My understanding of Stoicism so far

[Progeny of Horus]

I'm not referring to the bastardized version that the redpillers hijacked; I mean the Roman Stoic texts (especially Epictetus) and what we know of the original Greeks.

First, it's worth mentioning that Epictetus was never married nor bothered with women and lived most of his life as a slave before he was freed and established his own school. It's also likely his former master abused him and caused him a disability.

What do his teachings preach? Well mainly accepting that the external world is beyond our control and that we don't 'need' anything in life beyond Oxygen, minimum nourishment and sunlight. Not much beyond that. You can strive for material possessions but with the mindset that, again, the results are beyond your grasp.

Second main thing is rejecting hasty or false impressions. When someone insults you your initial reaction is automatically that of being wronged, but that's not necessarily fact. It's a societally constructed idea. Basically "everything that upsets you is a myth" mindset.

Third main thing is their very strong theism. 'Orthodox' Stoics are strongly monotheistic and believe in God's involvement in everything down to the minute details, all the more contributing to their total acceptance of fate. Their views on the afterlife aren't very clear though.

What do you guys think?

 

[Roastie Crusher]

so a stoic is a hopeful secular cynic?

 

[Emba]

Very good summery bro!

I didn't know about the "god" part, though...

They did have lots of various gods at the time so it would figure.

I find that a Stoic mindset allows me to remain calm about all the various inequities of this realm...

In a way, my lack of "a happy life" (such as normies get) is why I'm so far ahead of them mentally...

That's my cope and I'm sticking to it!

 

[AnApparentMyth]

Not bad, honestly. I actually sort of like it. I'm sticking with Absurdism, though

 

[The_word_made_flesh]

Its a dead end for very strong people ,the gist is ,be tough and tough everything out without complaint.At life's all one has is you made the best of hardship.Stoicism offers no real hope for true joy and happiness just just deal with unhappiness without complaint .

Also for the person who mentioned cynicism ,the ancient Greek cynics were not sceptical about human nature,they were more like hippies .The cynic in Geek meant like dogs because the did not bath and urinated and deficated in public and begged for food and shunned materialism.

It was not until medieval times when Catholic church fathers took a liking to the anti materialist viewpoints and added Christian sinful nature theory into medieval Catholic cynicism ,hence now a cynic is a person with pessimistic views on people.
However though true Greek cynicism is harmony with nature and finding joy in the gratification of ones will and desires.