Stoicism is a school of Hellenistic philosophy founded by Zeno of Citium in Athens in the early 3rd century BC. It is a philosophy of personal eudaemonic virtue ethics informed by its system of logic and its views on the natural world, asserting that the practice of virtue is both necessary and sufficient to achieve eudaimonia—flourishing by means of living an ethical life. The Stoics identified the path to eudaimonia with a life spent practicing the cardinal virtues and living in accordance with nature.
The Stoics are especially known for teaching that “virtue is the only good” for human beings, and those external things—such as health, wealth, and pleasure—are not good nor bad in themselves (adiaphora) but have value as “material for virtue to act upon.” Alongside Aristotelian ethics, the Stoic tradition forms one of the major founding approaches to virtue ethics. The Stoics also held that certain destructive emotions resulted from errors of judgment, and they believed people should aim to maintain a will (called prohairesis) that is “in accordance with nature”. Because of this, the Stoics thought the best indication of an individual’s philosophy was not what a person said but how a person behaved. To live a good life, one had to understand the rules of the natural order since they thought everything was rooted in nature.
Many Stoics—such as Seneca and Epictetus—emphasized that because “virtue is sufficient for happiness”, a sage would be emotionally resilient to misfortune. This belief is similar to the meaning of the phrase “stoic calm”, though the phrase does not include the traditional Stoic view that only a sage can be considered truly free and that all moral corruptions are equally vicious.
Stoicism flourished throughout the Roman and Greek world until the 3rd century AD, and among its adherents was Emperor Marcus Aurelius. It experienced a decline after Christianity became the state religion in the 4th century AD. Since then, it has seen revivals, notably in the Renaissance (Neostoicism) and in the contemporary era (modern Stoicism).
Watch the below Videos to get more ideas about Stoic Philosophy
STOICISM | The Power Of Indifference
STOICISM | The Power Of Indifference
Is indifference a power?
This is an introduction video about the ancient Greco-Roman philosophy of Stoicism. Some things are up to us and other things are not up to us. How to we tell the difference and how to approach these things? Voice, script, cuts by Einzelgänger.
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Amor Fati | The Stoic Anxiety Hack
How to 'Stoically' hack your mind to ease anxiety.
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7 Stoic Exercises For Inner Peace
Stoicism provides us potent exercises to deal with stress, excessive thinking, worrying, depression and other destructive mindstates. Looking for inner peace? The Stoics might have what you're looking for!
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STOICISM | How To Deal With Insults
An exploration of Stoic philosophy in regards to dealing with insults. Script, voice, cuts, videography by Einzelgänger.
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The 3 Pillars Of Stoicism Explained
The 3 Pillars Of Stoicism Explained
This video explains the 3 pillars of Stoicism, consisting of numerous principles in regards to how the world works, how we should treat each other and what's the best way to live. The ancient philosophy of Stoicism was founded around 300 B.C. by Zeno of Citium. Stoics are geared towards achieving equanimity and living in accordance with nature.
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3 Stoic Ways To Be Happy
Stoic wisdom can contribute immensely to a happy life. In this video, I'll explore three ways to be happy, to care less and to have more peace of mind, inspired by Stoicism.
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STOICISM | The Power Of Judgement
STOICISM | The Power Of Judgement
Our ability to judge is a powerful yet dangerous tool in our toolbox. In this video, I'll share some lessons from Marcus Aurelius on how to judge the right way.
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Dealing With Pain & Despair
Stoicism For Doomers | Dealing With Pain & Despair
Could Stoicism help Doomers to deal with their pain and despair? Can the teachings of Stoic philosophers like Marcus Aurelius and Epictetus benefit a generation that suffers loneliness, sadness, and hopelessness, and help them overcome their mindstate of pessimism?
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3 Similarities Between Buddhism & Stoicism
3 Similarities Between Buddhism & Stoicism
In what ways are Buddhism and Stoicism alike?
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Stoicism | An Introvert's Philosophy?
Stoicism | An Introvert's Philosophy?
Is Stoicism a philosophy suitable for introverts? How can introverts benefit from Stoic philosophy? In this video, I'll explore the compatibility between Stoicism and an introverted personality.
