PHILOSOPHY - STOICISM The Art of Living Peacefully Under Any Circumstances. Be unshakable! How to deal with difficult and toxic people. The 4 Stoic Virtues – Courage, Justice, Self-Control and Wisdom. Stoicism is a school of Hellenistic philosophy founded in Greece, in Athens, by Zeno of Citium in the early 3rd century BC. Zeno of Citium (334-262 BC), founder of Stoicism The Stoics taught that destructive emotions resulted from errors in judgment, the active relationship between cosmic determinism and human freedom, and the belief that it is virtuous to maintain a will (called prohairesis) that is in accord with nature. Because of this, the Stoics presented their philosophy as a way of life and thought that the best indication of an individual's philosophy was not what a person says, but how that person behaves.[1] To live a good life, it was necessary to understand the rules of the natural order, as they taught that everything was rooted in nature.[2] Later Stoics – such as Seneca and Epictetus – emphasized that because "virtue is sufficient for happiness", a sage was immune to misfortune. This belief is similar to the meaning of the phrase "stoic calm", although the phrase does not include the views of the "ethical radicals" that only a sage can be considered truly free and that all moral corruptions are equally wicked.[3][ 4] Stoicism developed as a system integrated by logic, physics and ethics, articulated by common principles. It was Stoic ethics that had the greatest influence on the development of the philosophical tradition and some think that it even influenced the beginnings of Christianity.[5] From its founding, Stoic doctrine was popular with followers in Roman Greece and throughout the Roman Empire, including the Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius (r. 121–180), until the closing of all schools of pagan philosophy in 529 by order of Emperor Justinian (r. 527–565), who perceived them as at odds with the Christian faith.[6][7] Neostoicism was a syncretic philosophical movement, joining Stoicism and Christianity, influenced by Justus Lipsius. Origin Stoicism was originally known as "Zenonism", in honor of founder Zeno of Citium. However, that name was soon dropped, probably because the Stoics did not consider their founders perfectly wise and to avoid the risk of philosophy becoming a personality cult.[8] The name "Stoicism" derives from the Stoa Poikile (Ancient Greek: ἡ ποικίλη στοά), or "painted porch", a colonnade decorated with mythical and historical battle scenes, on the north side of the Agora of Athens, where Zeno and his followers gathered to discuss your ideas.[9][10] modern use The word "stoic" commonly refers to someone who is indifferent to pain, pleasure, sadness, or joy.[11] Modern usage as a "person who represses feelings or patiently resists" was first cited in 1579 as a noun and in 1596 as an adjective.

1. PHILOSOPHY - STOICISM
The Art of Living Peacefully Under Any Circumstances.
Be unshakable!
How to deal with difficult and toxic people.
The 4 Stoic Virtues – Courage, Justice, Self-Control and Wisdom.
Watch some very easy to understand videos on the topic addressed:
Vídeo 1: https://uii.io/PhilosophyStoicism2022A
Vídeo 2: https://uii.io/PhilosophyStoicism2022B
Vídeo 3: https://uii.io/PhilosophyStoicism2022C
Vídeo 4: https://uii.io/PhilosophyStoicism2022D
Vídeo 5: https://uii.io/PhilosophyStoicism2022E
Stoicism is a school of Hellenistic philosophy founded in Greece, in Athens, by Zeno of
Citium in the early 3rd century BC.
Zeno of Citium (334-262 BC), founder of Stoicism
The Stoics taught that destructive emotions resulted from errors in judgment, the active
relationship between cosmic determinism and human freedom, and the belief that it is
virtuous to maintain a will (called prohairesis) that is in accord with nature. Because of this,
the Stoics presented their philosophy as a way of life and thought that the best indication of
an individual's philosophy was not what a person says, but how that person behaves.[1] To
live a good life, it was necessary to understand the rules of the natural order, as they taught
that everything was rooted in nature.[2]
Later Stoics – such as Seneca and Epictetus – emphasized that because "virtue is sufficient
for happiness", a sage was immune to misfortune. This belief is similar to the meaning of the
phrase "stoic calm", although the phrase does not include the views of the "ethical radicals"
that only a sage can be considered truly free and that all moral corruptions are equally
wicked.[3][ 4] Stoicism developed as a system integrated by logic, physics and ethics,
articulated by common principles. It was Stoic ethics that had the greatest influence on the

