Stoicism’s Importance for Contemporary Politics

Persijn
Persijn
Nov 6 · 2 min read

Stoicism is a philosophy that teaches us to think rationally. We should be calm and not think with our emotions. A situation that is outside our control shouldn’t bring up any despair or rage, instead we learn to accept such a situation and live with it. A situation within our control has to be looked at and thought about with utter calmness. We need to act on our principles; our rational morals, not our irrational moods.

This reasoning becomes extra important when it’s in combination with the contemporary political system and climate. Here politicians often give way to their own ideas, probably due to the thought: “I’m right because people are voting for me”. This is a difficult obstacle in combination with emotions. Criticism rarely gets a warm welcome, instead a politician will get too emotional and defend themselves. Not only does the politician respond with the wrong emotion but the same goes for the critics. Decisions are very difficult to make in such a situation.

When a politician uses Stoicism instead, a discussion will end much sooner and better. The politician is able to reason calmly and is open for criticism. Even if the politician isn’t calm and rational the critics can respond wisely when one isn’t listened to.

Politics will become a less toxic climate, something that is open to a just discussion. Marcus Aurelius once said that our thoughts colour our soul. Thus, when our thoughts are bad our soul becomes bad too, and how can a bad politician lead and govern?

Emotional and ideological thinking steps aside for a calm, rational way of thinking. The politicians will, instead of slandering his or her opponent, work with them for good government — discussions about ideas instead of the emotional defence of one’s own interests. Politicians, and actually everybody else, need to remember that other people can be right and we can be wrong. We have to be open minded even when ideologies stand in our way.

Stoicism — Philosophy as a Way of Life

Articles about Stoic Philosophy for modern living

Persijn

Written by

Persijn

History student at the Radboud University of Nijmegen

Stoicism — Philosophy as a Way of Life

Articles about Stoic Philosophy for modern living

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