Stoicism is a philosophy that encourages individuals to cultivate a sense of inner peace and resilience, by focusing on personal virtue, reason, and self-control.

Stoicism in 5 Minutes: Key Concepts

• The highest good is the cultivation of personal virtue, or moral excellence.• The goal of human life is to live in accordance with nature, and that the key to achieving this goal is to develop virtue.• Four cardinal virtues - wisdom, courage, justice, and moderation. Wisdom involves using reason to make sound judgments and decisions. Courage involves facing difficult situations with fortitude and determination. Justice involves treating others fairly and equitably. Moderation involves exercising self-control and avoiding excess.

1. Virtue as the Highest Good

I say that virtue is more valuable than wealth to the same degree that eyes are more valuable than fingernails.

• Reason should guide all aspects of life, including decision-making, emotions, and behavior.• Stoics saw reason as the source of wisdom and the key to living a fulfilling and meaningful life. They believed that by using reason to guide our actions and attitudes, we can achieve inner peace, happiness, and a sense of purpose.

2. Reason as the Guiding Principle

Let your desires be ruled by reason.

• Everything in the universe is governed by a rational and providential order, often referred to as "the logos" which determines the events and outcomes of our lives.• We should accept and embrace the events that occur in our lives, whether favorable or unfavorable; for resistance or being upset by things that are beyond our control only leads to unnecessary suffering and distress.• Accepting fate does not mean resigning ourselves to inaction but rather focusing our efforts on what is within our control and responding to events with wisdom and virtue.

3. Acceptance of Fate

Don’t seek for everything to happen as you wish it would, but rather wish that everything happens as it actually will — then your life will flow well.

• Individuals should cultivate a sense of detachment from external events and focus instead on their own inner state on oachieve a greater sense of peace and equanimity.• Our emotions and reactions should not be dictated by external events but rather by our own rational judgments.• Pursuit of external things such as wealth, power, or pleasure can never bring lasting happiness, as they are ultimately outside of our control and subject to change.

4. Detachment from External Events

You have power over your mind, not outside events. Realize this and you will find strength. Marcus aurelius

• Emotions are an important aspect of human experience but it can be a source of great distress and can lead us astray from the path of virtue.• Emotions are a result of our judgments about events and situations, rather than the events themselves.• By cultivating a rational mindset and focusing on what is within our control, we develop greater emotional resilience and equanimity. • Negative visualization or imagining the worst-case scenarios: By contemplating the worst possible outcomes, we can prepare ourselves mentally and emotionally for adversity and develop greater emotional resilience.

5. Control of Emotions

Keep this thought handy when you feel a fit of rage coming on–it isn’t manly to be enraged. Rather, gentleness and civility are more human, and therefore manlier. A real man doesn’t give way to anger and discontent, and such a person has strength, courage, and endurance–unlike the angry and complaining. The nearer a man comes to a calm mind, the closer he is to strength.

• Everything in the natural world was interconnected, and that our own lives were part of this interconnected web which includes acceptance of cycles of life and death, thus we should not resist or try to control them.• We should view ourselves as citizens of the world, rather than just members of our own community or society.• By recognizing our connection to all living things, we could cultivate a sense of empathy and compassion for others and work towards the common good.

6. Living in Harmony with Nature

We are members of one great body, planted by nature … We must consider that we were born for the good of the whole.﻿

At its core, Stoicism teaches that the ultimate goal of life is to achieve a state of tranquility and freedom from suffering. This can be achieved by living in accordance with reason and virtue, and by cultivating a sense of detachment from external events. The Stoics believed that individuals should focus on their own inner state, rather than external circumstances, and should strive to cultivate inner peace and equanimity in the face of life's challenges.

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STOICISM IN 5 MINUTES: KEY CONCEPTS

The Stoic philosophy, founded in Athens by Zeno of Citium in the early 3rd century BCE, posits that the highest good in life is achieving inner tranquility and living in accordance with nature. This is accomplished through the cultivation of four cardinal virtues, which are wisdom, courage, justice, and self-control.

Cardinal Virtues

• The first virtue is wisdom, which the Stoics defined as the ability to understand and judge what is good and what is bad in life.• This virtue involves the pursuit of knowledge, the ability to reason logically, and the skill to understand complex concepts.• It is not just about knowing things, but also about applying that knowledge in a practical way.• Wisdom is important because it enables us to make good decisions and to live in accordance with nature.

Wisdom

“The chief task in life is simply this: to identify and separate matters so that I can say clearly to myself which are externals not under my control, and which have to do with the choices I actually control. Where then do I look for good and evil? Not to uncontrollable externals, but within myself to the choices that are my own”

• The second virtue is courage, which the Stoics defined as the ability to face danger, pain, and fear with calmness and resilience.• This virtue involves being able to stand up for what is right, even when it is difficult or unpopular. • It is not just about physical courage, but also moral courage, which involves standing up for one's beliefs and values, even in the face of opposition.• Courage is important because it enables us to overcome obstacles and to live with integrity.

Courage

“Don’t you know life is like a military campaign? One must serve on watch, another in reconnaissance, another on the front line. . . . So it is for us—each person’s life is a kind of battle, and a long and varied one too. You must keep watch like a soldier and do everything commanded. . . . You have been stationed in a key post, not some lowly place, and not for a short time but for life.”

• The third virtue is justice, which the Stoics defined as the ability to treat others fairly and to act with fairness and impartiality.• This virtue involves recognizing the inherent worth and dignity of all human beings and treating them with respect and compassion.• It is not just about following rules and laws, but also about acting with empathy and understanding.• Justice is important because it enables us to live in harmony with others and to create a just and peaceful society.

Justice

“And a commitment to justice in your own acts. Which means: thought and action resulting in the common good. What you were born to do.”

• The fourth virtue is self-control, which the Stoics defined as the ability to control one's emotions and desires and to act with discipline and restraint.• This virtue involves being able to resist temptation and to stay focused on one's goals, even in the face of distractions and setbacks.• It is not just about suppressing one's feelings, but also about channeling them in a constructive way.• Self-control is important because it enables us to live a virtuous life and to achieve our full potential.

Temperance / Self-Control

“‘If you seek tranquillity, do less.’ Or (more accurately) do what’s essential—what the logos of a social being requires, and in the requisite way. Which brings a double satisfaction: to do less, better. Because most of what we say and do is not essential. If you can eliminate it, you’ll have more time, and more tranquillity. Ask yourself at every moment, ‘Is this necessary?’”

In summary, the four cardinal virtues of Stoicism - wisdom, courage, justice, and self-control - are essential for achieving inner tranquility, living in accordance with nature, and leading a virtuous life. By cultivating these virtues, we can become better individuals and contribute to the well-being of society as a whole.

“If, at some point in your life, you should come across anything better than justice, prudence, self-control, courage—than a mind satisfied that it has succeeded in enabling you to act rationally, and satisfied to accept what’s beyond its control—if you find anything better than that, embrace it without reservations—it must be an extraordinary thing indeed—and enjoy it to the full."

Life is unpredictable. There’s so much we have no control over. That can be overwhelming and crippling or it can be freeing. Virtue is how we ensure the later. No matter what happens, we always have the capacity to use reason and make choices. We should always try to do the right thing. To let virtue guide us. It’s all that we control. Let the rest take care of itself, as it will with or without your consent.

STOICISM IN 5 MINUTES: KEY CONCEPTS

4 STOIC VIRTUES: A GLIMPSE

Paul Gerald Gonzales