle of stoicism is that virtue is the only good, and all other things in life are simply ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
In reference to possessions, Montaigne (1987) pronounced that even if a king has gold and pearls stuffed "in the roof of his four–poster . . . it has no
virtue to assuage the anguished paroxysms of a lively attack of the stone" (p. 292). When speaking of a king again, Montaigne (1987) announced that
if one were to draw back the bed–curtains and look at the king, he would be just like any other man, "baser perhaps than the least of his subjects" and
"wracked like another man by cowardice, wavering, ambition, anger, and envy" (p. 291). The fact that a king is not different from other men and
prone to the same emotions and sickness is repeatedly accentuated throughout this essay. Montaigne (1987) asserted that if a king "is a clever man
and well endowed, his royal state will add little to his happiness: he knows it to be deception and vanity" (p. 294). In other words, ruling over others
and having the benefits of royalty does not provide very much happiness. Other qualities of a man matter much more in life and in happiness. This is
without doubt another stoic

Chapter Three: Chrysippus And Seneca
Chapter Three – Chrysippus and Seneca There have been many influential Stoics throughout history. Cleanthes was Zeno's successor, but in Greek
Stoic history, Chrysippus, the third Head of the Stoic school seems to be one many historians consider to be one of the most influential due to his
contributions. Seneca, along with Epictetus and Marcus Aurelius are the three most influential Stoic philosophers in Roman times. Let's see why,
beginning with Chrysippus. Chrysippus – An Introduction Chrysippus of Soli was from Soli, Cilicia and shifted to Athens as a youth. There he
became a disciple of Cleanthes. In 230 BC, when Cleanthes passed away, Chrysippus took over as the third Head of the school. He is known for
expanding the doctrines of Zeno... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
He loved to have an all–inclusive view on a matter and would take into account both sides of a debate. His opponents complained of his constant use
of quoting others in his books. Many also considered him verbose and abstruse in his wording and reckless in his style, but his intellectual capacities
were highly praised and he became known as a distinguished expert for the school. He is said to have died somewhere in the years 208–204 BC at 73.
In his work, Laertius provides two different versions of his death, both equally intriguing and colorful. In the first version, after drinking undiluted
wine at a feast he became dizzy and died shortly after; in the second version, after watching a donkey eat figs he yelled out, "Now give the donkey
a drink of pure wine to wash down the figs," and died from uncontrollable laughter. His nephew Aristocreon had a statue build in his honor in the
Ceramicus in Athens. Chrysippus's student Zeno of Tarsus succeeded him as Head of the Stoic school. Only fragments of his works have survived in
the form of quotes by such writers as Cicero, Seneca, Galen and Plutarch, among others. More recently, however, fragments from On Providence and
Logical Questions was found among the Herculaneum Papyri. It is believed that a third work by him may be in there as

Descartes, Epictetus, And Plato
As people age, they begin to wonder what is the meaning of life, particularly their own life. It is a natural curiosity and has been thought about for
several centuries. Philosophers claim to know, or at least be fairly aware of, what the meaning of life is. Three that come to mind are Rene
Descartes, Epictetus, and Plato; these three philosophers have lived through different time periods and differ greatly in theories. Descartes had no
true theory but used skepticism to establish his philosophy, Epictetus was a Stoic, and Plato was a Platonist. One, Descartes, lived questioning
anything and everything to only be sure of two existences, another, Epictetus, lived perhaps too happily since he believed that everything that
occurred in life was a part of God's plan, but one lived in the middle of these two philosophers. This philosopher was Plato, he was not too skeptical
of life nor was he too engulfed in "God's plan," instead he was rational about life and searched for the deeper meaning to his own being. For this
reason, his theories are far more well thought–out and reasonable than those of Descartes and Epictetus. In order to understand Descartes' way of
thinking, it is crucial to note his education. He received a sufficient education in mathematics and science which led to his rejection of scholastic
philosophy. He was not only taught about old philosophers such as Plato and Epictetus, but there was a recent philosopher [according to his time]
named Montaigne who was a

