Stoicism and existentialism are becoming popular topics, and people are looking to embrace the teachings of famous philosophers like Aristotle, Emperor Marcus Aurelius, or Jean-Paul Sartre. With so many different branches of philosophy, it can be hard to keep them straight.
Stoicism and existentialism are a part of Western philosophy. Stoicism is older and has been a part of philosophical discussion since the ancient Greeks and Romans. Existentialism is far more recent and was a cultural movement in the 1940s and 1950s.
Western Philosophy
Philosophers have always asked questions. The word is Greek – stemming from Latin – and it translates to “love of wisdom.” It’s a discipline that questions people’s existence and experience. As far back as writing goes, philosophers in every civilization advanced intellectual work that we still use and reference today.
You are probably also familiar with Eastern philosophers like Buddha or Confucius. Both Stoicism and existentialism are a part of Western philosophy.
Stoicism vs. Existentialism
Stoicism
Because of its long history dating back to antiquity, Stoicism is one of the most detailed philosophies that thinkers have recorded in the West. The Stoics believed that tranquillity could be achievable through Stoicism and urged people to participate in the world around them.
To the Stoics, knowledge comes from perception. They likened philosophy to a living, growing thing that was ever-changing.
Stoicism’s philosophy is so ancient that some of the source material is incomplete. The complete works that scholars do have access to come from the Imperial period from 27 BCE to 476 CE – including works from Seneca, Epictetus, and Marcus Aurelius.
Philosophy wasn’t simply knowledge but a way of life for the Stoics. To them, Stoicism is a practice, and as you learn more about the world, a complete personal transformation is to follow. Today, people turn to Stoicism as a therapeutic activity, and some see it as a psychological discipline.
It’s an appealing philosophy to adopt. It emphasizes an individual’s worth, community, and its foundation of compassion and benevolence is a positive sentiment that’s easy to support. It highlights the benefits of living life without excess.
Existentialism
Existentialism is in its infancy compared to Stoicism. After emerging in the 20th century, existentialist Jean-Paul Sartre described the philosophy. It was later adopted by other prominent writers and philosophers such as Simone de Beauvoir and Maurice Merleau-Ponty.
Existence, according to existentialists, is entirely subjective. Your experience is uniquely different from anyone else’s. There is no universal truth in existentialism, and it explores the meaning of life. And its primary concern explores what it means for people to be free.
Existentialists know they are in a world that relates to other people, limiting their opportunity to choose a path. Still, they argue that people need to make choices for their individuality. Even when negative things happen to us, we’re free to interpret them however we’d like.
Arguably, existentialism deals with the more pessimistic side of the human condition. It explores the experiences of anxiety, death, and nihilism. They argue that science can’t explain or understand people. An existentialist focuses on the authenticity of the individual and the necessity of authenticity in self-identity.
Today, existentialism is fundamental to academic philosophy because it is very fluid. It flows off into many branches as time passes and culture shifts.
Being a Stoic or an Existentialist
Philosophy will change the way you live your life, no matter how you embrace it. It’s easy to reject learning about philosophy because it doesn’t have a practical use. But, knowledge for the purpose of knowledge is a transformative experience.
Whether Stoicism or existentialism draws you in, there is no right or wrong way to adopt philosophy into your everyday life.
Stoicism is rooted in logic and reason and advances the idea that there is a need for non-attachment in life events. They argue that everything is perception; you can choose your reality based on your reactions.
Similarly, there is a narrative of non-attachment in existentialism. However, they believe in genuine autonomy and argue that people should be able to react to events in their life however they choose.
Followers of Stoicism believe that you should participate in society and be an active participant in your community. There is a greater good, and they argue that it’s more important to put that greater good first. To the Stoics, everyone connects, so it’s important to take care of everyone.
The existentialists take the view that personal freedom is more important. Your identity and authenticity are within your control, so you should cater to them. They live by the idea that people are separate from each other but exist in the same world.
Final Thoughts
Stoicism isn’t about not caring or being numb to what’s going on around you, but it’s in accepting the things – even negative things – that come your way and rationally processing them.
Stoicism is a lot more accessible. Thousands of years’ worth of literature tell us what Stoicism is and the philosophy behind it.
While existentialism borrows some ideas from Stoicism, it’s more complicated and intricate. It’s transformed so much, and people define it in different ways, so it’s challenging to determine what makes existentialism.
Scholars, academics, or educated people accept existentialism more, but it rarely encompasses existentialism. On the other hand, Stoicism not only explains its philosophy but also explains why it matters and what it can do for those who practice it.
According to the existentialist, there is no ideal way to live, and there is only freedom to choose. Whereas with the Stoics, logic and reason are central to how to live your life.
The importance of solidarity and interconnectedness among people is just as vital in modern times as it was in antiquity, so the revival of Stoicism makes sense when looking at society today.
However, some adopt a modern version of existentialism to explain the society around them. Whichever philosophy resonates with you – whether Stoicism vs. existentialism – it adds a rich layer to our fast-paced world.
References
https://www.britannica.com/topic/philosophy
https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/existentialism/
https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/stoicism/
