CHAPTER 6: THE ETHICS OF STOICISM "Bear and Forebear", Epictetus motto.

r", Epictetus motto. -For the Stoics, moral virtue is the only GOOD, and wickedness is
the only EVIL.
Neros Death in the year 68 CE
THE STOIC MORALITY
STOICISM
- Give Epictetus freedom and he become a well-known teacher.
-The foundation of the Stoic morality is a doctrine that has its own
EPICURENISM - Can only be obtained
AIM FOR by way of wisdom. The Stoic Emperor, Marcus Aurelius ( 121-180 CE ) basis in physics, i.e, in the nature of living beings.
- Happiness can be
obtained by way of HAPPINES - excessive desire may
pleasure. SS lead the person to -This is the doctrine of oikeiõsis. It can be considered as related to
depression and therefore Marcus Aurelius Antoninus
unhappiness. the meaning of the terms "orientation" and "appropriation"
(Sellars 2006, 107).
- kindest, wisest and most virtuous philosopher.

Wisdom from the Stoics – is the means in order to control what
has been within the human power and to accept with dignified
resignation what had to be.
Stoics Admired Socrates for the ff. reasons;
- Strong Character and Great control over his emotions.
- Lifestyle and Philosophy
Cynicism: The Origin of Stoic Philosophy
- The Philosophy which despised the widespread hedonism and
hypocrisy in Athens.
- Philosophical school that revolted against the rigidly ordered
Philosophies of Plato and Aristotle.
- Found by Antisthenes, who took Socrates as a model for the
Stoics.
- Antisthenes also attended some lectures of Gorgias, an
epistemological nihilist.
- Virtue, was not only the final end and the supreme god: it was
- lived his life surrounded by commotion, deception and crowds.
also the only real good (Kenny, 282).
Emperor Hadrian
-For the Stoics, virtue means living according to reason, and
reason tells us that all that happens must happen in order to actuate
- Marcus impressed him that leads Hadrian to convince Antoninus a Superior good willed by the Divine Nature.
Pius to adopt and get Marcus.
- Stoic Morality is focused on an absolute renunciation of things.
Antoninus Pius
- For the Stoics, growing up emotionally and philosophically
- Emperor involves adopting realistic expectations and accepting one's limits.
The Stoics considered hardships and sufferings as not totally
• When Marcus reached the age of 40, he was appointed and negative.
choose by his adoptive father Pius, over the other adopted son:
Lucius Verus. For instance, they may consider the 'logos' as a parent or a
teacher.
161 CE
- The goal of Stoics is not really to avoid the trials and sufferings
- Pius died, Marcus generously named his step brother versus as but to use them to become a good person.
the co-emperor.
CRITIQUE ON STOICISM
• When Marcus nailed as Emperor his life was covered by lies and
betrayal. -Stoic Philosophy upholds the idea of submission The Will of
Divine Providence to follow the will of the Divine Nature, which
In the year 169, versus died that leads him to ruled the Rome considered by the Stoics as the 'Divine Director' of the human
alone. Drama.

Cynics believed that the very essence of civilization is corrupt, THE PHILOSOPHY OF THE STOICS
that manners are hypocritical, that material wealth weakens
people, and that civilization destroys the individual and makes him
or her vulnerable to the whims of fortune. - It centers on the ethical living.

THE STOIC PHILOSOPHERS - According to them, Ethical teaching is based on the two Presented by:
principles
Zeno of Citium (c. 334-262 BCE) Jimrey T. Villaflor
the universe is governed by absolute law.
- Founder of Stoicism Nicolas Gene Flores
essential nature of the human person is the reason.
- Studied Under the Cynic Philosopher Crates
Stoic Maxim has two aspects Erica Jean Carillosa
- Established Stoic School because of social necessities
experienced. 1. Human persons should conform themselves to nature in the BSED 2 – ENGLISH
wider sense, i.e, "to the laws of the universe."
- Portico or the Painted Porch (Stoa Poikile)
2. Human person should conform their actions to nature in the
narrower sense, i.e, " to their own essential nature- reason."
- Lived an ascetic Life, as befitting his Philosophy
Code: 160
Zeno
- Wrote the Republic
- Considered virtue as a life according to reason and morality is
- His Philosophy came to known as Stoicism simply rational action.

3 Division of Philosophy formulated by Aristotle which Stoics AIM AND PURPOSE OF STOICS
have given Importance
- Attainment of happiness , which resonates wisdom
1. Logic
2. Physics
3. Ethics Stoics Philosophical Belief

Logic and Physics is a way in order to justify the precepts of
Ethics.
Therefore, Stoicism is a system of Ethics guided by logic as a
theory of method and rest upon physics as its foundation.
Stoics believe that both pain and pleasure, poverty and luxury,
sickness and health were supposed to be equally unimportant.
• They believe in fate and destiny ( Control one's attitude)
For the Stoics
- the world was so arranged and they saw it throughout all of
nature the operation of reason and law.
• Logos

EPICTETUS, THE SAGE SLAVE (C.50 - 130 CE)
• Stoic School - founded and established in Greece
Alexander the Great - The reason why Greece was able to conquer
the Persian empire. Ignited a great Greek cultural diversity.
Middle 2nd Century BCE
- Rome had destroyed what was left on Alexander's Kingdom and
annexed Greece as a Roman province called Achaia.
- Rational substance, stoic philosophers considered this as the
(theos) or God, the Absolute Reason.
THE TWO IDEAS
• there is purpose in the world, there is order; harmony, beauty and
design.
• Universe is subject to the absolute sway of law.
THE HUMAN DRAMA

100 BCE
- Rome had controlled the entire Mediterranean area.
Epictetus - Roman Slave and Influential stoic
Epaphroditus - the one who brought Epictetus to Rome, and
supposed to be Nero's administrative secretary.
He sent Epictetus in Musonius Rufus to study; the most powerful
stoic since the days of Zeno.
- Epictetus held that in this drama, it is the Director who selects
actors to play various roles.
-The Stoics held that actors do not have any control over the story.
The only thing that the actors can control is their attitudes and
emotions.
-Human Wisdom consists only in recognizing the role that one has
to play in this drama of life and performing the part well.
-The Stoics also believed that the Devine Providence governs
everything that happens in the world.