Archetypes of Wisdom

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Archetypes of Wisdom

• Douglas J. Soccio
• Chapter 7
• The Stoic Epictetus and Marcus Aurelius

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Learning Objectives

• On completion of this chapter, you should be able
  to answer the following questions
• What is hedonism?
• What is Cyrenaic hedonism?
• What is Epicurean hedonism?
• What is Cynicism?
• How is Socrates related to Cynicism and Stoicism?
• What is the Stoic Logos?
• What is under our control according to the
  Stoics?
• What is the Cosmopolis?
• Who was James Stockdale?

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Stoicism

• Initially, Stoicism emerged as a reaction against
  the belief that pleasure is always good and pain
  is always bad or evil.
• The Stoic seeks serenity (peace of mind) through
  self-discipline.
• Happiness comes only through detachment from all
  things external. The disciplined, reasonable
  person can be happy under any and all conditions.
• For the Stoics, everything is a matter of
  attitude. Nothing can make you happy or unhappy
  without your consent.

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Hedonism

• To a considerable extent, Stoicism is a
  refutation of the belief that happiness is
  determined by means of pleasure and pain. This
  kind of philosophy is called hedonism (from the
  Greek root hedone, meaning pleasure).
• One of the earliest schools of hedonism was
  started on the coast of North Africa by
  Aristippus (c.430-350 B.C.E.), who felt that,
  because sensory pleasures are more intense than
  mental or emotional ones, they are the best of
  all.
• Also, actual pleasures in the present are more
  desirable than potential pleasures in the future,
  since the latter may or may not come and things
  may be different for us then.

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Epicureanism

• The unrefined hedonism of Aristippus was soon
  improved by Epicurus (341-270 B.C.E.), who moved
  to Athens at the age of eighteen to complete his
  military service.
• Believing that political activities and ambitions
  were pointless, Epicurus started a school of
  philosophy called the Garden. This was one of
  the few places in Greece where women were allowed
  and encouraged to interact with men as equals.
• Epicurus claimed that only the quality of our
  pleasures and pains is important. This departure
  from Aristippus emphasis on quantity
  distinguishes Epicureanism a desire for a
  pleasant life of simplicity, prudence, and
  friendship.

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Cynicism

• Another influence on the origins of Stoicism was
  Cynicism, a philosophic school in the loosest
  sense.
• Founded by Antisthenes (c.455-360 B.C.E.), who
  formed a school called the Cynosarges (The Silver
  Dog), the Cynics revolted against the rigidity of
  Plato and Aristotle (while admiring Socrates
  disdain for fashion).
• The Cynics believed that the very essence of
  civilization is corrupt, and so lived austere,
  unconventional lives. They distrusted luxury as
  a hook that always brought complications and
  frustration into peoples lives.
• What happiness there is could only come from
  self-discipline and rational control of all
  desires and appetites, with minimal contact with
  conventional society.

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Stoic Admiration

• The philosophical school known as Stoicism was
  founded in Greece by Zeno (c. 334-262 B.C.E.)
  around 300 B.C.E. Because Zeno lectured at a
  place called the stoa poikile, or painted porch,
  his followers were known as men of the porch.
• Alexanders empire fell apart immediately after
  his death, and the Romans quickly adopted
  Stoicism (as they did so much of Greek culture).
• One reason that Stoicism flourished in Rome may
  have been the admiration that Stoics had for the
  Cynics, whom they regarded as a sort of ideal
  with their sturdy character and free open-air
  spirit.

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Roman Stoicism

• Stoicism appealed to Romans living in times of
  great uncertainty, under emperors of widely
  differing abilities and virtues.
• It spread throughout the Roman world because it
  was advocated by three important public figures
• Cicero (106 43 B.C.E.).
• Cato (95 46 B.C.E.).
• Seneca (c. 4 B.C. 6.5 C.E.) a Roman senator and
  one of the finest Stoic writers.

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Epictetus From Slave to Sage

• Ironically, one of the most important Stoic
  philosophers was a former slave named Epictetus
  (c. 50-130 C.E.). Perhaps because a slaves life
  is not his own, Epictetus had insight into the
  major issue of Stoicism controlling what we can
  and accepting what is beyond our control.
• As a slave, the only absolute control Epictetus
  had was over his own reactions to what happened.
  His motto was Anechou kai apechou Bear and
  forbear.
• Freed after Neros death in 68 C.E., Epictetus
  became a well-known teacher. At about 90 C.E.,
  all philosophers were ordered out of Rome by the
  emperor Domitian, so he fled to Nicopolis in
  Greece, where he taught until very old.

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Philosopher-King

• Another notable Stoic was the Roman Emperor
  Marcus Aurelius (121-180 C.E.). While their pay
  scales varied, the philosophies of Epictetus and
  Aurelius were very similar.
• By temperament a scholar and a recluse, Marcus
  Aurelius lived surrounded by commotion,
  deception, and crowds, and so told himself in
  his journal, known to us as his Meditations to
  look within and to only attend to thyself
  (the only thing the Stoics believe we can
  control).
• The last truly great figure of Imperial Rome,
  Marcus Aurelius was once described as by nature
  a saint and a sage, by profession a warrior and a
  ruler a Stoic Philosopher-King.