Essay Marcus Aurelius and Stoic Philosophy
Marcus Aurelius and Stoic Philosophy
Stoicism is a belief that the universe, despite its appearances, is completely rational and guided by fate. Within it, individuals can, by conforming
themselves to divine reason, find their proper place, learn to accept whatever happens with a strong and tranquil mind, and fulfill their obligations to
society. These beliefs are the heart ofStoicism, a philosophy that originated in Athens during the 3rd century BC. Stoicism can be divided into three
periods: Old (300 – 129 BC.), middle (129 – 30 BC.), and New (30 BC. – AD 200). The foundations were laid by Zeno and were reshaped by his
Greek and Roman followers (Comptons). Among the eminent Roman Stoics were Seneca, Epictetus, and the ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net
...
This view is similar to pantheism, which sees god in all aspects of nature. All specific bodies, whether animal, mineral, or vegetable, are composed
of a godly matter. The human mind is also a fragment of god contained in the individual. By living in harmony with nature, the mind is able to
direct a person into a life guided by correct reason. Everything that happens in the world is planned by fate. Just as everyone has a duty to live by
reason, so everyone should learn to accept with courage and calm whatever circumstances the world brings. The notion of morality involves a life in
accordance with nature and controlled by virtue. It is as ascetic system, which teaches perfect indifference to everything external. Nothing external can
be either good or evil (Stanford). To Stoics, both pain and pleasure, poverty and wealth, and sickness and health, are supposed to be equally
unimportant. Stoic Ethical teaching is based on two principles: first, that the universe is governed by absolute law, which admits of no exceptions; and
second, that the essential nature of humans is reason. Virtue, is the life according to reason. Morality is simply rational action. It is the universal
reason, which is to govern our lives. The definition of morality as the life according to reason was shared by Plato, Aristotle, and Stoics. The Stoics
however, had a much narrower interpretation, which they gave this principle. Aristotle had taught that the essential

Stoicism In Epictetus The Issue Of The Satisfaction Of Desire
Stoicism is a philosophy focused on the pursuit of virtue as a means of permanent happiness through denouncing all external desires which may corrupt
this path. Whilst the central view that one should only focus on things they can control is easily applied to materialistic externals, the more personal the
connection, the harder it becomes to practice. The major flaw of Stoicism, highlighted in McGill's 'The Issue of the Satisfaction of Desire' is the belief
that emotion is a product of mistaken judgments and therefore is controllable. This leads to illogical conclusions evident in Epictetus' 'The Handbook'
which suggests both that it is possible to enjoy externals such as possessions, body and relationships whilst still not properly being attached ... Show
more content on Helpwriting.net ...
However, Stoicism's belief that virtue (and its corresponding happiness) is indestructible when acting rightly is highly ignorant and raises serious
questions about how happiness can coexist with physical suffering or death. The belief that happiness through virtue is a constant and unchanging
mindset is a pinnacle belief for Stoicism (McGill, 1967, p.231). Clearly, under Zeno's description of valuable externals, Stoics agree that health and
looking after the body is preferable but virtue is the absolute and situations may arise when they must sacrifice their life to maintain virtue and live in
accordance with nature (Epictetus, 1995, p.290). As Epictetus states "It is better to die of hunger, but free from grief and fear, than to live in affluence
with a disturbed mind" (Epictetus, 1995, p.290). Although unlike material possessions, Epictetus's view that the body and one's life is still merely
external and therefore they should be completely unattached from leads to a rather fallacious position. To Stoics it should not matter if they are "cold
or warm... and whether dying or doing something else" (McGill, 1967, p.235). But, sacrificing life is not the same as giving up an object and there is
an underlying and uncontrollable emotional response which the Stoics overlook and oversimplify. In extreme situations, it is possible to be tranquil
whilst living in accordance to nature to one's own physical detriment but this is not the same as happiness. As summarised in Aristotle's argument
against unwavering happiness, enduring suffering to pursue a righteous life certainly coincides with virtue but none would argue that suffering can
coexist with happiness like the Stoics suggest (McGill, 1967, p.229). Thus, Stoic lack of attachment to health or life is fairly unattainable due to the