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The Art Of Tranquility (Seneca's Wisdom)
STOICISM | The Art Of Tranquility (Seneca's Wisdom)
Seneca The Younger was a philosopher who held an important position in the Roman Empire, and is one of the major contributors to the ancient & potent philosophy of Stoicism. Seneca exchanged letters with his friend Serenus, on how to free the mind from anxiety and worry in a Stoic way. This dialogue is now called 'De Tranquillitate Animi' which is Latin for 'On The Tranquility Of The Mind'. Seneca’s words are not only geared towards caring less; they also point out what we should care about in order to achieve tranquility. This video presents you Seneca’s suggestions for calming the mind, so Serenus can become a bit more serene.
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Stop Caring What People Think
Stop Caring What People Think | The Stoic Way
“It never ceases to amaze me: we all love ourselves more than other people, but care more about their opinion than our own.” - Marcus Aurelius
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How To Do This ‘Stoic’ Thing?
How To Do This ‘Stoic’ Thing? | Books
How can we apply Stoicism in our daily lives? This is what the book 'Practical Stoicism: Exercises For Doing The Right Thing Right Now' is all about. Robin Homer offered me the opportunity listen to the Audible version of this book, which he narrated, so I did. Author Grey Freeman argues that the most important thing about Stoicism is the actual application of the philosophy in our daily lives. So, if you’re enthusiastic about Stoicism and want to reap the benefits by actually applying this philosophy, this book may be a very interesting read. Practical Stoicism: Exercises For Doing The Right Thing Right Now Audiobook: https://amzn.to/2X5dMIg Ebook: https://amzn.to/2RwjFrN
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Love, Lust & Stoicism
Love, Lust & Stoicism
How did the ancient Stoics view love and lust? Were they hopeless romantics or rather cold and distant? Were they pleasure-seekers enjoying polyamory or did they value the duties of marriage? Cuts, voice, footage, script by Einzelgänger.
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Living In Accordance With Nature
Living In Accordance With Nature | A Stoic's Ultimate Goal
The ancient Stoics argued that living a virtuous life means “living in accordance with nature”. Now, what did they exactly mean by this? Are we to follow our instincts like animals do? Or Should we live a nature-friendly lifestyle? In this video, I explore what the ancient Stoics were up to. Cuts, voice, footage, scripy by Einzelgänger.
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Stoic Solutions For Jealousy
Stoic Solutions For Jealousy
When we have something we cherish, like a spouse or a friend or a certain status within a group, but we feel threatened of losing it, we experience resentment which we call jealousy. How can we deal with this? Cuts, voice, footage, script by Einzelgänger.
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Stoic Exercises For Inner Peace
The Power Of Pessimism | Stoic Exercises For Inner Peace
Because of the success of my earlier video, 7 Stoic Exercises For Inner Peace, I’ve decided to go a bit deeper into each exercise, giving them a bit more intellectual baggage for you to ponder over. I’ll start with explaining the praemeditatio malorum by Marcus Aurelius, that harvests its strength from pessimism. Cuts, voice, footage, script by Einzelgänger.
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Stoic Exercises For Inner Peace
Mastering Self Control | Stoic Exercises For Inner Peace
The Stoics bring forth the theme of self-control on a regular basis. Epictetus, for example, spoke about abstaining from talking about vulgar things, and Marcus Aurelius points out that we should set limits to comfort and consumption. Cuts, voice, footage, script by Einzelgänger.
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Amor Fati | Stoic Exercises For Inner Peace
Amor Fati | Stoic Exercises For Inner Peace
The idea of 'amor fati' is to love and embrace whatever the outcome is; no matter how hard we work towards a certain goal.
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I’m Averse To People! (A Stoic perspective)
I’m Averse To People! (A Stoic perspective)
Aversion means a strong dislike and disinclination towards something or someone. Even though this might seem harmless; it can cause a lot of trouble. Cuts, voice, footage, script by Einzelgänger.
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Stoic Exercises For Inner Peace
The Power Of Journaling | Stoic Exercises For Inner Peace
The Stoics have a long-standing tradition in journaling, with Marcus Aurelius’ Meditations as clearest evidence.
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Philosophy For Breakups | STOICISM
Philosophy For Breakups | STOICISM
Can philosophy help with a breakup? In this series, I'm going to explore valuable philosophical ideas for handling heartbreak. Cuts, voice, footage, script by Einzelgänger.
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Stoic Exercises For Inner Peace
Memento Mori | Stoic Exercises For Inner Peace
Why thinking about death has its benefits.
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3 Stoic Ways Of Letting Go
What did the Stoics teach about letting go?
Cuts, voice, footage, script by Einzelgänger.
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What are Apatheia, Ataraxia & Eudaimonia?
