Stoicism and the Rigorous Principles of Ancient Greek Thought

To comprehend this trend, we first need to define "Stoicism." The Stoics, who were philosophers in ancient Greece and Rome, refined the more extreme views of the Cynics.

The Cynics, disillusioned by societal decadence, became notorious for their skepticism towards the motives and the potential for progress among the unthinking majority. As a result, "Cynic" turned into a derogatory term, emphasizing the antisocial nature of Cynicism.

Similar to the Taoists, the Cynics believed that true virtue is found in leading a simple, natural life. They would resonate with Jean-Jacques Rousseau's assertion that society corrupts individuals with its unrealistic demands.

Like the Beat Generation and the Hippies, Cynics rejected societal norms. They opted out of conventional life, relinquished their wealth, and embraced the freedom that came from escaping social constraints.

Early Christianity adopted this perspective, merging it with a Jewish longing for an end to the material world.

The Stoics echoed the Cynics’ belief that happiness stems from virtuous living rather than the pursuit of wealth, fame, or external goods. A wise person focuses on the quality of their thoughts and avoids the folly of trying to control nature.

Instead, they strive to comprehend the workings of nature and align their actions with its principles.

We err when we use civilized society as a justification for distancing ourselves from nature, indulging in a hedonistic lifestyle that distracts us from our simpler purpose.

In fact, modern advancements in science and technology have misled us into an endless quest for progress. We exploit our knowledge to create an artificial world, fostering the illusion that we have conquered natural processes.

The Stoic sage recognizes this deception but does not reject material possessions or status symbols with the Cynic's disdain. Rather, the Stoic views possessions as having secondary, practical value related to virtuous aims. The way wealth and possessions are utilized depends on the character of the individual.

Ultimately, we should aim to master our emotions and actions by cultivating inner peace. This way, we become proactive agents instead of mere responders to external stimuli.

While Buddhists take the idea of self-control further by suggesting it is an illusion, both philosophies agree on relinquishing the belief that we can evade or control our natural interdependencies.

For Stoics, nature operates as a deterministic, rational system. We are part of this system and have limited influence over events. The most significant control we wield is over our perspective, which shapes our expectations, and we are commendable when we are trained to respond honorably to life's unpredictabilities.

The Masculine Facade of Stoicism

Historically, Stoicism, along with ancient Greek philosophy, promoted hypermasculine lifestyles among the elite. These philosophers championed virtues such as wisdom, courage, justice, and self-control, while accepting patriarchy, war, and slavery as natural.

Aristotle codified much of this virtue theory, stating in Politics that "the male is by nature superior to the female, the male is the ruler, and the female is the subject."

He also noted that "the slave completely lacks the deliberative element; the female possesses it but lacks authority; the child has it, but it is incomplete."

Plato encapsulated this conservative ideology in Gorgias, arguing that "nature herself indicates that it is just for the superior to have more than the inferior."

Naturally, patriarchy, militarism, and slavery were commonplace during that era, persisting throughout much of civilization's history. Therefore, both Cynicism and Stoicism expressed skepticism regarding our ability to progress. They urged us to seek wisdom to recognize our limitations and to avoid the needless suffering that arises from arrogance or naive optimism.

Consumerism and the Rise of Self-Help Culture

What does this historical context mean for the flourishing consumer self-help mentality seen in large bookstores and online platforms today? Is there any genuine value in this contemporary admiration for Stoicism?

It seems we, as consumers, are reshaping Stoicism to convince ourselves that we’re not addicted to the pursuit of pleasures, social standing, or material wealth. We can feel wise, content, and in control as long as we maintain a "daily Stoic journal."

Alternatively, we may take superficial pride in reading self-help literature, consuming it like fast food, without genuinely engaging with its contents or acknowledging its role as propaganda that often assimilates countercultural insights from Stoicism, Buddhism, or early Christianity.

The challenge lies in the fact that if we have the time or desire to contemplate whether we should reject societal norms and live like outcasts, our minds are already made up.

Either we belong to the wealthy elite, much like many philosophers, or we are poor, introspective, artistically inclined, or perhaps mentally unwell or inclined toward social detachment.

In the latter case, with little left to lose, we might as well try to philosophically understand our situation.

Regardless, those who most need to reflect on social vanities are often the least likely to do so. The blissfully oblivious masses remain too occupied being the reactionary, self-destructive individuals that frustrate philosophers and ascetics alike.

Meanwhile, marginalized idealists are dismissed by the thriving families, businesses, and empires. To them, a philosopher is merely an irrelevant academic or a resentful individual justifying their advantages or shortcomings.

A philosophical outlook is seen as a luxury that busy, successful individuals cannot afford. Attempting to objectively grasp the cosmic essence of existence or how civilization fits within the natural order is akin to self-sabotage.

What purpose does it serve to torment ourselves with subversive philosophical thoughts? What can be gained apart from crippling self-doubt, anxiety, or depression?

Cultural Assimilation and the Ironic Wisdom

Nevertheless, the unsociable sage argues that there is wisdom in restraining our primal instincts, even if philosophy appears burdensome.

Consider, for instance, the possibility that the progress the unthinking masses are pursuing could lead to an ecological catastrophe, a theme prevalent in works like "The Stand," "The Walking Dead," and "The Road." It is plausible that our indulgent lifestyles and the privileges we cherish, along with our capitalist free-for-alls and technological excesses, may ultimately culminate in an irreversible collapse of civilization.

In our hubris, we strive to dominate the planet, but nature may very well cast us aside, replacing us with more adaptable beings.

In such a scenario, wouldn’t philosophers, bohemian visionaries, and the antisocial mystics have the last laugh, especially if the impending disaster could be anticipated through their alienating insights?

Evidently, we tend to dismiss this possibility, even after enduring a pandemic that forced us indoors for an extended period. We trust that our progressive, interconnected societies are sustainable, even as scientists caution us about the unforeseen consequences of our "sophisticated" actions.

Contemporary literature on Stoicism appears to provide us with partial solutions. We may suspect something is off, but we fear that the cure could be worse than the ailment. Thus, we only engage superficially with Stoicism, Buddhism, and Americanized Christianity, just as we consume mainstream entertainment and corporate messaging instead of confronting true, visionary art.

We co-opt countercultural messages, neutralizing and domesticating them in the process, as we are absorbed in our social games. The idea that philosophical or spiritual reflections could hold genuine insights seems laughable in light of our everyday concerns—families, careers, hobbies, vacations, class struggles, and national aspirations.

What seems real is the artificial world we’ve constructed, illuminating our surroundings and obscuring the night sky.

What draws our attention are the digital realms and social media that ensnare us, the political factions that degrade our discourse, the information silos we inhabit, and the responsibilities of being productive, financially independent individuals.

Ironically, this represents a distortion of Stoicism. Like the Stoic sage, we retreat into our inner world; however, while the Stoic mind is meant to confront nature's harsh realities, the self-absorbed consumer is preoccupied with illusions and comforting falsehoods.

Isolated by a bleak vision of a godless nature, the philosopher feels disconnected from the common society, while that society recoils at the thought of yielding to nature or recognizing the philosopher’s insights.

A more honorable consumer would acknowledge that merely skimming the surface of philosophy or spirituality equates to living in bad faith. Self-help products should be viewed as a collection of oversimplifications and cultural adaptations.

Ultimately, the conscientious consumer ought to revel in this fleeting moment rather than pretend to be on the verge of departure.