Stoic Radicalism
Halfway There: Stoic Radicalism and Inaction Stoicism's primary differentiating feature from other varieties of Greco–Roman philosophy is its
assertion that the individual has absolute control over some aspects of their life and absolute powerlessness to affect others. The thinking that follows
is that the only concern for humans should be that which we individually can control – the rest can be regarded as up to chance and therefore irrelevant
to ideal human behavior. Stoicism therefore dismisses, even rejects, the ideas of natural superiority and inferiority, constructs that defined much of the
Roman social–political system. However, despite this egalitarian premise, the Stoic emphasis on individual agency irrespective of individual
circumstance ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
As something not "up to us", social position does not reflect any true qualities of the supposed superiors and inferiors. Seneca's writing on slavery
makes this feeling explicit. His condemnation of cruelty toward slaves relies on a denial of the Aristotelian premise of natural slavery. In Seneca's
view, slaves are slaves by "accident" (Seneca 194), not fault. Accordingly, they should be treated as "comrades" or "humble friends" (Seneca 191), as
is moral. He reiterates this belief toward the end of the essay noting that a slave may be "a free man in spirit", and therefore should be treated no
worse than a free man (Seneca 194). Similarly, Epictetus instructs "Do not be joyful about any superiority that is not your own" (Epictetus 6), which
recalls his earlier statement that "our possessions, our reputations, or our public offices" fall into this category. In application of this view, he draws a
distinction between the statements: "I am richer than you; therefore, I am superior to you" and "I am richer than you; therefore, my property is
superior to yours" (Epictetus 44), the former being invalid and the latter being evidently true. Contained within this view Is necessarily that property or
wealth do not, and cannot make one person better than another, and, as Epictetus asks earlier in his handbook, "What does [wealth and luxury] amount
to?" (Epictetus 24), indicating a similar rejection of material hierarchy. Moreover, he places wealth at odds with "preserving your trustworthiness and
self–respect" giving these internal traits preference over external wealth. This evidences Stoic belief in the capacitive equivalency of all people. The
implication of the statement is that the truly valuable traits are just as accessible to the poor as to the rich, and potentially more so because the

Stoicism Vs Buddhism Essay
It is not uncommon in today's society to come across someone who in some way shape or form believes in Buddhism. But what about the ancient
Greek philosophy of Stoicism? These two ideologies were created thousands of miles apart, as well as centuries apart, however they bare more
similarities than we would initially think. There are three key similarities between Stoicism and Buddhism. They both believe in receiving happiness
from an internal source, in the idea that suffering stems from desires, and they also offer a path to a life without said suffering. If a person
incorporated these beliefs into their life, they could only expect positive results. We start our spiritual and philosophical journey in a place called
Lumbini. The founder of Buddhism in this world is known as Buddha Shakyamuni. He was born as a royal prince in 624 BC, ... Show more content on
Helpwriting.net ...
While it is easy to say "do not desire to not suffer" it is ultimately harder to do. This is where Stoicism can come into play. Both of these philosophies
seek to eliminate negative emotions and although the goal is similar their means of getting there differ slightly. Stoicism attains to achieve this notion
through active rationality, using logic and certain methods to control one's ego and limit unfavorable emotions. In a Stoic's mind, honorable living will
eventually lead to the tranquility that is sought. This being said, Buddhism attempts to attain the same goal of mind stillness through meditation and by
training intuition. When these two are put together, the concept of living a rational life with the aid of meditation and neglecting to indulge in or dote
on the desires that can bring upon suffering– one can only benefit. These practices can lead to the elimination of ego, anxiety, with the intention of
eradicating all negative emotions, and can increase awareness, empathy and compassion for not only those around you but for life

