The Stoa Letter

The Stoa Letter

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Between Cynicism and Convention
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Between Cynicism and Convention

Practicing Stoic balance

Caleb's avatar
Caleb
Dec 04, 2024

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The Stoa Letter
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Between Cynicism and Convention
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Welcome to The Stoa Letter, the newsletter on Stoic theory and practice.

🏛️ Theory

Stoicism is a radical philosophy. It states that anyone can achieve happiness – and that whether or not they do so is entirely up to them. It rejects stories people tell themselves about why they can’t be happy and society's narratives about what really matters.

This is all true – but in practice it is worth remembering the value Stoicism places on moderation too. 

In the ancient world, Stoics sought to navigate between the influences of Cynicism and popular morality.

The Cynics, many of them at any rate, believed that the only thing that matters was virtue – and this virtue was expressed through autonomy. The cynic was someone who lived outside the city and rejected its ways of life

The normal morality of the time thought this was crazy. Depending on the time and place – what was good was some variation of pleasure, power, and glory. Cynics were failures. Success looked like Epicurean euphoria, political power, or historical greatness.

Stoicism moderates between these two paths.

Stoics urged us to live in the city, but not be owned by it. Virtue is necessary and sufficient for happiness – the Stoics agreed with the Cynics on this score, but unlike the Cynics they didn’t reject society and its morality. 

For instance, even though they questioned the ultimate value of fame and glory they embraced many aspects of Greek and Roman culture. Marcus Aurelius played his role within the world that valued political prestige and honor. Seneca met other senators where they were at and excelled at popular rhetoric (and importantly, adopted many fashionable teachings from Epicurus, a philosophical “rival”).

This is why, perhaps, we find Stoics on different sides of political disputes throughout history. The philosophy didn’t have a dogmatic and doctrinaire line for every situation – but instead sees each decision as a matter of choosing between indifferents.

So – what’s the point? For so many issues, the Stoic answer aims for moderation. The knee jerk response to be against X or for Y is misplaced. Life isn’t that simple. The right action strikes the balance between all the factors at play – to the extent that they can be known.

At their core, Stoics are radical: excellent character is all that is needed for happiness. But this character must be moderate. Don’t reject society, but don’t be governed by it. Find the right amount. Nothing in excess.

🎯 Action

Bring to mind one way you can exhibit moderation and self control today. Do it.

🔗 Links

🎥 A video for today’s letter:

YouTube video by Stoa (Stoic Meditation)

The Middle Way to Happiness | Stoicism versus Society

Subscribe to our channel here. We’re going to create many more videos in 2025…. Stay tuned.

🏛️ Learn more about moderation:

Stoic Moderation

The four parts of the virtue

www.stoaletter.com/p/stoic-moderation

🗞️ Stoics And Epicureans Have Returned. So Where Are The Cynics?

📱 Want to learn about yourself through stories? Developed by a Jungian Analyst, Retell is a new app for exploring your psychology by listening to fresh tellings of powerful tales and myths. Coming soon! Join the waitlist here.

💌 Stoicism and Love.

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Between Cynicism and Convention
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Begin the morning by saying this
Commentary on Meditations 2.1
May 9 • 
Caleb
21

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The Stoa Letter
Begin the morning by saying this
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Welcome to the new Stoa Letter
An update
May 2 • 
Caleb
 and 
Michael
12

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The Stoa Letter
Welcome to the new Stoa Letter
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3
What do you want written on your tombstone?
The contest between pleasure and virtue
May 5 • 
Caleb
9

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