Practising Stoicism

Angelos Sofocleous | Centre for Lifelong Learning, University of York

Viktor Frankl (1905 - 1997)
Friedrich Nietzsche (1844 -
1900)
 Übermensch
(Beyond-man, Overman, Superman)

Friedrich Nietzsche (1844 -

1900)
 Übermensch (Superman)

The overman is the ultimate form of

man, it is one who overcomes
nihilism by creating his own values
and focusing on this life, not the
afterlife. He puts all his faith in
himself as an autonomous creator
and relies on nothing else. He is the
pinnacle of self-overcoming, to rise
above the human norm and above all
difficulties, embracing whatever life
throws at you.
Friedrich Nietzsche (1844 -
1900)
 “First say to yourself what you
would be; and then do what you
have to do.”

Epictetus

Epictetus (50 – 135 CE)

 “The art of living.”

What makes someone good at living?

According to Epictetus, it’s neither wealth,
nor high-office, nor being a commander.
There must be something else. Just like
someone who wants to be good at
handwriting must practice and know a lot
about handwriting, or someone who wants
to be good in music must study music,
someone who wants to be good at living,
therefore, must have good knowledge of
how to live.
Epictetus (50 – 135 CE)
 “If you didn’t learn these things in order
to demonstrate them in practice, what did
you learn them for?” He continued that
they (his students) were not hungry and
courageous enough to go out in the real
world and demonstrate the theory in
practice, “Which is why I would like to
escape to Rome to see my favorite wrestler
in action, he, at least, puts policy into
practice.”

Epictetus (50 – 135 CE)

Eudaimonia

Imagine the best version of yourself. Look

inside, do you see and know who that highest
version of you is, the one who acts right in all
situations, the one who makes no mistakes and
seems unbeatable? You probably know this
ideal version of yourself.

Well, in Greek, this best version would be the

inner daimon, an inner spirit or divine spark.
For the Stoics and all other schools of ancient
philosophy, the ultimate goal of life was
eudaimonia, to become good (eu) with your
inner daimon.
 ΚΑΤΑ TON DAIMONA EAUTOU
Jim Morrison “True to his own spirit.”
(lead vocalist- The Doors)
We should close the gap between who we are capable
of being (our ideal self) and who we actually are in
that moment. The Stoics’ overarching goal was
eudaimonia; to be good with your inner daimon, to
live in harmony with your ideal self, to express your
highest version of yourself in every moment. But
what does that mean exactly?

The most common translation of the Greek word

eudaimonia is happiness. The translations
“flourishing” or “thriving,” however, capture the
original meaning better because they indicate a form
of continuing action—you can only be good with
your daimon when your moment-to-moment actions
are in harmony with your ideal self. You flourish at
living well, and only as a consequence you’ll feel
 Brace Yourself
"What would have become of Hercules, do you think,
if there had been no lion, hydra, stag or boar - and no
savage criminals to rid the world of? What would he
have done in the absence of such challenges?”

What would have become of legendary Hercules

without any struggles?

“Obviously,” Epictetus says, “he would have just

rolled over in bed and gone back to sleep. So by
snoring his life away in luxury and comfort he never
would have developed into the mighty Hercules.”
Epictetus (50 – 135 CE)
 God, says Seneca, “does not make a spoiled pet of a
good man; he tests him, hardens him, and fits him for
his own service.”

All the adversities you’re facing in your life, these are

tests. It’s mere training. Life isn’t supposed to be
easy, life is supposed to be challenging to make sure
you actually grow. “And those things which we all
shudder and tremble at are for the good of the persons
themselves to whom they come,” says Seneca.

Whenever you find yourself in a hole, remind

Seneca (4 BC – 65 AD) yourself of Hercules who became strong only because
of the challenges he faced.
 Be Mindful
“A consciousness of wrongdoing is the first step to salvation,”
Seneca says. “You have to catch yourself doing it before you can
correct it.” Stoicism asks of us to be aware of what we do in
every moment. The whole idea of virtue, to express our highest
self in every moment, is based on our ability to be present in the
moment and know what’s going on. How else do we want to
choose our best action?

Our voluntary thoughts and actions are by definition the only

things within our control. And they only exist in the here and
now. We can’t choose an action if we’re lost in thought,
ruminating in the past, or dreaming about the future.

Therefore, we should focus our attention on the present moment,

Seneca (4 BC – 65 AD) undistracted by the past or future. Then we can properly confront
the challenge we’re facing now, trying to accept it as it is, and
choose a response consistent with our values.
 The reserve clause

The reserve clause is a classic Stoic trick to maintain

equanimity and tranquility. It will help you accept the
outcomes of your actions. When you plan to do something,
you add the caveat “if nothing prevents me.”
Seneca defines the reserve clause with the formula, “I want
to do such and such, as long as nothing happens which may
present an obstacle to my decision.” I’m going to do this, if
fate will have it. I’ll do my best but the outcome is
ultimately not within my control. I can’t be absolutely
certain that it will come out as planned, but I’ll try my best.
● I will sail across the ocean, if nothing prevents me.
Seneca (4 BC – 65 AD)
● I will work out Monday and Thursday this week, fate
permitting.
● I will hit the target, God willing.
 Stoics reserve clause into everything we do and foresee that
something may intervene and prevent our wished outcome.
We don’t promise success to us beforehand. Therefore, it’ll
be easier to accept failure, and we’ll be faster to get up
again. Plus, we’ll gain confidence because we’re not overly
attached to the outcome.

With that detachment from the outcome, we’ll be able to

maintain our tranquility instead of getting frustrated even if
we don’t get the outcome we hoped for.

The reserve clause implies two points:

1. Do your very best to succeed . . .
2. . . . and simultaneously know and accept that the outcome
Seneca (4 BC – 65 AD)
is beyond your direct control.

Marcus Aurelius (121 AD - 180
AD)
Amor Fati (lover of fate)
“O world, I am in tune with every note of thy great harmony. For
me nothing is early, nothing late, if it be timely for thee. O
Nature, all that thy seasons yield is fruit for me.” – Marcus
Aurelius
Accept rather than fight every little thing that happens. If we
resist reality, if we think things are going against us, if we fight
with what is, then we will suffer. Therefore, we should not wish
for reality to be different, but accept it as it is.
“If this is the will of nature, then so be it.” That’s a maxim the
Stoics lived by. Today, we have the similar saying “Thy will be
done.” And it doesn’t matter whether we call it God, Nature,
Fortune, or Fate—but we must acknowledge that there’s
something bigger than us, and that we don’t control everything
that happens around us.

Marcus Aurelius (121 AD - 180
AD)
What Stands in the Way Becomes the Way
“The impediment to action advances actions. What stands in the
way becomes the way.” - Marcus Aurelius
“Undoubtedly one of history’s most effective formulas for
overcoming every negative situation.” That’s what Ryan Holiday
says about Marcus Aurelius’ formula. He continues, “A formula
for thriving not just in spite of whatever happens but because of
it.”
The main idea is that difficulties and challenges in life are only
obstacles if we make them so. It depends on how we look at those
challenges—we can either see obstacles and get blocked, or we
can see opportunities and make progress.
In every challenge lies an opportunity for growth. If we’re aware
of that, we can make sure that what impedes us—setbacks and
struggles—will actually empower us.
Next Week: A Critical Approach to Stoicism:
Epicureanism