Stoic's Fallacy In Epictetus 'To Those Who Fear Want'
The Stoic's Fallacy In his epistle, "To Those Who Fear Want," Epictetus challenges the rationale in an affluent society's fearing poverty. Through the
lens of Stoicism, Epictetus contends that men should not fear what they cannot control; a person who fears hunger, poverty, and death is shameful
because he unknowingly ridicules a group of people who, largely, are not wholly responsible for their qualities of life. In truth, this wealthy person
only fears his loss of luxury. Likewise, Epictetus defends his position by use of rhetorical questions, metaphors, and syllogisms to assuage the
privileged. Yet, Epictetus' audience will also observe that the stoic's qualms with the higher–class reveals a major flaw in his logic; his inability to
perceive... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
He interrogates his audience continually and each subsequent confrontation cheapens the last. Epictetus proves his habit, asking, "Is that shameful to
you which is not your own act, that of which you are not the cause, that which has come to you by accident, as a headache or fever? [Moreover, this
fever, if one is poor, will more than likely kill the individual in this era, thus justifying the rich's fear of poverty.] If your parents were poor, and left
their property to others, and if while they live, they do not help you at all, is this shameful to you" (537)? While true, Epictetus presents a valid
argument when he explains that men should not fear what they cannot control. However, fearing the surrounding conditions of what one cannot control
serves as the chief stressor for the rich. No hypothetical person that Epictetus describes prefers relegation to his or her social status, and those that are at
the bottom, like himself, have nothing to value. Thus, Epictetus' stoic ideology is born. Moreover, one might argue that the scenarios described in
Epictetus' quote does not quite align with the philosopher's thesis. Likewise, his audience must consider all aspects that might make the rich frightful of
hunger, poverty, and the death to which the lifestyle will

Skepticism: The Ideal Way Of Life
Skepticism: The Ideal Way of Life
Sonya Quaife
Murray
PHL 110
10 October, 2016
Both stoicism and skepticism are very polarized philosophies that are not often lived out to their fullest today as each go to the extreme to articulate a
radical viewpoint on life. On the first hand, stoicism focuses on only caring about internals which are things one can control and not on the externals
which are things that are out of one's control. According to Epictetus, if one can follow this basic principle, a happy life should be attainable. On the
contrary, skepticism focuses on adding value or judgment to things in life even though there is truly no fact of the matter method to determine a
universal judgment agreed upon by society. In David Hume's "The ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Hume states that in Epictetus's The Handbook, most of the statements are based upon a mindset where one is simply told to get over it. Hume states
that Seneca also makes use of these invalid arguments that do not add any strength to any point trying to be made. An example of this attack is
when Hume gives an example where "a man may as well pretend to cure himself of love by viewing his mistress through the artificial medium of a
microscope..." (Hume 349). This addresses the idea that finding an artificial solution to a problem does not benefit anyone in the long run. Similarly,
artificial arguments that are made does not do anyone any good. The use of an artificial argument completely invalidates the point that is trying to be
made. Therefore, since stoicism is based upon artificial arguments, it cannot serve to bring any individual happiness and success in the future. Hume
adds that simply being indifferent to all problems and issues in life as Epictetus instructs does not mean that nothing bad ever happens. When one
extinguishes the idea of pleasure and pain, he or she also removes the point of living in life. Someone cannot just state whatever happens, happens and
be okay with it simply because they did not care about it from the

