Many people have started to look for ways to learn Stoicism, and Stoic philosophy itself has had a bit of a resurgence in the last decade or so, and as such, more and more people are looking to the philosophy for better ways to live, more resilience, and the reduction of our suffering.
I’ve been studying and practicing Stoicism for over 15 years and below is a starter guide I wish I had when I was starting out.
We’ll go through the following:
- A quick introduction
- Suggestions on original Stoic works to read to get you started
- More modern books to build on the original works
- Some core practices that lay the foundation of how to use the philosophy in a practical way
If you want a more detailed guide, have a look at this blog post on Stoic philosophy. This article is designed to be a quick-start guide on how to get started and learn Stoicism.
A bRIEF Introduction to Stoicism
What is Stoicism?
Stoicism is a philosophy of two parts:
- Its a set of moral and ethical values that help guide our actions, beliefs, thoughts, and judgements towards strength of character.
- It is a framework with which we can learn to change the way in which we see the world, ourselves, and other people in such a way that we become more compassionate, resilient, and calm.
Unfortunately, modern Stoicism tends to focus on part 2 (the framework) and leave out the moral and ethical core of the philosophy.
This, in turn, leads to many modern “Stoics” using the frameworks that are explained in Stoic philosophy in ways that do not align with the philosophy itself.
An example of this could be a destructive business person using the Stoic principle of The Dichotomy of Control to decide what they can control and what they can’t, and then using this information to more efficiently destroy the competition in immoral ways. This “Stoic” would be using Stoic practices, but they would be divorced from the ethics.
In summary, Stoicism gives us a solid framework with which to build resilience, reduce stress, become less judgemental, develop wisdom, and find lasting peace. It does this through a combination of moral lessons (instructing on how to behave) as well as practical exercises to help us change the way we see things for the better.
History and Origins of Stoicism
Stoicism was developed in ancient Greece, around 300 BCE.
A man called Zeno of Citium gathered with his followers under a porch in ancient Athens called the Stoa Poikile (The name Stoicisim comes from this porch). It later became popular in Rome, influencing how Romans lived and ruled.
Zeno’s ancient philosophy is based on the stoic idea that living in harmony with nature, which includes human nature, leads to a virtuous and content life.
The Stoic school emphasized control over the passions and desires, teaching that virtue is sufficient for happiness. A person’s external situation was deemed irrelevant to their happiness; what mattered was their internal state and how they respond to what happens to them.
Zeno’s teachings on ethics were particularly influential. He believed that the universe is governed by a universal reason, or logos, and that the human soul is a fragment of this divine nature.
Thus, living in accordance with reason and virtue is synonymous with living in accordance with the nature of the universe.
Key Stoic Philosophers
Though much of Stoicism’s early Greek history and writing are gone, Roman Stoics built on the works of the earlier Stoic philosophers and laid a strong foundation with surviving written works.
Key among these Roman Stoics are:
- Seneca was a Roman statesman and author. Author of the popular Letters From A Stoic.
- Epictetus, a once-enslaved teacher. His work was transcribed by a student into what is now known as the Discourses and Handbook.
- Marcus Aurelius, the Stoic Emperor, kept a series of journals on life, leadership, and philosophy. These journals have now been combined into the Meditations of Marcus Aurelius.
- Gaius Musonius Rufus. This is a special mention. Rufus was a teacher to Epictetus, and while little of his work survives, what we do have is very valuable to both veterans of the philosophy and those starting to learn Stoicism.
How to Learn Stoicism
Learning Stoicism will involve a number of different things:
- Reading the original works of the Stoics to build a foundational knowledge of the philosophy.
- Understanding the Four Stoic Virtues as a foundation to Stoic ethics
- Deciding where you want to focus. This will mean deciding which principles you’d like to start with and putting them into practice.
Resourceful texts make grasping the fundamentals of Stoicism much easier. Books such as “Guide to the Good Life” by William Irvine and “How to Be a Stoic” by Massimo Pigliucci are great places to start. They explain Stoic ideas and give tips on how to live by them.
Pierre Hadot also has some great books, like “The Inner Citadel” and “Philosophy as a Way of Life“.
I also very much like “Lessons in Stoicism” by John Sellars and frequently use this book as a refresher (it has a great audio version as well).
I would say that it’s not enough to simply read. It’s also important to practice Stoicism in your daily life. You can do this by reflecting on your day, writing in a journal, or using visualization methods.
When we reflect on our day with the intention of looking to see where we did well and where we could have done better, we slowly build Stoic principles and values into our lives over time.
