Why Has Everyone Become Stoic?

If you had asked science fiction enthusiasts 50 years ago, many might have predicted that in the first quarter of the 21st century, every third Earthling would likely become a Martian. However, while Elon Musk struggles with the pace of colonizing the Red Planet, today every third person seems to have become not a Martian, but a Stoic. At least, that's the impression when you look around and see a bunch of people embracing an ancient philosophy that has been around for over 2000 years.

The philosophy of Stoicism, last popularized by the ancient Greeks, was a bestseller in the 1st and 2nd centuries AD, essentially serving as the "religion" of the Roman Empire. It was practiced by former slave Epictetus, one of the wealthiest Romans Seneca, and the last of the Five Good Emperors, Marcus Aurelius. The latter simply kept a daily journal, never intended for publication, and today his intimate philosophical notes, published under the title "Meditations," have become a bedside book for millions worldwide.

Hollywood actors Tom Hiddleston and Brie Larson, politicians Bill Clinton and Arnold Schwarzenegger, writers Nassim Taleb and J.K. Rowling, businessmen Jack Dorsey and Tim Ferriss, singer Camila Cabello, and rapper T-Pain – this is far from an exhaustive list of well-known individuals from various professions who draw inspiration from Stoicism in their lives, work, and creativity.

Photo: Celebrities inspired by Stoicism: Tom Hiddleston, Bill Clinton, Arnold Schwarzenegger, J.K. Rowling, Source: Collage The Gaze

The revival of widespread interest in this seemingly long-forgotten ancient philosophy began slowly at the end of the 20th century. However, the term "modern Stoicism" gained traction when a group of British scholars, in November 2012, started organizing annual Stoic Week conferences to promote Stoicism as a philosophy of personal ethics. Interestingly, in December of the same year, adherents of the New Age esoteric philosophy (which dominated mass consciousness since the 80s) predicted the end of the world. Of course, when a real apocalypse is forecasted in the weather forecast for tomorrow, the only thing a bewildered and frightened person can do is recall the wise words of Epictetus: 

"There is only one way to happiness – to cease worrying about things which are beyond the power of our will."

This aphorism reflects the foundation of Stoic ethics – the so-called "dichotomy of control." Every Stoic categorizes all things into two: those within their control (such as personal attitude towards events) and things they cannot control (such as the thoughts and actions of others). There is no need to worry about the latter, as it is senseless. As for the former, individuals should work persistently and focusedly. This approach helps Stoics bravely weather the blows of fate, which is why Stoicism is often referred to as the philosophy of challenging times.

And indeed, times are challenging, and that is the secret of Stoicism's revival. In the era of a global pandemic and the Russo-Ukrainian war (the largest in Europe since World War II), more and more people are trying to maintain calm and common sense by studying ancient philosophy. Notably, when actor Orlando Bloom visited Kyiv at the beginning of the Russian invasion, he described the Ukrainians' resilience and courage as an "example of unique Stoicism." Well, what else can one do? When a nuclear state attacks a non-nuclear one, the latter has no choice but to become Stoic and fight.

Add to the overall picture the Israeli war against terrorists in the Gaza Strip, anti-Semitic pogroms in Western countries, the Turkish president's threats to wage war for the entire Muslim world, and the military tension created by China around Taiwan. Furthermore, there are environmental problems rapidly turning the planet into a dump. The rapid development of AI and robotics, whose ultimate impact on all of us remains unknown even in the nearest years or months. When a person reads the news feed today – aromatherapy, green tea, hatha yoga, and all sorts of New Age nonsense no longer soothe them. What is needed here is philosophical hardcore: Epictetus, Seneca, and Marcus Aurelius.

However, reading ancient authors in the 21st century can be challenging. Therefore, enthusiasts of Stoicism adapt ancient philosophy to modern realities, often significantly simplifying it. New Stoics are criticized for their superficiality because they ignore important aspects of logic and physics emphasized by ancient philosophers, focusing solely on ethics, specifically eudaimonism, which posits that the main principle and goal of life is happiness. Additionally, modern Stoicism is criticized for encouraging egotism in people. Thus, the ancient teachings, under the guise of new interpretations, sometimes resemble dubious training sessions of various self-help gurus and coaches focused on personal development, career success, and quick wealth accumulation.

Well, firstly, no one prohibits exploring the original classics. Secondly, everyone should read a popular guide on modern Stoicism and form their own impression of the revived philosophy, taking into account its relevance to contemporary life. Fortunately, today's bookstores offer such a wide selection that there is a suitable book for everyone:

For the extremely busy: "Daily Stoic" by Ryan Holiday and Stephen Hanselman

If you have no more than 5 minutes a day to study philosophy, this book is what you need. For each day of the year, there is a separate one-page chapter dedicated to a particular Stoic wisdom. It begins with a quote from a famous Stoic, followed by its modern interpretation. Working with the book is simple: in the morning, you read the chapter, and throughout the day, you contemplate. Ryan Holiday, a former American marketer and a student of Robert Greene (author of the bestseller "The 48 Laws of Power"), has become one of the most active popularizers of Stoicism. His YouTube channel, Daily Stoic, has 1.5 million subscribers.