Boethius And Stoicism In The Consolation Of Philosophy
Marcus Aurelius in Meditations, believes that practicing stoicism will bring a person true happiness. Stoicism is an act of independence, and having a
state of mind that all things that happen in life are meant to happen. Regardless what happens, stoics do not let it affect their actions or state of mind.
Boethius in The Consolation of Philosophy, believes happiness is recognizing that a man's desires being fulfilled is not true happiness, but having a
relationship with God is true happiness. Religion is practicing a healthy relationship with your God. A healthy relationship would be keeping God as a
priority. Boethius and Marcus Aurelius both come up with philosophies that are in place for a person to reach a epidemy in life of true ... Show more
content on Helpwriting.net ...
He wrote a textbook on music that was used until modern times. Boethius did many great things in his life, until he was charged with conspiring to
deliver Rome from his rule, and was thrown into prison for the rest of his life. It is questioned whether his philosophy stands, due to the way he
conspired it. Boethius was chained up in a dark dungeon, when a woman appeared in front of him. This was the start of the Consolation of
Philosophy, and it is debatable whether he was crazy or simply just using her as a literary device for our reading. Marcus Aurelius lived around 140
A.D., which was considered "Ancient Era" He was known as one of the greatest rulers of all time. Meditations was wrote from the journal of Marcus
Aurelius. His philosophy was very simple. He did not want to start a riot with his philosophy, but he practiced it within himself. "Although steeped in
the teachings of philosophy, he did not attempt to remodel the world on any preconceived plan" (Meditations p 68).
Both men, although living in two different eras, proposed a way to live life in a way that will bring true happiness into your life. Boethius strived for
a relationship with God. The woman that appeared before him was there to tell him that there is no more time to be miserable, even with the conditions
that he was under, and to carry on. '" But it is rather time," saith she, "to apply remedies, than to make complaints"'. (Consolation 120). Boethius
believed that

Stoicism: Epictetus & Seneca
Stoicism: Epictetus & Seneca
Born of different backgrounds, upbringings, and experiences, Epictetus and Seneca are Roman philosophers who outwardly appear very different.
Epictetus spent most of his youth as a slave while Seneca was born into money and became a tutor of Nero. Although these two men seem to be very
dissimilar, they each shared a common purpose in studying philosophy and teaching people on how to live well. Each suggested different paths for
how to do so. Epictetus suggests in his book, The Discourses and The Enchiridion, that living a life in accordance with nature could be achieved by
living moderately. Seneca suggests in his work, Letters from a Stoic, that a happy man is self–sufficient and realizes that happiness depends only on
interior perfection. Despite the differences, both Epictetus and Seneca are considered Stoics because of their shared belief in the idea that character is
the only guarantee of everlasting, carefree happiness. The world outside ourselves will never give us happiness, nor will it be responsible for our
unhappiness. It doesn't matter what's happening outside ourselves, Epictetus and Seneca claim that the only thing that matters is how we interpret
those events. Further evaluating Seneca's, Letters from a Stoic and Epictetus's, The Discourses and The Enchiridion, we will clearly be able to
differentiate the two in their ideas and opinions regarding stoicism and the keys to living a well, happy life.
The correct path to happiness

Stoic Philosophy
Stoicism is a philosophy which originated in Greece around 300 B.C. It got its name from the place where its founder, Zeno, taught. He held his
school in the stoa poikilГЄ, a colonnade in Greece, and thus, he and his followers became known as Stoics. Stoicism also spread to Rome, where
influential people including Seneca and Marcus Aurelius were adherents to Stoicism.
There are three different areas that are a part of Stoic philosophy: logic, physics, and ethics. The Stoics believed that everything in the world was
corporeal, or material, even the soul and God, because there were interactions between the soul and body, God and man, and this could not happen if
some things were immaterial and others were not. Another philosopher, Heraclitus, ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Fundamentally, Stoicism and Christianity are in no ways alike. They are two completely different worldviews, with two completely different
views on God, the world, and how we should live. However, the appearance of the life of a Stoic looks similar to the life of a Christian in some
regards. The Stoics believed that to live a happy and good life one had to be virtuous, and as stated above, "live[e] in agreement with nature"
(Baltzly). They also believed that a person should not be governed by their passions or emotion. On the surface this appears like a good way of living –
to be a virtuous person, who lives according to good laws, and who is not ruled by their emotions. However, there are many differences between
Stoicism and Christianity which overrule the similarities. Part of the basic idea of Stoicism was that everything that happened was predetermined, and
so the best a person could do was to resign themselves to this and live a virtuous life in accordance with nature. In addition, by ruling out passion and
emotion, anything external would need to be disregarded, and thus treated with indifference. Paul states something that sounds similar to some of this,
in Philippians 4:11–12, where he says, "I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I
know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every

