Ancient Philosophies of Stoicism and the Modern World
Intro
The modern world can sometimes be time-consuming, all-encompassing, and packed with sky-high expectations. Ancient history has shown us that the art of Stoicism is a method of managing these hardships. But, can we apply this ancient philosophy to the modern world? Are pragmatic methods of thinking the way to unlock a life of happiness and virtue? In this article, we’re going to look at Stoicism as a timeless philosophy and how we can adopt it in the 21st century.
The Meaning of Stoicism
The practice of Stoicism is the ability to focus intensely on reality as opposed to idealism. It’s the ability to concentrate your energy on inward happiness instead of success. It allows you to accept the consequences. Usually, Stoicism links to the challenges around human nature. Growing old, fortune (and misfortune), and the ability to live life to the fullest are some of the most popular topics tied with Stoicism. If practiced correctly, Stoicism can provide the strength, wisdom, and stamina required to tackle everyday life.
This pragmatic method of handling life and human nature was an ancient Greek (and then Roman) philosophy founded in the fourth century BCE. Marcus Aurelius, Seneca, and Epictetus are some of the most famous names linked to the practice. All three were famous stoics and laid the groundwork for the philosophy and study of Stoicism. Since then, the art of Stoicism has been practiced around the globe by great leaders, artists, entrepreneurs, and Kings.
Stoicism Today
Stoicism in the modern world isn’t a new concept as the philosophy intertwines with Western civilization’s thinking. But what good can adopting this philosophy do, and how will it change the modern world?
A Desire to be Resilient…
Today, more information is available at the click of a button than ever before in history. Due to this, new ideas circle the internet, and concepts quickly become viral. The 21st-century technology user has a desire to be resilient, to be stronger in the face of new information. The art of Stoicism allows you to become self-aware and take control of your online presence.
A Lack of Social Aid…
Historically, those looking to make sense of life and it’s many challenges tend to look to support groups. From after school classes to church groups, there are many avenues to seek help. Today, a lot of these institutions are under-funded, archaic, and slightly irrelevant. An excellent alternative to this unreliable aid is to adopt modern Stoicism. While institutions and their teachers come and go, Stoicism is continually recurring and provides comfort in the fact that it’s perennial.
More to do and less time to do it…
The modern world is a whirlwind of seemingly never-ending tasks. Now, more than ever, we seem to adopt more work than we can handle, and forfeit our time to complete it. Stoicism is a fantastic way to help manage an overbearing workload. The philosophy preaches that time shouldn’t be wasted nor spent doing tasks that don’t bring you joy or a sense of accomplishment. A person studying the art of Stoicism would refrain from accepting jobs that don’t provide a sense of success and would instead consider a more worthy use of time. Down the line, the philosophy can help aid business decisions and give you a sense of drive and determination in the workplace.
Have a Value in Losing…
Given the internet’s wide reach, it’s so easy to become bogged down in other people’s success. Simply open your phone, and you’ll likely have endless notifications on how great everyone else is doing. While this in itself can be damaging, it’s also not a good way to promote your own existence. The art of Stoicism suggests that instead of solely focusing on the positives, you should spend time imagining the negatives. This might sound bleak, but a person who can contemplate the idea of losing will understand the value of life. Instead of feeling jealous, try to value what you have and what you could lose.
Conclusion
It’s clear that the school of philosophy created over 24 centuries ago is still very relevant today in the 21st century. While the world may have advanced in areas of technology and economies have grown, human needs have largely remained the same. A desire to have a sense of meaning, a happy home and security still play a large part in everyday life as much as they did back in the 4th-century BCE. As such, modern Stoicism could be a helpful tool when it comes to maintaining a positive disposition in an ever-changing world.