2. development of the philosophical tradition and some think that it even influenced the
beginnings of Christianity.[5]
From its founding, Stoic doctrine was popular with followers in Roman Greece and
throughout the Roman Empire, including the Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius (r. 121–180),
until the closing of all schools of pagan philosophy in 529 by order of Emperor Justinian (r.
527–565), who perceived them as at odds with the Christian faith.[6][7] Neostoicism was a
syncretic philosophical movement, joining Stoicism and Christianity, influenced by Justus
Lipsius.
Origin
Stoicism was originally known as "Zenonism", in honor of founder Zeno of Citium. However,
that name was soon dropped, probably because the Stoics did not consider their founders
perfectly wise and to avoid the risk of philosophy becoming a personality cult.[8]
The name "Stoicism" derives from the Stoa Poikile (Ancient Greek: ἡ ποικίλη στοά), or
"painted porch", a colonnade decorated with mythical and historical battle scenes, on the
north side of the Agora of Athens, where Zeno and his followers gathered to discuss your
ideas.[9][10]
modern use
The word "stoic" commonly refers to someone who is indifferent to pain, pleasure, sadness,
or joy.[11] Modern usage as a "person who represses feelings or patiently resists" was first
cited in 1579 as a noun and in 1596 as an adjective.[12] In contrast to the term "Epicurean,"
the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy entry on Stoicism notes, "the sense of the English
adjective 'Stoic' is not entirely misleading with respect to its philosophical origins." [13]
History
Chrysippus of Solis (c. 279 – c. 206 BC)
Roman copy of Hellenistic original from the 3rd century BC.
Stoic philosophers originally gathered under the Painted Porch (Greek: Στοά Ποικίλη;
Romaniz.: Stoá Poikíle), hence the name Στωϊκός, transl. stoikós or "philosophers of the
portico". Lectures took place under these porticoes because Zeno, the founding leader of the
school, not being an Athenian but a Phoenician from Cyprus, could not own a house. The
Stoics advocated the cultivation of temperance in the face of pain and hardships of life.
Stoicism flourished in Greece, with Cleanthes of Assus and Chrysippus of Solis, being taken

3. to Rome in 155 BC by Diogenes of Babylon. There, its successors were Marcus Aurelius,
Seneca, Epictetus and Lucan.
From the introduction of Stoicism in Rome, the doctrine acquired an eclectic character, with
influences from Platonism, Aristotelianism and Epicureanism.
Stoicism survived through the Roman Empire, including the time of Emperor Marcus
Aurelius, until all philosophical schools were banned in 529 AD. by order of Emperor
Justinian, due to its pagan characteristics, contrary to the precepts of the Christian faith,
which was already dominant.[14][15] However, stoicism ended up exerting an enormous
influence on patristic thought.[16]
Basic principles of stoicism
Philosophy does not aim to secure anything external to man. That would be admitting
something that is beyond its own object. For just as the carpenter's material is wood, and the
statuary's is bronze, the raw material of the art of living is each person's own life.
— Epictetus[17]
Seneca (4 BC-65 AD)
Bust in Cordoba, Spain
The Stoics presented a unified view of the world consisting of formal logic,
non-dualistic physics, and naturalistic ethics. Among these, they
emphasized ethics as the main focus of human knowledge, although their
logical theories were of more interest to later philosophers.
Stoicism teaches the development of self-control and steadfastness as a
means of overcoming destructive emotions. He argues that becoming a
clear and impartial thinker allows us to understand universal reason
(logos). A fundamental aspect of Stoicism involves the improvement of the
individual's ethics and moral well-being: "Virtue consists in a desire that is
in accord with nature."[18] This principle also applies in the context of
interpersonal relationships; "freedom from anger, envy and jealousy"[19]