Marcus Aurelius Meditations Explaining Stoicism
Stoicism
(A Discussion of My Favorite Lines in Marcus Aurelius' Meditations Explaining Stoicism) When it comes to Platonism, Marcus Aurelius essentially
strips away all the extraneous philosophies revolving around that philosophy. Marcus takes a very realistic approach to the world from a leadership
perspective. One could say he is the unintentional founder of Stoicism, a philosophy based on accepting the world is not an ideal place and striving to
learn from hardships, not complain. In his private journals, Marcus Aurelius makes many statements that I find to be very agreeable to and mean a
great deal to my personal way of life. These lines discuss ideas of learning all one can, living everyday as if it were your last, and do not break against
the hardships of life. ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
The exact quote is, "Give thyself time to learn something new and good, and cease to be whirled around," (257). In life, knowledge is power, and
exposing ourselves to new concepts and ideas always gives us new knowledge for new challenges. One can never be prepared enough for the trials
of life, yet the best we can do is keep an open mind to new informations in order to easily bounce back from failures. This is something I believe in
heartily and take in whatever knowledge I can from failures in order to prevent it from happening again. This quote heavily influences Stoicism, as the
philosophy states that positive and negative experiences should not hinder us, but only teach

Roman Stoic Traditions
The Romans often applied the philosophy of Stoicism to their way of life due to heavy influences by Greek traditions. The philosophy of the Stoic
tradition comes from a Greek philosopher named Epicurus, who taught in Athens. He believed that those who believed that fear, practically fear of
death, was responsible for all human misery, and that the gods played no part in human affairs. He argued, "All things are driven by the random
movement of atoms swirling through space".
Epicureanism was one of the two philosophical systems to the romans along with stoicism as well. Stoics were known for the endurance of pain or
hardship without a display of feelings and without complaint. Instead of reacting to negative situation, they would simply carry ... Show more content
on Helpwriting.net ...
Stoicism could help roman citizens cope with anger and anxiety. Stoics believed that they should accept the worst in situations, with the
consequences along with it in order to live happier lives, and to relieve this anxiety. Appalled by hope, Stoics wanted to erase expectations of good
for the future, and were always prepared for the worst. By this, they felt was the only way to achieve inner peace with oneself. The erasing of this
hope is greatly supported by an excerpt from Marcus Aurelius' book Meditations, saying Marcus Aurelius says, "Begin the morning by saying to
thyself, I shall meet with the busy–body, the ungrateful, arrogant, deceitful, envious, unsocial. All these things happen to them by reason of their
ignorance of what is good and evil". This way of life helped Roman citizens with different out looks on life, that way they could get endure the
hardships life has to offer, to realize that everything happens for a reason, and that life eventually goes

