Philosopher of the week (Zeno of Citium)

 STOICISM.

(ZENO OF CITIUM).

 

Stoicism, a school of philosophy established by Zeno of Citium (c. 334 – c. 262 BCE). While Zeno was syncretic in thought, his primary influence were the Cynics, with Crates of Thebes (c. 365 – c. 285 BCE) as his mentor. Stoicism is a philosophy of personal ethics that provides a system of logic and views about the natural world. Modern use of the term "stoic" typically refers not to followers of Stoicism, but to individuals who feel indifferent to experiences of the world, or represses feelings in general.

Although there are many other philosophers who formed the school of the Stoic, Zeno of Citium will be our major concern for this week. Zeno was the founder of the Stoic school of philosophy, which he taught in Athens from about 300 BC. Based on the moral ideas of the Cynics , Stoicism laid great emphasis on goodness and peace of mind gained from living a life of virtue in accordance with nature . Following the ideas of the Old Academy, Zeno divided philosophy into three parts: logic (a wide subject including rhetoric , grammar, and the theories of perception and thought ); physics (not just science , but the divine nature of the universe as well); and ethics, the end goal of which was to achieve eudaimonia through the right way of living according to Nature.

Stoics believe that " virtue is sufficient for happiness". One who has attained this sense of virtue would become a sage . In the words of Epictetus , this sage would be "sick and yet happy, in peril and yet happy, dying and yet happy, in exile and happy, in disgrace and happy." The Stoics therefore spent their time trying to attain virtue. This would only be achieved if one was to dedicate their life studying Stoic logic ,Stoic physics, and Stoic ethics . Stoics describe themselves as "living in agreement with nature." Certain schools of Stoicism refer to Aristotle's concept of eudaimonia as the goal of practicing Stoic philosophy.

Zeno deviated from the Cynics in saying that things that are morally adiaphora (indifferent) could nevertheless have value. Things have a relative value in proportion to how they aid the natural instinct for self-preservation. That which is to be preferred is a "fitting action", a designation Zeno first introduced. Self-preservation, and the things that contribute towards it, has only a conditional value; it does not aid happiness, which depends only on moral actions.

For further readings, some of Zeno's works are; Solution, On Being, On Nature, On the Logos, Discourses, and many more.

References:

www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Zeno_of_Citium

www.holstee.com/blogs/mindful-matter/stoicism-101