1. The business of life is more akin to wrestling than dancing, for it requires of us to stand ready and unshakeable against every assault, however unforeseen.
- M. Aurelius

2. Epicureanism Lucretius, de rerum natura Stoicism
‘Roman’ Philosophy
Epicureanism
Lucretius, de rerum natura
Stoicism

3. Greek origins
Zeno, born in Cyprus, 336 BC, founded school in Athens around 300 BC, taught in the Stoa Poikili
Students Cleanthes & Chrysippus
Diogenes, student of Chrysippus, went to Rome in 156 BC among ambassadors from Greece (cf. Cato’s Life)

4. Stoicism Logic – empiricist Cosmology – monistic materialism
*world is created and recreated in cycles
*everything partakes of/is part of the logos/fire
*all things linked by essential soul
Ethics – To live “according to nature”
*life of virtue, according to man’s essential
nature as a rational creature, is happiness

5. More particularly, life according to nature:
Is according to reason, highest principle of human soul. Self-preservation is self-perfection.
One disregards matters ‘indifferent’, those over which you have no control (e.g., birth, beauty, weather, wealth, etc.).
Cardinal Virtues:
1. Moral insight
2. Courage
3. Self-control/temperance
4. Justice

6. Development of virtue and consequent happiness are a lifelong process and effort.
Passions and affections (pleasure, sorrow, desire, fear) are irrational and, consequently, unnatural. Stoic works to be independent of all externals.
The world is a unity and all men are members of a brotherhood.
“To the wise man, the whole world is his patria.”
One must strive for rational resignation to whatever Fate sends, placing no value on what is open to vicissitudes.

7. Seneca, tutor to Nero
Difficulties strengthen the mind, as labor does the body.
It is a denial of justice not to stretch out a helping hand to the fallen; that is the common right of humanity.
Seneca