Stoicism (Ancient Greece/Rome) Stoicism, founded in Athens by Zeno of Citium around 300 BCE and later refined by Roman thinkers like Seneca, Epictetus, and Marcus Aurelius, teaches that virtue—living in accordance with reason and nature—is the highest good. It emphasizes emotional resilience through the distinction between what we can control (our judgments and actions) and what we cannot (external events). By mastering desires and accepting fate (amor fati), Stoics aim for inner peace (ataraxia) regardless of circumstance. Unlike passive resignation, Stoic acceptance is active: it involves disciplined self-reflection, daily journaling, and ethical commitment to community. Though born in antiquity, its practical psychology resonates today in cognitive behavioral therapy and leadership training. Stoicism isn’t about suppressing emotion but transforming irrational passions into reasoned responses. In a chaotic world, it offers a compass—not to change reality instantly, but to navigate it with clarity, courage, and integrity. Its enduring appeal lies in its accessibility: philosophy as a way of life, not just abstract theory.
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