Stoicism is the philosophical school that teaches that the meaning of life lies in living in accordance with the universal reason that governs the cosmos, accepting with serenity everything that is not in our hands.
The portico that gave the school its name
Around 300 BC, the philosopher Zeno of Citium began teaching in a painted portico in Athens, the Stoa Poikile. That's where the school got its name: a stoic is, literally, someone who learns under the portico. Zeno's central idea is simple to state: there is a universal reason, the logos, that orders the entire cosmos, and living well is living in harmony with this order.
From Zeno to Marcus Aurelius
Stoicism has crossed centuries and entire social classes. Epictetus, who was born a slave and limped for the rest of his life because of a punishment from his master, became one of his greatest teachers, and summarized the practice in a rule that became famous: dichotomy of control. At the other end of the social ladder, the Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius wrote, for himself and with no intention of publishing, the Meditations, one of the most read books to date about how a powerful man can remain humble in the face of his own destiny.
What the Stoic seeks, and the limit of the search
For the Stoic, the only true good is virtue, a well-groomed character. Everything else (health, wealth, reputation) is "indifferent": it is neither bad nor good in itself, all that matters is how you use it. It's a noble response, and even today it helps many people get through loss and pain without breaking down. But she asks for serenity in the face of a universe that she only describes as rational, without ever asking if that universe wants anything from us.
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What is stoicism?
It is the philosophical school founded by Zeno of Citium in Athens, around 300 BC, which teaches that meaning lies in living in accordance with the universal reason that governs the cosmos, accepting with serenity what is not in our hands and taking excellent care of one's own character.
Where does the name stoicism come from?
It comes from the Stoa, the painted portico in Athens where Zeno of Citium taught his classes. "Stoic" is, literally, the one who teaches or learns under the porch.
Who are the main Stoic philosophers?
Zeno of Citius founded the school. Centuries later, Epictetus (who was born a slave) and Emperor Marcus Aurelius took Stoicism to its most read point to date, each from an opposite social extreme.
Continue: The Dichotomy of Control, by Epictetus · What is the Meaning of Life? · Where does the phrase "who has a reason to live" come from?
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