The Mentality Of Stoicism In Shirley Jackson's The Lottery
In Shirley Jackson's The Lottery, she describes a town that holds a drawing that stones a person once a year because it is a tradition. In Epictetus' The
Handbook, he lays out the idea systems that stoics live by. A Stoic believes to let things happen as they happen and do not let emotions control the
decisions that someone makes. Stoicism displays characteristics of preparing oneself before an important event happens, someone disassociating
themselves from the pain someone experiences when they lose a loved one. Stoicism displays characteristics of preparing oneself before an important
event happens, someone disassociating themselves from the pain someone experiences when they lose a loved one. The characters depicted in Shirley
Jackson's the Lottery display the mentality of stoic teachings from Epictetus' The Handbook. Epictetus' rhetoric is best described in Stoic Conceptions
of Freedom and Their Relation to Ethics, "how one can avoid failures and disappointments and how one can keep or attain an undisturbed and
well–poised emotional state" (Bobbie 80). The characters in The Lottery relate to the stoicism beliefs taught by Epictetus in his Handbook by continue
a tradition because it is what happens on June 27 even though the reason for it is not known anymore, proceeding their normal lives on lottery day as if
it was not lottery day and stoning a person and being almost emotionless that someone just died because of the lottery. Throughout Shirley Jackson's
The Lottery, the characters depicted are representatives of the beliefs that Epictetus writes about in The Handbook. The people in the town depicted in
the lottery are emotionless towards death and Epictetus' and the stoics write about taking the emotion out of death.
On the day of the lottery (June 27), the characters treat lottery day as if it is a normal day. The citizens' actions coincide with Epictetus' teachings, that
a person must think it over in their minds and they will not be fazed when it happens (55). The people nonchalantly gather in the town square as the
children pick up rocks and the reader thinks that it is a normal day because children play outdoors daily. The town event planner asks if everyone is
there and Mrs. Hutchinson storms in

Marcus Aurelius, Rome's Greastest Emperor Essay examples
Who is Marcus Aurelius? What did he do to make his mark in the pages of history? Why did the people of Rome respect and admire him? To the
common person, Marcus was just a man who was an emperor of Rome and just another person who helped shaped this world. Marcus Aurelius was
more than that! Anthony Birley writes, "The acquaintance of a man like Marcus Aurelius is an imperishable benefit." The character of Marcus Aurelius
is truly special, but was molded by many important people and figures in his life. With the absence of honor and duty in Rome, influences such as
Junius Rusticus, a book called "The Discourses of Epictetus", and the Roman Emperor Hadrian, led Marcus Aurelius to become one of the most
important stoics and one of ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
This thirst for knowledge was provided by Junius Rusticus. A distinguish senator like Fronto, Rusticus was a Stoic who instructed Marcus in the logic
and theory of Stoicism. Intrigued by Stoicism, Marcus seriously began to study morals and seems to have thought that his literary labours had gone
far enough. Marcus writes: "I am at present fascinated by the books of Aristo the Stoic and at the same time disconcerted; when they show how
far my mind falls behind those better minds your pupil blushes very hot and is cross with himself because after 25 years he has not drunk deeply
of the springs of good opinion and purer reason. And so I pay the penalty, am angry, sad, I go without food. In the bonds of these cares I have put
off till tomorrow my task of writing for you every day. But now I bethink me of an Attic speaker's advice to the Athenian assembly sometimes to
let the laws slumber. Accordingly I will let Aristo sleep peacefully for a little, and turn me heart and soul to your dramatic poet, first, however,
reading some short speeches of Cicero. But at for writing I will do that either on one side of the other, for from today Aristo will never sleep so
soundly as to allow me to advocate both sides in the same matter. Goodbye, my best and most honorable master. My lady sends her greeting".
Marcus's letter shows a very frustrate individual for he states how upset he feels for not allowing this

The 's Philosophy
Epictetus was born in 55 AD in Hierapolis, Phrygia and he died in 135 AD in Nicopolis, Achaea. He was born to the life of a slave and died as a
great roman philosopher. As a slave he studied Stoic philosophy due to his owner recognizing his intellectual potential. He studied under the Musonius
Rufus. He was granted freedom after Emperor Nero's death. After some time Epictetus had gained his freedom and opened up his own school of
philosophy where he taught up until he was exiled from Rome. After being banished Epictetus relocated to Nicopolis in Greece where he opened
another school and taught there up until his death. Epictetus' main school of philosophy was that of Stoicism which teaches that philosophy is more so
a way of life as opposed to something one takes up in their free time. Stoicism also teaches about the ways to live a perfect life through means of clear
judgment, inner calm, and freedom from suffering which is attained by letting go of worldly pleasures.
Epictetus was born into slavery from his mother who was also a slave. He was granted his freedom sometime after the death of Emperor Nero in
the year 68 AD by Epaphroditus who had also been a slave and was freed by Nero for revealing a coup against the Emperor. Tacitus calls
Epaproditus "Nero's Freedman" and reports he was with Nero when the Emperor committed suicide, and offered to help him do so. It should not be
viewed as strange that Epaphroditus, having been a slave, should own slaves once he, himself,

