A Brief History of Stoicism

I’m a huge fan of ancient Greek history. Particularly the melting pot of practical philosophy, debate, and the search for “the good life” that was going on at the time.

It’s no surprise, then, that the history of Stoicism and the ancient Stoics hold a special place in my heart.

Tracing it’s roots all the way back to a little area of the Athenian agora called the stoa poikilê (painted porch), the philosophy of Stoicism still remains a source of practical wisdom, helpful guidance, and an antidote to suffering.

Stoicism is a philosophy that offered the ancient Greeks a framework on which to build resilience, wellbeing, peace of mind, and moral character, and it continues to offer these things to us in our modern world today.

This is a look into Stoic history and the origins of stoicism to help explain the ancient wisdom that connects ethics, physics, and logic into a cohesive and practical world view. A world view that has the ability to shape the way we perceive the world around us and the way we live. I’ll also add some personal thoughts along the way to help add context and clarity.

STOICISM: THE BIRTH OF A NEW PHILOSOPHY

To find the beginnings of the Stoic practice, we have to wind the clock all the way back to the early 3rd century BCE.

Zeno of Citium, a merchant at the time, travelling between Phoenicia and Peiraeus, found himself washed up on the shores of Greece after losing his…