The Stoic Basics

Stoicism changed over the centuries; the earliest writings were very mystical, and focused on living in harmony with a world guided by Zeus.  To the early Stoics, all was good, IF seen from the proper perspective, and this belief never really disappeared.

However, this is not what is really essential.  If you read Epictetus, you will see far more emphasis on choices, and on the topic of desires and aversions.  A rational Stoicism can be summed up in this way:
1.  Life entails suffering--meaning mental anguish, not physical pain.
2.  Suffering arises when one's desires--and aversions--are thwarted.
3.  To end all suffering, obtain everything you desire.
4.  To obtain everything you desire, learn to desire only that which is within your control.

What is within our control?  Certainly not wealth, health, reputation, power, family, etc.  These are external to us, controlled by others, or chance, not by us.  What do we control?  Three things: 
1.  No one can prevent you from affirming a true statement.
2.  No one can prevent you from denying a false statement.
3.  No one can prevent you from acting according to your moral principles.

Yes, there may be consequences to our actions, and yes, like Socrates, we may have to 'drink the hemlock,' but the actions are ours.  They are within our control.  Who can stop you, other than yourself, from doing any of the three things I mentioned?

Introduction

For those who are interested in leading a happy, meaningful life, but need it to have a firm and rational basis, I suggest the insights of the Stoic philosophers.  They offer a pattern of living that is perfectly consistent with modern, rational thinking, and provide a structure for life that is both liberating and empowering. 

I have written my own introduction to a modern Stoic approach, which I titled Meaning in a Hostile World; it is available through Amazon.com.  For someone who wants to start with the classic masters of the school, I would suggest beginning with the works of Epictetus.  Yes, he may sound a little boring, but only because all we have left of him are the lecture notes of one of his pupils.  Ask yourself how exciting your own lecture notes from school would be if they were published!

Regularly I will add thoughts about the Stoic message, and attempt to address any comments left by my readers.