Marcus Aurelius Stoicism Ideas
Meditation is a series of books that are written by the last good emperor of the Roman Empire and philosopher Marcus Aurelius (161–180 BC). It was
written without the intention of anyone else reading it, and it's generally based on his personal life and his stoicism ideas. Marcus Aurelius or as
known "the wise", was born in Rome, Italy in a wealthy family and he was raised to be an educated and a wise man who was interested in Stoicism. He
was chosen to be the ruler by Emperor Hadrian. In his period the Roman Empire had many attacks and diseases from all side, including the German
tribes, Parthian Empire. He was the last emperor out of the five that ruled the Roman emperor with authority, kindness, and proficiency.
Stoicism is a Greek philosophy ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Another main reason is the Hadrian wall that was built by the emperor Hadrian but it causes people to live around it and the people were taking
the trades away. As a result of this situation the people were getting hungry and poor so Marcus started selling his own luxury and trying to feed
his own people from the empire. And for the social life in that period there was no middle class people, only the very high class wealthy people and
the poor people and farmers, there were also freed man who were the people that used to be slaves but they were rich enough to buy themselves
and get their own freedom or their owners would let them go. Religiously they had the Pontifex Maximums which is the bridge from God/heaven
to the people and also they had their own beliefs of the astrology and liver reading from the priest as he would decide if they are having a fas or nafas
day meaning a good or bad day and depending on that they would decide what to do that day. Geographically the empire was divided into two parts
west and east after Marcus Aurelius

Sttoicism In Socrates
Socrates lived his life instructing others on how best to live virtuously. In order to do this, he exhibited several unwaverable beliefs and actions that
defined his life as a philosopher. Epictetus's text The Enchiridion also attempts to instruct readers on how live a life of virtue. This branch of
philosophy is labelled "stoicism." Due to how well the actions expressed by Socrates and suggested by Epictetus seem to align, a modern day
examination of both The Enchiridion and several of Plato's texts written about Socrates could conclude that Socrates himself may be considered a stoic.
In his text The Enchirdion, Epictetus defines stoicism in a multitude of ways. According to this piece of writing, the main goal of stoicism is to adjust
one's ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
In line 47e of Crito, Socrates says to Crito that life is not worth living when the moral center of the soul is corrupted, an aspect of humanity which is
just as essential as the body. In passage 38 of Epictetus' text, he suggests that the decision–making center of the mind should be protected like a shoe
protects the foot, and that this will allow for safety in future actions. Both Epictetus and Socrates express the belief that the soul or mind is just
important as the body, and ought to be protected and focused on above all else in order to better pursue one's purpose in life. Furthermore, in line
44d, Socrates tells Crito that the majority cannot cause great acts of good or evil, and that the greatest evil of all is straying from a virtuous path and
deliberately causing wrongdoing. In saying this Socrates is attempting to prove to Crito that the opinions of others do not matter because they cannot
truly cause harm. Epictetus mirrors this belief in passage 20. He advises the reader that the only offense that can be taken to another's opinion is
actually just caused by one's own opinion of their insult. As soon as the importance of this opinion is diminished, one can live freely and according to
their own virtue without worry of harm from others. Both philosophists share the idea that the feelings of others are inconsequential when compared to
a true focus on the path of

Stoicism And Epicureanism Essay

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Stoicism And Epicureanism Essay