Stoicism | What are Apatheia, Ataraxia & Eudaimonia?
In Greek philosophy, we can distinguish several human ‘states of mind and being’ that can be acquired by correct philosophical understanding, as well as the pursuit of virtue. Cuts, voice, footage, script by Einzelgänger.
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Stoic Wisdom For Mental Toughness
What can the ancient Stoics teach us about mental toughness?
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Marcus Aurelius on Success
Don’t Be “Distracted by Their Darkness” | Marcus Aurelius on Success
What can Marcus Aurelius teach us about being successful? Cuts, voice, footage, script by Einzelgänger.
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Dealing With Anger
Dealing With Anger (A Stoic & Buddhist Perspective)
What is anger and how can we deal with it? Cuts, voice, footage, script by Einzelgänger.
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How Marcus Aurelius Keeps Calm
STOICISM | How Marcus Aurelius Keeps Calm
Needless to say, Marcus Aurelius was a busy man, carrying the burden of leadership over an empire, and all the stress that comes from this. His work, Meditations, gives us an idea of how he coped. Cuts, voice, footage, script by Einzelgänger.
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How to be Stoic in a Crisis
How to be Stoic in a Crisis
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How to Worry Less in Hard Times
STOICISM | How to Worry Less in Hard Times
The Stoics had some profound things to say about dealing with external circumstances, and how to live peacefully in the face of hardship and a troubled future.
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“Let Them Scream Whatever They Want”
“Let Them Scream Whatever They Want” | Marcus Aurelius on Panic
In times of hardship, it’s not an unnecessary exercise to fortify our minds with philosophical ideas, so we don’t slip into the trap of panic. Roman emperor and Stoic philosopher Marcus Aurelius had some valuable insights on how to do this. Cuts, voice, footage, script by Einzelgänger.
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How to Worry Less About Money
STOICISM | How to Worry Less About Money
These six Stoic teachings might help you to change your perspective, regain your focus and tranquility, and get through financially difficult times.
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How to Build Stoic Fortitude
“Someone despises me. That’s their problem.” | How to Build Stoic Fortitude
What exactly does ‘fortitude’ mean? The definition of fortitude according to the online dictionary Merriam Webster is: “strength of mind that enables a person to encounter danger or bear pain or adversity with courage.” Stoic fortitude, therefore, is the art of strengthening the mind with Stoic principles, so we become less inclined to hide away in our fortresses, and live life more fully. According to the Stoics, we can’t change the world, but we can change our mindset and, thus, the position we take towards the world. With the right mindset, we can overcome any adversity. Of course, this isn’t easy. It takes a lot of practice. Cuts, voice, footage, script by Einzelgänger.
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How To Maximize Misery | The 4 Stoic Sins
How To Maximize Misery | The 4 Stoic Sins
Virtue is the path to a happy life. One can characterize Stoic virtue by its instrumental as well as non-instrumental value, meaning that Stoics don’t act for personal gain, but rather to benefit the whole, even if this includes the rejection of pleasure and the endurance of pain. However, at the same time, this way of life leads to eudaimonia, and thus, living virtuously is rewarding for oneself as a byproduct. But what if we don’t live virtuously and what misery comes from that? In Stoic ethics, we find the opposite of virtue, which is vice. Vice can be subdivided into four elements. Obviously, following these elements will lead us astray. This video explores these 4 ‘Stoic sins’ and possible consequences.
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7 Stoic Principles for Inner Peace
7 Stoic Principles for Inner Peace (In Times of Uncertainty)
In times of great uncertainty, the ability to keep calm isn’t an unnecessary luxury. The ancient Stoics didn’t shy away from adversity but, instead, managed to endure while continuing their pathways of virtue. We only have to peek into the memoirs of ancient Stoic Marcus Aurelius, published as Meditations, to see how he struggled to perform his duty without losing his mind, and without falling for the seductive trap of indulging in sensual pleasures like many other emperors did, his own son included. Misery is rooted in fear; an emotion that characterizes periods of unrest. It’s the cradle of hate and violence, of hostility and oppression. And the more this emotion spreads around the globe, infecting us all like a virus, the more we suffer. The power of Stoicism lies not in changing our circumstances, but fortifying ourselves so we can deal with our circumstances, no matter how severe. In Stoicism we can find the necessary wisdom to become more resilient; not only to maintain our inner peace but to also thrive and shine in times of uncertainty.
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Why Worry About What Isn't Real?
