STOICISMGreek Philosophy

Social Studies for 9th EGB – Teacher: Mauricio Torres

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Common views with Christianity

Stoicism

What is stoicism?• Free Will

Who was Zeno?

Legacy

Summary

Where do we go from here?

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FREE WILLSTOICISM BASICS:

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Having a “good life”No one is forced to pursue a “good life”, but it is up to each individual to put aside things in which he has little or no control whatsoever. • This includes indifference towards pain and pleasure, poverty and

riches.

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Rely on yourself to be happy

"Man is disturbed not by things, but by the views he takes of them."

This phrase summarizes stoic thought. It is up to you how you deal with problems or whatever life gives you.

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ZENO“Happiness is a good flow of life.”

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ZenoZeno was the founder of the Stoic school of philosophy, which he taught in Athens from about 300 BC. • Most of the details known about his life come from preserved anecdotes.• Zeno is described as a haggard, tanned person, living a spare life.• He started to teach in a place called “Stoa Poikile.”, hence the name

“Stoics”.

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ZenoHe had a very upbeat look upon life. He thought that by forgetting about every thing that could cause us anxiety we could achieve a life that is in harmony with nature, living in accordance with a supreme lawgiver.

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STOICISM & CHRISTIANITYCommon views

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Does this conflict with Christ’s teachings?Both Stoicism and Christianity state: • an inner freedom in the face of the external world, • a belief in human kinship with Nature or God• and the futility and temporarity of worldly possessions and

attachments.

• Both disregard the passions and inferior emotions such as envy and anger, so that the higher possibilities of one's humanity can be awakened and developed.

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LEGACYPractical Stoicism

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Students’ Great Philosophical QuestionsThe point of philosophy is to ponder the questions that life presents. Students of philosophy (and, perhaps, students of life) have raised and will continue to raise some of philosophy’s greatest questions:

• Why?

• What?

• Will this be on the test?

• Should I worry about this?

So how will stoicism help you on your life?

LegacyAre you a philosopher?

“We have two ears and one mouth, so we should listen more than we say”Zeno of Citium

The Stoics presented their philosophy as a way of life, and they thought that the best indication of an individual's philosophy was not what a person said but how he behaved.

This is why later thinkers of the Roman era, adapted Stoicism to their own set of beliefs and even today, as a way of life it is still useful to us.

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A STOIC’S ADVICE:Summary

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Summarizing:

Stoics would not make a big fuss about little (or even the big details) in life. They would probably just say:

“Main advice for handling any difficult thing in life: Put it in perspective and get over it.”