Here’s a quick look at ways to help you learn Stoicism:
| Method | Description |
|---|---|
| Read Modern Stoic Texts | Books by Irvine and Pigliucci are great for practical Stoic ideas and beginners looking to learn Stoicism. |
| Engage with Online Communities | By joining Facebook or Reddit groups, you can share and learn about Stoicism (as a note, some online groups may not reflect accurate Stoic principles, so be aware that some will be good and others not so good). |
| Practice Stoic Exercises | Use daily reflection, journaling, and visualization to grow in Stoicism. |
Starting with the Meditations of Marcus Aurelius
Why Start with Meditations?
Beginning the journey into stoicism often starts with reading the Meditations of Marcus Aurelius.
The reason why this is a popular starting point isn’t just that this text is easy to read; it’s also filled with practical Stoic wisdom, with thoughts and notes from a man who practiced the philosophy in ancient Rome.
This book gives us a very close look into what living as a stoic really means and is a great starting point for anyone looking to get into the philosophy.
Recommended Translations
Picking the right translation of Meditations really changes how you connect with the text. Gregory Hays’ version is great for today’s readers. It keeps all of the wisdom of Marcus Aurelius and does so in simple, accessible language.
Below are some other popular translation:
| Translator | Year | Notable Features |
|---|---|---|
| Gregory Hays | 2002 | Modern, accessible language, highly recommended |
| A.S.L. Farquharson | 1944 | Academic, meticulous, traditional approach |
| George Long | 1862 | Classic translation, historically influential |
Exploring the Handbook of Epictetus
Epictetus’s Handbook, also called the Enchiridion, is my preferred place to start (some prefer Meditations for its accessibility).
It is a fundamental starting point if you want to learn Stoicism and offers a short introduction to many of the core practices of Stoic philosophy in a no-nonsense way.
Content Overview
The Handbook is a short guide on how to live well.
It discusses ideas like focusing on what we can control, accepting what we can’t, and realising that we only really have control over our reactions to what happens around us, rather than the world itself.
Epictetus says we can’t change everything, but we can choose how we react.
Impact on Stoic Philosophy
Epictetus has had an incredible impact on Stoic philosophy. His journey from slavery to philosopher makes his advice seem real, credible, and relatable. The practical wisdom in the Handbook has helped many people live better lives, including Marcus Aurelius. This makes the book extremely important for those interested in Stoicism.
Studying the Handbook helps lay the groundwork for living according to Stoic beliefs. It’s a must-have for those wanting to learn Stoicism.
Practicing Stoic Exercises
As we’ve seen, Stoicism is not just theory. It’s about putting philosophy into practice through exercises for mindfulness, resilience, and knowing oneself and the world around us.
The following daily practices are a great place to start:
Daily Reflection
Reflecting daily is key to stoic living. Spend a part of your day looking at what you think, say, and do.
Note your successes and mistakes. Pay attention to what you feel in different situations, your self talk, your judgements, biases, beliefs, and actions.
Over time, this will help you understand yourself better and slowly bring your behaviour in line with your values.
Journaling
Writing in a journal is important. It lets you look outside of your own thoughts and understand them better. Seeing how you face issues over time is an excellent way to reflect.
Visualization Techniques
Picture yourself facing adversity in your mind. How do you respond? How do you want to respond?
This practice is called negative visualisation and can help us prepare for hardship befor it happens.
However, it doesn’t have to be negative. You can imagine yourself around loves ones, giving a presentation at work, yourself 5 years from now, and any number of different scenarios.
The point here is to mentally place yourself in different situations and decide how you would like to respond, how you’d like to treat others, etc. This helps us gain a sense of who we’d like to be and build towards it.
Understanding Stoic Virtues
The Stoic virtues are a set of values that the Stoics believed were enough to lead a person to happiness when practiced. They are core to any Stoic practice and should be understood deeply.
These virtues are not just ideas; they are ways to act every day.
They encourage us to be thoughtful and do what is right. Through following these virtues, we grow as individuals and help society as a whole.
Wisdom – our ability to see things as they are, free from bias, and prejudice. Wisdom is our ability to see right from wrong, use reason, rational judgement, and avoid warping the truth of what we see.
Courage – our ability to act in alignment with what we think is right, despite pressure not to.
Justice – our capacity to behave in the interests of the common and wider good. The opposite of this would be to behave in ways that are detrimental to our neighbours and fellow man.
Temperance – our ability to exercise self restraint, self control, moderation, and discipline.
If you’d like to learn more, there are simple introductions on the Wikipedia page on Stoicism and the FAQ on the Stoicism subreddit.
