Episode 96 – Criticisms of Stoicism (And How to Answer Them)

This episode aims to correct the three most persistent modern misconceptions about Stoicism by returning to the original texts of Seneca, Epictetus, and Marcus Aurelius. The first myth is that Stoicism advocates for becoming an "emotional iceberg" by suppressing all feelings. In reality, Stoics made a crucial distinction between destructive passions (pathe), which are based on false judgments, and healthy rational emotions (eupatheia), such as joy and rational caution. The goal is not the absence of feeling but the transformation of irrational emotional reactions into rational ones.

The second major myth is that the Stoic life is grim and joyless, overly focused on hardship and death. The episode clarifies that practices like negative visualization are not meant to be morbid but are tools to increase gratitude and build resilience. The ultimate goal of Stoicism is eudaimonia, a state of flourishing and deep, stable joy derived from living a life of virtue and reason. It is a path that seeks profound contentment, not perpetual misery.

The final critique addressed is the idea that Stoicism leads to passive resignation and social withdrawal. The concept of oikeiosis shows that Stoics saw humans as fundamentally social creatures with a natural duty to contribute to the common good, expanding their circle of care from themselves to all of humanity. Rather than being passive robots, the Roman Stoics were often deeply engaged in public life, viewing their social roles as a primary arena for practicing virtue and fulfilling their rational nature.