4. and accepting even slaves as "equal to other men, because all men are
equally products of nature".[20]
Stoic ethics advocates a deterministic perspective. With regard to those
who lack Stoic virtue, Cleanthes once opined that the ungodly man is "like a
dog tied to a cart, bound to go where it goes".[18] A virtuous Stoic, on the
other hand, would alter his will to suit the world and remain, in Epictetus'
words, "sick and yet happy, in danger and yet happy, dying and yet happy, in
exile and happy." , in disgrace and happy",[19] thus affirming an individual
desire "completely autonomous" and, at the same time, a universe that is "a
rigidly deterministic whole".
Stoicism became the most popular philosophy among the educated elites
of the Hellenistic world and the Roman Empire,[21] to the point that, in the
words of Gilbert Murray, "nearly all of Alexander's successors [...] .".[22]
Epictetus (55 - 135)
Portrait on the cover of a 1751 English translation of the Epictetus Handbook.
Around 301 BC, Zeno of Citium taught philosophy at the Painted Portico, the place from
which the philosophy's name originated.[24] Unlike other schools of philosophy, such as that
of the Epicureans, Zeno chose to teach his philosophy in a public space, which was a
colonnade overlooking the central place of manifestation of public opinion, the Agora of
Athens.
Zeno's ideas grew out of cynicism, whose founder, Antisthenes, was a disciple of Socrates.
The most influential follower of Zeno was Chrysippus of Solos, responsible for shaping what
is now called Stoicism. Later Stoics, from the time of the Roman Empire, focused on the
aspect of promoting a life in harmony with the universe, over which one has no direct control.
Scholars typically divide the history of Stoicism into three phases:
The first (ancient Stoicism) developed in the 3rd century BC, with Zeno of Citius, Cleantus of
Assos, Chrysippus of Solos and Antipater of Tarsus, concerned with logic, physics,
metaphysics and morals.

5. In the second (Middle Stoicism), Stoic thought was combined with the Roman spirit. He was
represented by Panetius of Rhodes (180 - 110 BC) and Possidonius (135 - 51 BC).
The third (imperial stoicism or new stoicism), with representatives such as: Gaius Musonius
Rufus, Seneca (born at the beginning of the Christian era and died in 65 AD, Epictetus (50 -
125 AD) and Marcus Aurelius (121 - 180 AD), who was Roman emperor in 161. The works
of Seneca, Epictetus and Marcus Aurelius propagated Stoicism in the western world. The
last period of Stoicism, or Roman period, is characterized by its practical and religious
tendency, strongly accentuated as can be seen in the "Discourses " and in Epictetus'
"Enchiridion" and in Marcus Aurelius' "Thoughts" or "Meditations." Seneca's Moral Letters to
Lucilius can be seen as an excellent course in Stoicism.
No complete work by a Stoic philosopher from the first two phases has survived to the
present day. Only Roman texts of the last phase have come down to us complete.[25]
epistemology
Main article: Epistemology
Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius (121 - 180)
Bust in the Prado Museum.
The Stoics believed that knowledge can be attained through the use of reason. Truth can be
distinguished from fallacy, although in practice only an approximation can be achieved.
According to the Stoics, the senses constantly receive sensations: pulsations that pass from
objects through the senses towards the mind, where they leave an impression on the
imagination (phantasia). An impression originating in the mind was called a phantom.[26]
The mind has the ability to judge (sunkatathesis)—approve or reject—an impression,
allowing a distinction to be made between a true representation of reality and a false one.
Some impressions may have immediate assent, while others may only achieve varying
degrees of hesitant approval, which may be called beliefs or opinions (doxa). It is only
through reason that we can attain clear understanding and conviction (katalepsis). Certainty
and true knowledge (episteme), attainable by the stoic sage, can only be attained by
verifying conviction with peer experience and by the collective judgment of humanity.
Produce for yourself a definition or description of the thing that is presented to you, so that
you can distinctly see what kind of thing it is in its substance, in its nakedness, in its entirety,
and tell yourself whether it is its proper name. , and the names of the things it was composed

6. of, and in which it will result. For nothing is more productive for the elevation of the soul than
being able to methodically and truly examine every object that is presented to you in your
life, and always observing things so as to see at the same time what this universe is, and
what kind of use everything in it performs, and what value all things have in relation to the
whole.
— Marcus Aurelius[27]
social philosophy
A distinctive feature of Stoicism is its cosmopolitanism: all people would be manifestations of
the one universal spirit and should, according to the Stoic philosophers, in brotherly love,
help one another effectively. In the Discourses, Epictetus comments on the relationship of
the human being to the world: "every human being is, first, a citizen of his community; but he
is also a member of the great city of men and gods...".[28] This sentiment echoes that of
Diogenes of Sinope, who said "I am neither Athenian nor Corinthian, but a citizen of the
world."[29]
The Stoics of the time promoted the idea that external differences, such as status and
wealth, are unimportant in social relationships. Instead, they advocated the brotherhood of
humanity and the natural equality of human beings. Stoicism became the most influential
school in the Greco-Roman world and produced a number of renowned writers and
personalities such as Cato the Younger and Epictetus.
In particular, the Stoics were noted for their advocacy of clemency to slaves. Seneca
exhorted: "Remember with sympathy that he whom you call a slave came from the same
origin, the same heavens smile on him, and, in like terms, with you he breathes, lives and
dies."[30]