One of Stoicism’s central ideas is is that people need to live in accordance with nature and natural order.
Stoicism and natural order
Stoicism was founded by Zeno in Greece in the 3rd century BC and it became a very popular and influential school of philosophy in the Classical era. Other well-known philosophers associated with Stoicism are Seneca, Epictetus, and the Roman emperor, Marcus Aurelius.
In a Stoic worldview, nature plays a central role. Stoics believed there is a natural order that all people should live in harmony with. They believe that nature is governed by a force called Logos. To them, Logos is the sacred and rational power that organises the universe, providing order and balance. For Stoics, everything in nature is connected, and the understanding of these universal connections is essential to understanding the world.
Stoics believe that since humans are part of nature we should all seek to live in accordance with natures principles and thereby achieve more well-being and fulfilment.
For the Stoics, nature provides us with examples of virtues in action. Cardinal virtues like prudence, justice and fortitude are built into nature. In this way nature is a source of wisdom, inspiration and well-being that we can all embrace.
Some essential principles of Stoicism include:
- Virtue is the highest good
- The pursuit of self-improvement and the attainment of wisdom are important
- Material wealth and possessions are not essential to happiness
- Emotional intelligence is crucial for well-being
Like Aristotle, the Stoics, believed in the four cardinal virtues of wisdom (prudence), temperance, fortitude and justice. I have called these the virtues of sustainability and they are built into nature. By embracing the natural world, we can cultivate these virtues and thereby live fulfilling life in harmony with natural order.
Stoicism, the Natural Order, and Wisdom
Wisdom is central to Stoicism, and the Stoics believed that by living according to reason, we could better understand the natural order. The natural world is very complex and relational; by learning about it, we can cultivate wisdom and better navigate life’s difficult challenges.
The Stoics believed that the natural world was governed by universal laws that we could learn from and apply to our own lives. By studying the laws of nature, we can gain insight into the workings of the universe and better understand our place in it. For example, the changing seasons can teach us about the impermanence of all things and the need to adapt to change. Also, the way everything is connected in nature in complex yet ordered ways shows how we humans can relate to each other and to nature better.
Fortitude and Natural Order
Fortitude (or courage) is another cardinal Stoic virtue. The Stoics believed that by embracing the strength of natural order, we could find the fortitude necessary to face life’s challenges. Nature can be beautiful and awesome and yet also challenging and sometimes very harsh. By accepting and embracing these different qualities, we can develop the resilience needed to overcome adversity.
For example, seeing how massive trees can survive in a severe storm, we can learn the power of resilience and the strength and fortitude that comes from being flexible and adaptable. The Stoics believed in developing inner resilience through practices such as negative visualisation and self-reflection.
Justice, Natural Order and Responsibility of Care
Justice is another essential virtue and the Stoics saw it as being related to natural order. Justice is about what is right, and in that sense it is another form of wisdom. Humans are social creatures and justice is essential for maintaining social harmony.
Likewise, the Stoics believe that all life is interdependent, all nature is relational and that we have a responsibility to treat all life with care, respect and a sense of justice and not just to humans.
Temperance and Natural Order
Temperance focuses on self-control and the balancing of our needs. Stoics believed that by focusing on what we can control and accepting what we can’t, we can better navigate life’s challenges and find peace of mind.
Temperance is essentially the same as moderation and not living with excess. The Stoics thought that by understanding natural order, we could better understand our need and avoid excess. Nature is full of examples of relationships, harmony and balance – by understanding these patterns, we can learn to cultivate balance in our own lives.
Nature only takes enough for its needs, whereas human needs can be insatiable. This is because we conflate physical needs and psychological needs. Apart from the loss of heat, nature is not essentially wasteful. Matter is recycled so that the systems of nature can sustain themselves through self-regulation. When we practice self-regulation, through self-control and moderation, we can avoid harm to ourselves and to nature.
In conclusion
Stoics believed that virtue was the key to happiness; whereas the pursuit of wealth and prestige was useless and wasteful. Stoics advocated for lives of caring and fairness. They believed that finding peace was about controlling what you can and should control and accepting, or at least tolerating, what you can’t or shouldn’t control. They believed in accepting and being grateful for what nature provides. Stoics emphasised developing a sense of gratitude and contentment. By being thankful for the natural world and the good things in our lives, we can find greater happiness and fulfilment.