One of the most distinctive features of stoicism can be fairly resumed by the following lines:
Of existing things some are in our power,
others not in our power.
Those who want to commit themselves to stoic ethics have just to remind themselves about this very straightforward principle. There are things that are up to us, and those which are not. According to stoicism most of the problems we come up with are precisely due to the fact we are not able to mark that difference. There are plenty of examples. Here’s one:
…a lute player when he is singing by himself has no anxiety, but when he enters the theatre, he is anxious even if he has a good voice and plays well on the lute; for he not only wishes to sing well, but also to obtain applause: but this is not in his power (Epictetus, The Discourses, Ch. XIII).
But what if we forgot to do the things in our power while attempting to do the things which are not in our power? That’s the source of uneasiness in life. First of all, we would dismiss our duties, and in doing so we may even harm other people. Besides, since we get involved in such activities which are beyond our power, we wouldn’t even be able to be free. And that is what Epictetus’s quotation reminds us: Do you desire to be a good singer, a good teacher, a good doctor, a good citizen? Care about what is in your power, otherwise you wouldn’t catch it up.
We may find something similar in Jesus’ teachings:
Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek all these things; and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things shall be yours as well. (According to the Gospel of Matthew, 6.31-34)
What would be “seeking first his kingdom and his righteousness” ? In the light of stoic teaching that becomes clear and plain: do what is in your power, since just in doing that you would be able to be virtuous and truly free.
However, here comes the problem: How would we combine an individualistic attitude towards life, and the simple fact human beings live in society, say, they are social animals, after all? Jesus adds up something worth discussing.
Faith comes to play a key role in Jesus’ teaching. He posits that we should seek to accomplish our duties and “all the things shall be yours as well”. In accomplishing our duties, the whole community will benefit from our acts. That is the faith you are told to bring along with your stoic attitude. It is not by telling other people what they are supposed to do that you accomplish your duty. But it is precisely the other way around: it is by caring about what is in your power that you would project the Kingdom on earth, and take part in it. For your faith is nothing but the faithful belief that you are serving a common good, and being part of a community – a Kingdom – by doing the things which are up to you. Say, you couldn’t rule over the world until you could rule over yourself. As Zeno of Citium preached it:
Man conquers the world by conquering himself
Unfortunately, so many times this very simple statement has been disregarded, even by the Christian Churches.
Tags: stoicism
