STOICISM

A rival school in Athens

Offered a comprehensive collection human knowledge encompassing formal
logic, physical study of the natural world and a thoroughly naturalistic
explanation of human nature and conduct.
Slavery was contrary to natural law, no inferior, fit only to those who claim
themselves as superior
Idea of government- unity of mankind
The sage or wise man is utterly immune to misfortune and that virtue is
sufficient for happiness
Happiness- the rational selection of the primary things (limitation rather than
fulfilment)
They claim that whatever is good must benefit its possessor
Believed that there exist preconceptions and intuitions, just the adaption of
the events differ (what disturbs mens mind is not the event, but their
judgement on the event)
Nature- holds the cosmos together
o Causes terrestrial things to sprung up
o Defined as a force moving of itself, producing and preserving in being
its offspring in accordance with seminal reasons
Stoic God is immanent (operating within) throughout the whole creation and
directs its development down to the smallest detail

WISDOM AND CONTROL OVER PLEASURE

In moral philosophy stoics aimed at happiness sought through wisdom, wisdom by
which to control what lay within human power and to accept with dignified
resignation what had to be. influenced greatly by Socrates who faced death with
courage and serenity
Do not demand that things happen as you wish but wish that they happen as they
do happen and you will go on well.
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Useless to fear future events because they will eventually happen

THEORY OF KNOWLEDGE
They were not successful in explaining how human achieve knowledge but it is
important because it laid the foundation for their materialistic theory of nature and
it provided the basis for their conception of truth or certainty. Words express
thoughts and thoughts are originated by the impact of some object upon the mind.
The mind is blank at birth and builds ups its store of ideas as it is exposed to objects
these objects makes impressions upon the mind through the channel of senses.
FATE AND PROVIDENCE

Providence- events occur the way they do because all things are under the control
of the logs, or God
ZENO OF CITIUM
Born 334BC in citium. Cyprus died 262BC
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A Greek language philosopher of Cyprian origin

Founder of the stoic school
Was a merchant who survived a ship wreck, wandered into a book shop in
Athens and as attracted to some of Socrates works
Describe stoicism as laying great emphasis on goodness and peace of mind
gained from living a life of virtue in accordance with nature
Stoics (his students were once called Zenonians) a name previously applied
to poets who congregate in the Stoa Poikile
Ethics- the end goal of which was to achieve happiness through the right way
of living according to nature
4 process in leading to true knowledge: perception, assent, comprehension,
knowledge
The universe in Zenos view is God, a divine reasoning entity
There should be an end to many individual states
Opposed institutions that seemed to him artificial such as temples, law
courts, money, marriage
Vigorously condemned the inequality of women
Slavery was contrary to natural law, no inferior, fit only to those who claim
themselves as superior
Government: unity of man kind
Died through holding his breath

EPICTETUS
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Born in 55 AD Hierapolis, Phrygia

Not things but the opinion of men trouble them
Taught and live a gentle and remote scholarly life
We are all Gods kinsmen I am a citizen of the universe
men as you are wait upon God, he gives the signal and releases you from his
service then you shall depart to Him but for the present be content to dwell in
this country wherein he appointed you to dwell.
Man and nature are not opposites, they both partake of reason and harmony
which are more important than incidental differences
You can control your will but not the future events, so do not blame others or
yourself on whatever happens.
To accuse others for ones misfortune is a sign of want of education; to
accuse ones self shows that ones education has begun, to accuse neither
oneself nor others shows that ones education is complete.
What maintains the tyrant is not his control or command over others but the
failure of men to preserve their nature in the face of such internal pressures
The essence of good and evil lies in the attitude of the will