For future emperors: "The Inner Citadel: The Meditations of Marcus Aurelius" by Pierre Hadot

Renowned French specialist in ancient philosophy Pierre Hadot meticulously studied Marcus Aurelius' "Meditations" for two decades. In the book "The Inner Citadel," he takes the reader by the hand and enthusiastically guides them through the world of thoughts of the Roman emperor, explaining what, why, and how.

For those experiencing a midlife crisis: "The Stoic Guide to a Happy Life" by Massimo Pigliucci

"With half my life gone, I found myself in a dark forest dense / Because I had lost the way, enveloped in mist..." – with this epigraph from Dante's "Divine Comedy," American philosopher Massimo Pigliucci begins his book about how Stoicism became the only practice that truly helped him overcome the midlife crisis. The modern Stoic community considers Pigliucci one of its greatest authorities. He also has been running the blog "How to Be a Stoic" for many years.

For those who love memoirs: "Courage Under Fire" by James B. Stockdale

U.S. Navy Vice Admiral James B. Stockdale, by his example, proved that Stoicism is a philosophy that genuinely helps endure the most severe trials of fate. In 1965, his plane was shot down over North Vietnam. Upon capture, Stockdale told himself, "I'm leaving the world of technology and entering the world of Epictetus!" He spent the next 7.5 years in the notorious "Hanoi Hilton" prison, where horrific torture and humiliation were part of his daily life. Yet, Stockdale did not break; moreover, he led a resistance group against the prison administration and helped others resist. After his release, he published memoirs subtitled: "Testing Epictetus’s Doctrines in a Laboratory of Human Behavior."

For fans of "The Black Swan": "Antifragile" by Nassim Nicholas Taleb

Anyone who has read "The Black Swan" noticed Nassim Taleb's love for Seneca. In his book "Antifragile," you will find Taleb's attempts to deepen and improve the teachings of the Roman Stoic. In particular, you will learn about "barbell strategy" and how to prepare for unexpected events in your life without resorting to causal analysis.

For the anxious and depressed: "The Philosophy of Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy" by Donald Robertson

Both pioneers of the cognitive approach in psychiatry—Aaron Beck (founder of cognitive-behavioral therapy) and Albert Ellis (founder of rational-emotive behavior therapy)—admitted that some aspects of Stoicism underlie their methods. Following in the tradition of Epictetus, modern practitioners of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) teach their patients how, through rational thinking, they can identify and discard false beliefs that lead to anxiety and depression. Donald Robertson, also known for his bestseller "Stoicism and the Art of Happiness," explores the strong connection between ancient Stoicism and modern psychotherapy in his book.

For the military: "Stoic Warriors: The Ancient Philosophy behind the Military Mind" by Nancy Sherman

Nancy Sherman, a renowned specialist in military ethics, explains in her book how ancient Stoicism can be adapted to the needs of the modern military. You will learn whether a warrior needs anger to go into battle and how Stoic reflections on fear, resilience, grief, and camaraderie can help soldiers cope with PTSD and the suffering associated with guilt and shame related to war.

For novel enthusiasts: "A Man in Full" by Tom Wolfe

Among the several main characters in this book is Conrad Hensley, a young man who loses his job, wife, and car and, on top of that, ends up in prison. Sitting behind bars, out of boredom, he orders a new spy thriller, "The Stoics' Game," but due to a mistake, he receives Epictetus' Stoic book. Learning that Epictetus also spent time in prison in his youth, Hensley begins reading his philosophical reflections and soon finds himself unable to put it down. Published in 1998, the book sparked interest in Stoicism and essentially revived Epictetus, who, before that, was of interest mainly in narrow circles around philosophy faculties. Netflix is reportedly working on a screen adaptation of "A Man in Full" with Jeff Daniels and Diane Lane in lead roles.

For eternal scholars: "Philosophy for Life: And other dangerous situations" by Jules Evans

Jules Evans envisions a dream school where 12 of the greatest philosophers throughout history have gathered. Each of them teaches the reader practical techniques to change oneself for the better. The author also traces how ancient philosophy influences modern people, providing examples of Socratic cafes, Stoic armies, Platonic sects, skeptic summer camps, and more. This book will appeal to those interested not only in strict and dogmatic Stoicism (which Evans criticizes for lacking a sense of humor) but also in other ancient schools of philosophy.

For those who prefer beating paths: "A Guide to the Good Life" by William B. Irvine

Most people who begin to explore modern Stoicism start with this book. If you fear that one day you will realize that, despite all your efforts, life has passed in vain, this introductory guide to Stoicism by William Irvine will teach you—yes, indeed—not to be afraid.