A Critique of Stoicism
Written by Nicholas Lapierre
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What is Stoicism?
You may wonder what stoicism is and what it means to be a stoic. According to the Encyclopedia of Philosophy, stoicism is defined as living according to nature. In simpler terms, it means living with life's challenges and enduring hardships. According to Dr Sherman, a philosophy professor at Georgetown University, stoicism stresses that we should contain our emotions, remain ethical, and do whatever is possible to live a good and virtuous life. Yet, what does it mean to live a good life? Many turn to the former Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius. He is known for his famous quote: "The pain isn't due to the thing itself but to your estimate of it." The quote highlights the primary purpose of stoic philosophy: overcoming difficulties and disregarding painful emotions such as depression and sadness. Thus, stoicism is a philosophy that instructs individuals to endure hardships and face conflict without complaint.
Objections to Stoicism
The stoic's central belief is that how we react to our circumstances determines our success. For instance, Epictus was a stoic who believed people should refrain from worrying about things beyond their control. Yet, this point of view causes many to internalize their emotions and hide them from others. For instance, in a study by Karl et al. (2002), evidence suggests that stoicism hurts one's well-being. In addition, many philosophers, such as Fredrich Nietzsche, critique stoicism. In his essay, Mollison (2021) claims that Nietzsche criticized the stoics for not acknowledging the struggle of life and existence. If life is difficult, then maybe recognizing this fact is more beneficial than remaining silent. Nietzsche also believed there was a great benefit to acknowledging one's suffering in order to learn to prosper and grow.
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Moreover, he believed that the stoic conception of the soul was incorrect. The stoics believed that the soul consisted of reason and logic. However, Nietzsche objected by claiming that the soul is not made of reason but swayed by certain desires. In addition, he argued that each desire claims mastery over the others, thereby making some desires more powerful than others. For instance, the desire to be logical could be overridden by the desire to express emotion. As a result, human beings vary in their desires, making it impossible to use through the entirety of their life. It's not to say that logic can never be used, but there are other feelings and emotions in the human psyche that may precede as decision making tools. Hence, stoicism's objective of enduring hardship without complaint is unsupported by some philosophers.
Modern Stoicism
Former Navy seal David Goggins is a motivational speaker who adopts stoicism's essential virtues. For instance, in one book, he says that letting go of fear and low self-esteem is the key to success. If the stoic Epicutus were alive today, he would say that this is similar to the practice of justice, such that humans direct every thought and action toward the common good. The major problem with modern stoicism is that it isn't stoicism; it is a misinterpretation. Sometimes, modern men misinterpret stoicism and develop traits of toxic masculinity, instead. A study by Táíwò (2020) states that stoicism and toxic masculinity (acting tough and hiding emotion) are related. Additionally, Táíwò (2020) claims that stoicism may teach young men to grow up as “stoic robots.” Trying to become “tough” can result in young men failing to be kind and compassionate towards others. Hence, toxic masculinity is a consequence of when people misinterpret stoicism in the modern world. Thus, toxic masculinity can be a consequence of misinterpreting stoicism in the modern world.
Abiding by classic stoicism may not be feasible in the modern world as it encourages disregarding one’s emotions and feelings. People who practice classic stoicism were found to be detached from reality, uncertain about their relationships and likely to develop mental health issues. Stoicism is a philosophy with strengths and limitations, and learning how and when to use it in a given situation is key. Some situations call for emotional intelligence whereas others require objective logic. In the case of mental health, sometimes expressing emotion is a form of logic that can help the individual. Therefore, stoicism is a philosophy that, when misinterpreted by the modern world, becomes toxic and damaging to one's mental health.