Seneca | Why Worry About What Isn't Real? (Stoicism)
In a letter to his dear friend Lucilius, Stoic philosopher Seneca wrote: “There are more things, Lucilius, likely to frighten us than there are to crush us; we suffer more often in imagination than in reality.” Chronic worriers tend to be more occupied by the future than by present circumstances. During the day, and even during the night, their thoughts wander in the mysterious realm of what’s yet to come, plotting, planning, and calculating on how to tackle an unfortunate fate that might rear its ugly head. But even though they wish to control the future, they’ve never gone beyond the confines of the present. This is because the future doesn’t exist, except in our minds. We can’t live in the future, and we can’t predict it. Sure, we can plan for things that might come, but the present usually unfolds in different and often surprising ways. Still, many of us fix our attention on the unknown and fantasize endlessly about how things that we can’t possibly predict will present themselves to us. Seneca observed this phenomenon in his friend Lucilius as well as in the people around him. He counterattacked this often tiresome and destructive stance towards the illusory domain of the future with Stoic reasoning, explaining why worrying about it is pointless, and advising us on what to do instead. This video (Why Worry About What Isn't Real? | Seneca's Philosophy to End Worrying) explores Seneca’s antidotes to worry and groundless fears.
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When Life Hurts, Stop Clinging to It
When Life Hurts, Stop Clinging to It | The Philosophy of Epictetus
Our very sense of wellbeing is at gunpoint when we cling to the fickle, unreliable outside world. Around two thousand years ago, Stoic philosopher Epictetus observed that people are burdened and dragged down because they tend to care about too many things. His cure, however, is not to stop caring altogether but to care about the right things and stop clinging to anything that doesn’t matter. What matters and doesn’t matter according to Epictetus is bound to the reality of our place as reasonable beings in an ever-changing environment. This reality Epictetus makes clear in the underlying tenet of his work: ‘the dichotomy of control.’ Some things are in our control, others not. If we manage to concern ourselves with the things in our control, we are in a position of strength. But if we neglect these things, and focus on what’s not in our control, we are in a position of weakness. Especially when we cling to what’s not up to us, we set ourselves up for a life of suffering. But what are those things that we cling to? And why is it better to let go of them? This video explores the philosophy of Epictetus, and what we, according to him, should focus on to be happy and content, and what we should let go of, and how we do this.
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The Philosophy of Marcus Aurelius
Don’t Feel Harmed, And You Haven’t Been | The Philosophy of Marcus Aurelius
Marcus Aurelius pointed out that regardless of the severity of circumstances, there’s always a choice in how we judge them. “Choose not to be harmed—and you won’t feel harmed. Don’t feel harmed—and you haven’t been,” he stated. Marcus’ instruction sounds easy, but it’s difficult to apply if we don’t understand what causes us to feel harmed and when we don’t have the wisdom to make a change. Luckily, the ancient Stoics provide this wisdom. The work Meditations by Marcus Aurelius contains several ideas that shed another light on the experiences we usually consider harmful. His writings allow us to see our lives differently and change the way we think about the hardships we face, so we can be, as he wrote it, “like the rock that the waves keep crashing over.” This video expands upon several passages from the Meditations that could help us feel less harmed. Don’t feel harmed, and you haven’t been - The Philosophy of Marcus Aurelius
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7 Stoic Ways to Escape the Chains of the World
7 Stoic Ways to Escape the Chains of the World
When we look at the human condition, we notice that most of us are entirely controlled by a world outside of us. When we get what we want from it, we’re happy. But when it’s taken away from us, we’re sad. The praise people give us uplifts us, but their dislike makes us miserable. The more we want something, the more we’re willing to sacrifice to get it. And the more we oppose something, the higher the price we’re ready to pay to avoid it. These chains of desire and aversion, love and hate, of like and dislike, leave us fearful and open to manipulation by shaming and blaming, the appeal of large companies, political parties, cults, and other external forces that want something from us. And thus, the world governs us like a donkey rider with a carrot on a stick, which most of us follow from birth to death, like the obedient cattle we are. But what if we decide to reject the carrot? What if we choose to escape the system?
