Basic Stoic Principles

 

Basic Stoic Principles

Claude: 

"Based on the text (see link below) the most basic Stoic propositions can be summarized as follows: 

1. Emotions are bad.

2. Emotions are caused by false value judgments.

3. Changing false value judgments will eliminate  the (bad) emotions. 

"These core ideas are explicitly stated in the first excerpt: 

"Pared to their most basic level, the Stoics say:

1) Emotions are bad.

2) Emotions are caused by false value judgments.

3) Ergo, if we change those false value judgments, the (bad) emotions will go away." 

"Additionally, some other fundamental Stoic ideas that are consistently mentioned throughout the text include: 

4. Only internal things (beliefs, desires, will) are under our control.

5. Only virtue is good and only vice is evil.

6. External things are neither good nor evil.

7. Happiness (eudaimonia) is found exclusively in virtue.

8. Desires and emotions arise from beliefs about what is good or bad.

9. The goal of life is to achieve eudaimonia, which involves both acting morally and enjoying life. 

"These propositions form the foundation of Stoic philosophy as presented in the given text. They emphasize the importance of focusing on what is within one's control, cultivating virtue, and adjusting one's judgments about external events to achieve happiness and tranquility." 

Nine excerpts and full texts regarding Stoicism by Grant C. Sterling