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The Fated Life

• The Stoics believed that the actual course of our
  lives is directed by the Logos which they
  thought of as World Reason, Cosmic Mind, God, and
  Providence, or fate.
• The Stoics learned, as many of us do, that our
  lives are not entirely our own. But rather than
  complain about what they could not control, the
  Stoics chose to master what they could their
  own minds.
• The Stoics felt that serenity comes to those
  whose will is in accord with the World Reason,
  the Logos, as such thinking leads to a reduction
  of frustration and anxiety.
• As Epictetus says, we are actors playing roles
  we do not choose, and our duty is to play them as
  best we can, knowing that our fate is part of a
  much larger order.

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Stoic Wisdom

• If this is true, then nothing that happens can be
  wrong or bad, since everything that happens
  is part of Gods rational plan.
• If your life is beyond your control, direct your
  efforts toward what you can control your
  attitude or will.
• Developing a disinterested rational will is a
  matter of having no personal attachments or
  motives.
• For Stoics, wisdom consists in thinking of things
  that happen to you as you would any other event
  in the world, as a necessary part of the whole.
  And as everyone else is in the same situation, we
  are all part of a universal city where each
  person is indifferent to themselves, knowing that
  Logos knows best.

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Control versus Influence

• Even though the Stoics believed in destiny, or
  fate, they also talked about choosing appropriate
  actions, in addition to just controlling our
  attitudes.
• In other words, there appear to be gaps in our
  fate and there you can have some influence.
• For example, technically speaking, you cannot
  absolutely control your grades, although you have
  considerable influence over them.
• Likewise, we do not control our destinies we
  influence them just enough so that we should do
  our best to behave responsibly.

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Some Things Are Not in Our Control

• According to Epictetus, Not in our power are the
  body, property, reputation, offices and in a
  word, whatever are not our own acts.
• Once an individual realizes that how long he or
  she lives, who likes or doesnt like them, and
  their social status are beyond their control, the
  individual can quit being fearful.
• One can manage his or her health with moderation,
  but one cannot be bitter if after watching his or
  her diet and exercising daily, he or she develops
  cancer.
• Bitterness will not get a person well.
  Bitterness, or envy, or resentment are never
  ones fate they are always the choice of the
  individual.

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Some Things Are in Our Control

• However, writes Epictetus, In our power are
  opinion, movement towards a thing, desire,
  aversion and in a word, whatever are our own
  acts.
• What is in our power is our free will. We
  control our feelings about things, because we
  control our thinking. This frees us from
  depending on other peoples opinions of us for
  our self-esteem or happiness.
• We suffer to the extent that we take our lives
  personally. So, our status, good fortunes,
  mishaps, and relationships should be evaluated
  with the same disinterested detachment that we
  would give to everything else.

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Suffering and Courage

• Stoicism is a mature philosophy in that its
  appeal seems to increase with experience, that
  is, with frustration and disappointment.
• Growing up emotionally and philosophically
  involves adopting realistic expectations and
  accepting ones limits.
• As Seneca says, Prosperity can come to the
  vulgar and to ordinary talents, but to triumph
  over adversity and the disasters of mortal life
  is the privilege of the great man.
• So, while making reasonable efforts to get what
  we want, it is wise to learn to be happy with
  what we get.

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Stoicism Today

• Today, Stoicism forms the basis of various
  cognitive (rationalistic) psychological
  therapies.
• Three of the most influential are
• William Glassers reality therapy.
• Albert Elliss rational-emotive therapy.
• Viktor Frankls logotherapy.

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The Life of James Bond Stockdale

• What we know as the Enchiridion of Epictetus can
  be a powerful consolation and support to people
  undergoing the severest trials.
• James Bond Stockdale (1923-2005), a vice admiral
  (retired) in the U.S. Navy, credited the lessons
  of Epictetus with helping him survive as a
  prisoner of war in North Vietnam for over seven
  years, including four in solitary confinement.
• He was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor
  after his release.
• Stockdale published an article titled The World
  of Epictetus in 1978.

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Discussion Questions

• What do you think of James Stockdales claim that
  a good philosophical education is highly
  practical?
• Review his position and comments. What traits
  does he have in common with Epictetus? Do you
  agree or disagree that Stockdale is a Stoic?

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Chapter ReviewKey Concepts and Thinkers

• Stoicism
• Hedonism
• Cyrenaic hedonism
• Cynicism
• Cynic
• Logos
• Stoics
• Marcus Aurelius (121-180 C. E.)

• Epictetus (c. 50 -130 C.E.).
• Aristippus (c. 430-350 B.C.E.)
• Epicurus (341-270 B.C.E.)
• Zeno (c. 334-262 B.C.E.)
• James Bond Stockdale (1923-2005)