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Be a Loser if Need Be
Be a Loser if Need Be | The Philosophy of Epictetus
We’re so afraid to be seen as losers that we're willing to suffer in exchange for other people’s approval. What a sad state of being in, as by putting our money on external goods, we become dependent on them and gamble away our chances of being happy and free. According to Epictetus, we must be willing to let go of what he called “lesser things.” And if that means that we become total losers in the eyes of society, then that’s a price worth paying. This video doesn’t advocate for neglecting oneself or self-harm: quite the contrary, from a Stoic point of view. It explores the philosophy of Epictetus, showing a different way to determine what’s important in life, the concept of “being a loser,” and why being “seen” as a loser doesn’t have to be a bad thing. "Be a Loser if Need Be | The Philosophy of Epictetus"
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Stoic Philosophy & Emotions
How Not to Be Pathetic | Stoic Philosophy & Emotions
The Stoics pursued a mental state called ‘apatheia’ (from which the English word ‘apathy’ derived). They saw this mental state as a condition for living according to nature; the latter is a Stoic’s ultimate goal and virtue. However, the word ‘apathy’ in contemporary language has a different meaning than the Greek ‘apatheia,’ as ‘apathy’ has a pretty negative charge, pointing to a state of emotional numbness. The Stoic meaning of ‘apatheia’ is different, as it refers to a mind that isn’t disturbed by the passions (or “patheia”), not the absence of emotions altogether. So, being ‘apathetic’ in the Stoic sense means ‘being undisturbed by the passions’ or ‘equanimity,’ a pleasurable state in which we feel emotionally calm and content. But what about the opposite, namely, being ‘pathetic?’ This video explores the roots of patheticness, the harmful consequences, and how we can avoid being pathetic through the lens of Stoic philosophy.
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Become Unconquerable | Stoic Philosophy
Become Unconquerable | Stoic Philosophy
The ancient Stoics produced a treasure trove of wisdom on becoming unconquerable. They believed that people cannot be conquered by anything external, as long as they don’t give away the power over their faculties. The only way external things can influence us is when we, ourselves, let them. If we feel that something has defeated us, it’s us defeating ourselves on account of it. If we want to become unconquerable, we don’t need to conquer the world but ourselves. This video explores Stoic philosophy on how to become unconquerable.
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What Makes You a Degenerate?
What Makes You a Degenerate? | Stoic Philosophy
The ancient Stoics based their morals on reason. They created an ethical system that focuses on living in agreement with nature, or, a universal rational principle. Stoic ethics distinguish virtues from vices, seeing a life of virtue as the optimal way to live. From the Stoic point of view, someone who lives a life of vice can be considered a degenerate. This video explores a couple of examples from Stoic literature on how the ancient Stoics saw degeneracy or, put differently, a bad and sub-par way of life leading to unhappiness.
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Why Stoics Oppose War
Why Stoics Oppose War
The ancient Greeks and Romans were pretty familiar with the phenomenon of warfare. Through violent confrontations, they expanded their empires and protected the outskirts from invasions by enemies, like the Persians in the East and the Germanic tribes in the North. The Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius, for example, fought many wars during his time in reign while still trying his best to follow Stoic teachings and to live well. History shows that Stoics weren’t pacifists, as in that they abstained from violence. But in ancient Stoic literature, we do find objections against war. This video explores ancient Stoic opinions on war and why they opposed it. Why War Is Madness (According to the Stoics).
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Stop Wanting, Start Accepting
Stop Wanting, Start Accepting | The Philosophy of Marcus Aurelius
Although he never considered himself a philosopher, Marcus Aurelius’ writings have become one of the most significant ancient Stoic scriptures. His ‘Meditations’ contain a series of notes to himself based on Stoic ideas, one of which is embracing fate and living conformably to the demands of nature. Instead of wanting things to happen as we wish, we’re better off accepting the universe, according to Marcus Aurelius, and developing a flexible attitude towards the outside world while being strict with ourselves (Stop Wanting, Start Accepting | The Philosophy of Marcus Aurelius)
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You Don’t Lose People. You Return Them
You Don’t Lose People. You Return Them | Stoic Philosophy
Most people struggle significantly after losing their loved ones, which seems to be a natural phenomenon. Also, the mere prospect of losing someone close to us triggers anxiety in many. But the Stoics observed that the fear of loss and the torturing distress of grief are consequences of irrational thinking. This video explores Stoic philosophy in the context of attachm
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Life is Great When It's Ending
Life is Great When It's Ending | The Philosophy of Seneca
One day, Seneca visited his house in the countryside after a long absence. He was baffled about how his estate was crumbling, and the garden trees had lost all their leaves. He took it out on the landlord, who then explained that even though he did everything in his power to maintain the place, the trees and house were old. Bewildered about how fast his property had fallen apart, the reality of aging became apparent to Seneca.
