Modern troubles require ancient solutions. Well, that is becoming a popular approach anyway.
Stoicism is a way of living and an ancient philosophy that was derived from a man named Zeno of Cituim which is known as modern day Cyprus around 300 B.C.E.
The word “Stoicism” originated from “Stoa Poikile” which was a market in Athens where the philosophy of Stoicism would take place on the daily basis according to Wikipedia.
Author, podcaster, and modern Stoic, Ryan Holiday is greatly extolled for his input on this philosophy. In his interview with Joe Rogan he said, ” I knew I didn’t want to be a person who’s just like taking a percentage of what other people do”.
This statement best indicates that the whole nature of this teaching was put into terms such as “Be better than the rest.” Meaning that the natural way of living can sometimes be so common in this world, and greatly advised that being Stoic is far different then being a normal person.
What are the Stoic Principles?
Accept what is beyond your control.
Act with the right intention.
Meditate on death.
Live here and now.
Play the roles assigned by Nature.
Be useful to others.
Anticipate difficulties.
Think for yourself.
(according to medium.com)
But this way of teaching was being tested by the Epicureans, the Academics, and Skeptics. According to the information displayed Stoicism was a philosophy that focused on virtue, or ethics. To put it into terms was the idea that one should live a life of virtue to accomplish happiness (or called Eudaimonia).
By then this philosophy entered Rome, and this way of learning would call in the persecutions of those who lived by this standard. But significantly this way of life was applied by one of the Last Five Good Roman Emperors, and that is Marcus Aurelius.
This philosophy impacted Christianity, and was well as many influences such as Spinoza, Thomas Moore including Decartes who is known for his quote “I think therefore I am” in Latin this is translated as “Congito” ‘Ergo Sum.”
