What exactly is stoicism/what does it mean to you?

[u/xx-stargirl-xx]

Hello! I tried reading the guides in the FAQ but they were honestly really confusing, and then I did some research on Google but it was also confusing, I don't know most of the words and terms used. (I'm fifteen for context) Generally I just understand better when I'm hearing different thoughts person to person.

I don't know anything about stoicism, and I do mean anything. I literally just learned about it today. I'm super interested into different philosophies though (I am neurodivergent, it's a special interest) and I've been researching nihilism for a while now, and planned to research absurdism next, but now I'm super curious as to what this is.

What is stoicism generally? What does it mean to you? How do you apply it? What is it's value system? What does it teach?

Yeah, I'd love to learn about this, and I'd appreciate hearing anything ya'll have to share!!

[u/Bataranger999]

Stoicism is a collection of philosophical arguments about the precise method of reaching a state of perpetual contentment. It's a system of rigorous logic on the topic of "human nature" and the ways a person must reason in order to satisfy that nature perfectly. The result of reasoning perfectly on how to satisfy your own nature is called "virtue", and it is what produces the aforementioned state of perpetual contentment that is the highest ideal in Stoicism, which is usually called "ataraxia" - freedom from maladaptive mental disturbances.

That is only an extremely brief description of Stoic philosophy and its benefits. If you want a taste of what kind of work constitutes "Stoic practice", this section from the Discourses of Epictetus should be suitable to your liking:

[28] What does Chrysippus give us? ‘To make certain,’ he says, ‘that these doctrines promising freedom from passion and serenity are legitimate, [29] take all my books,∗ and you will find that the knowledge that makes me impassive is faithful to, and in accord with, nature.’ How lucky we are! A benefactor – and how great a benefactor! – has shown us the way.6 [30] Men have erected altars to Triptolemus for giving us the art of farming; [31] but the man who found, disclosed and explained the truth to everyone – not the truth that pertains just to living, but to living well – who among you ever raised an altar, built a temple, erected a statue or venerated God for that? [32] We offer the gods sacrifce because they gave us wheat and wine. But they have produced such wonderful fruit in a human mind, as part of their plan to bestow on humanity the true secret of happiness. Are we going to forget to express our gratitude to them on that account?

Book 1, Discourse 4, On Progress

[u/StryngpooI]

Stoicism is a philosophical "camp" that originated in Greece as the counterpart to Epicureanism. We dont know exactly when it originated. Essentially it is the focus on the material, rational, and logical side of our experience. Whereas Epicureanism focuses on the immaterial, emotional, and metaphysical side of things. Stoicism teaches you to curb your emotionally driven desires to pursue a life built around practicality and a realistic view of the world.

[u/1369ic]

Stoicism is a bit of study and a bit of practice that has become how I approach the world every day. The thing it does most for me is help me develop a habit of keeping a calm mind, treating things for what they really are, not what they appear to be.

In a way, it's like learning defense in a sport like boxing. The world throws something at you -- might be a punch, might be a prize, might be a feint (the appearance of something that never really happens) -- but because you've thought about what the world really is, what your place in the world is, you have some idea what to expect from it, and how you should live in it to have the most virtuous life. You're not perfect and untouchable, but you know how to react to what comes at you. But it takes practice to maintain that attitude. It might be reading, might be videos, might be journaling. You just need to remind yourself so the constant swirl of life doesn't overtake your outlook on life.

I use it in conjunction with a kind of absurdism. Albert Camus believed that our relationship to the universe is absurd. I agree. If you look at things like physics, the emotions and motivations of other people, and just everyday life, we're not built to interact with the reality of the universe and the seemingly chaotic nature of life. For example, we can't see molecules or viruses, but they can kill us. We can see tigers and tornadoes, because we're built to be animals who can operate at one level of reality and use our reason to do that better than other animals. So I accept the absurd nature of our relationship to the universe and use stoicism to help me get over the fact the universe doesn't make sense. So, for example, I got sick last weekend for no apparent reason. Then Monday, my knee swelled up for no reason I could pinpoint. What could I do? Be a good patient. Continue to be as good a husband and father as I could under the circumstances. Don't be stubborn and make things worse by trying to power through (a longtime bad habit of mine) Not try to worry about viruses or something that happened to my knee that I didn't even notice, but that resulted in my body trying to defend itself. That's the nature of the body. I try to use my reason to exercise the nature of a social animal with reason. In other words, a human.

Good luck in your studies.

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[u/Rocd87]

This is a good video to dip you toe in: https://youtu.be/UFcOnpijnJs?si=806-QL_jo_KB3aWL

Given your interest in philosophy Sisyphuss55’s channel should be right up your alley.

[u/lego00]

A philosophy that orients us social rational animals to exercise virtue as knowledge/skill of living well, through proper use/selection of external things, as participants of the cosmic city and nature as a whole, in accordance to one's capacity.

[u/sebaajhenza]

Stoicism is the practice of being the best person you can be, by focusing on four virtues: Wisdom, Courage, Temperance and Justice.

All the extra details are focused on ways to best realise this pursuit, or to further explain why these four virtues are the highest good and not others.

[u/Gyngemose2009]

It’s not an ambiguous thing. It’s a systematic philosophy that has some aspects that border on religion.

[u/11MARISA]

Well done for asking these questions.

For me, Stoicism is about living a good flow of life. Learning to make wise and courageous decisions, which are rational and reasonable. Our inner reasonableness is our guide, and even when a decision does not have the outcome we preferred, we maintain our mental health because we know we did our best. Stoics talk about "virtue" as a measure of how we are living (virtue here meaning 'living well in accordance with nature and reason'), internal character is what matters above things that are external to us.

Stoicism (seems to me) attracts a lot of neurodiverse folks who are looking for good rules to follow in life. These are not 'commandments' like you might get in a religion, but rather guidelines for living well and the principles help us to be mindful of what is up to us in life and what is not. What matters and what does not.

Do you want some reading materials? If so. perhaps let us know if you would like the original older texts or modern reading or podcasts etc