The Stoics
A (Short) Introduction
Introduction
Today, the philosophy of Stoicism is categorized into three time periods: Early Stoa, Middle Stoa, and Late Stoa. The works of Late Stoa do not survive in their entirety but are more intact and voluminous than any other time period of Stoic philosophy.
The works of the Late Stoa writers, and today the most famous of the Stoics or, the “Main Three Stoics”, is that of Marcus Aurelius, Seneca the Younger, and Epictetus.
The Big Three
Below is a brief look at each.
Marcus Aurelius
“You have power over your mind — not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength.”
Marcus Aurelius was the emperor of Rome starting in 161 AD and continued until his death in 180 AD. His book or personal journal known today as The Meditations or simply Meditations, is one of the most widely read works of the ancient time and showcases the mentality and mindfulness of the emperor during his final years.
During his reign as emperor, Marcus was the most powerful man in the world. He was known as the last of the “Five Good Emperors”, a time characterized by substantial peace which brought stability to…
