It was the month of December preceding the well-anticipated academic break, and all the university students already fathomed what it implies. Does it mean Christmas is right around the corner? Does it mean the students are authorized to take a breather? Does it mean they are able to let themselves be engulfed by the snow of sangfroid, making them finally assuage the burnt those academic tasks incinerated? The answer is simply no. For a moment, let me jump right into the Tiktok trend, but this time, on behalf of students who grappled with fortune to still consider themselves as surviving.
“We are State-University students, of course we do not pay tuition fees. However, that causes our souls to be trapped in the quicksand of debt.”
Everyone would concur, since it is a university, that a passel of academic workloads is about to hit students especially when the “long break” is near approaching. The acme of academic-related duties is excruciatingly felt when it reaches the instance where the students’ minds become clouded, making them unable to execute sound decision-making (e.g. whether something would be done first, the next time, or the next day?). When this enervating scenario happens incessantly at least in the span of a week, chances are, students would have a hard time managing their emotions. Due to tremendous stresses it has caused, they apparently morph into something feisty and ravenous, enabling them to devour every meal, wiping out everything on the table, even the crumbs ungauged. And if there is something that cannot be subjected to conflagrating disquisitions, is a fact that “students are easily pestered by questions being asked to them repetitively”. The latter becomes their inescapable pet peeve.
These experiences seem like a torment, but eventually surmountable. However, during those moments, it was inarguable that managing emotions is the most challenging. It was like suppressing the most rancid scent inside a receptacle that is exhumed from an ancient tomb. And when minor inconvenience abruptly tickles them, their grip loosens, letting out the scent that could be detrimental not only to oneself but also to people in close proximity. This blog features a book which could help students and especially the adults who struggle to decree ceasefire in their personal chaos.
What does the Meditations imply?
The book is a magnum opus of Marcus Aurelius Antoninus (121 AD - 180 AD), it was written wayback 170s AD at the middle of chaos between the Romans and Germanic tribes near the fluvials of Danube in central Europe (Britannica, 2023). In 2002, this book was translated by Gregory Hays with a concision and free from gratuitous verbosity. He then entailed an introduction which comprises Marcus' consecration to power, struggles during his reign, principles he held onto, as well as spiritual and ethical convictions. But the most important among others is the elucidation of the emperor’s philosophy– Stoicism.
The new translation of Gregory Hays is branded as one of the top and best-selling as of 2024. No doubt because this book offers conspicuous and reflective notions about life, effective means on how to approach failures and misfortunes, and the most paramount is, it could lend wisdom to anyone who dares to read it deeply. For more personal takes, you can buy this masterpiece at Fully Booked physical store or online by clicking the link below:
What is Stoicism?
Stoicism, I would argue, is one of the arduous philosophies to embody. If a person is fascinated by its principles and has decided to take this philosophy as his guide in life, he then needs to constantly remind himself that there is no turning back. Because for the record, Stoicism as a compass in traversing the credulity of consciousness and vastness of life’s verity, is not a piece of cake.
Philosophy, in the simplest expression, is about the journey in procuring the truth. Its subjects commonly tackle the essence of reality, objectivity, subjectivity, morality, ethics, values, conscience, consciousness etc. Close-ended questions are non-existent in a philosophical discussion, because a single notion when entertained by numerous people, could also mean numerous interpretations. Such interpretations could not escape being a subject to unbounded debates and theories. Philosophy is not limited to academia, in fact, it surpasses numerous disciplines.
According to Chrysippus, it entails three main sub-branches, and these are: logic, ethics, and physics. Logic, in the context of philosophy, is about the rational way of thinking. It also connotes soundness, system, and organization. Ethics pertains to the philosophical examination of what is morally right and wrong. Lastly, Physics, as a part of human inquiry, refers to study that seeks to unravel the truth about the natural world on a small scale, and the mysteries of cosmos on a larger scale.
Upon careful perusal of the book, it could be inferred that Marcus Aurelies does not totally put emphasis on Physics, what he does highlight is the importance of Ethics or ethos and Logic or logos. His one of the remarkable words implies “If someone fails to be a scientist, he should not halt to attain peace, humility and happiness'. Humans, as Marcus Aurelius asserts, follow the laws of nature– the logos. The latter, under the lenses of Stoicism is a system that keeps everything in order, impeding all the anomalies. Claiming that what has happened has been destined to happen. As Alexander the Great put it “what is, is right.”
Interested in stoicism? Consider reading my previous blogs about the subject matter by clicking the links below:
Conquering Ego: An advice from the Stoics (https://ritualor419.wixsite.com/thrownthoughts/post/conquering-ego-an-advice-from-stoics )
Compass: A guide to different life Philosophies
(https://ritualor419.wixsite.com/thrownthoughts/post/compass-a-guide-to-different-life-philosophies)
What are the Main Principles of Stoicism?
According to Merriam Webster’s dictionary, stoicism is defined as the school of philosophy in which the students are called stoics, and they were taught to be nonplussed towards pain, pleasure and emotions. The definition is partly correct; however, the lexicographer is not specific enough about its true essence. Apparently, by relying on this brief definition, one could assume that being stoic commensurate with being nonchalant or impassive.
Grubbing deeply, this philosophy is mostly concerned with the crucial inquiries about demise and virtue. Such inquiries are paramount in understanding the complexities of human behavior, because Marcus Aurelius firmly believes in the notion of “Socratic Paradox” (derived from the ideas of Socrates). It is a claim that humans are bound to do things that they think is morally right, and turpitudes are just a mere repercussion of ignorance. Listed below are the fundamental questions in Stoicism:
Is this what the logos wants me to do?
What would happen if I delved into this particular activity?
Is it morally right to seek revenge?
Does dwelling in the past make me a better person?
Should death scare me?
How can I associate myself with others?
How can I blend myself with nature and other living organisms?
How can I keep calm when my mind is not at ease?
Is it possible to maintain stillness when provoked?
To understand the philosophy even further, the Meditations elucidated the three main principles of Stoicism. As I firmly claim, stoicism is one of the hardest philosophies to be proficient in, however, the very first step to conceive this, is to be familiarized with its system. For Marcus Aurelius, as translated by Gregory Hays, the aforementioned system is composed of Perception, Action, and Will. He adamantly believes that if these three components are effectively controlled, the acme of stoicism could be attained.
Perception. For Marcus, it is defined to be the intellective element of our consciousness. It is a mental faculty responsible for processing and interpreting data in our surroundings. Most of the time, the interpretation it makes is plausibly precise. It is expected because during the reign of the roman emperors, distractions were very few and sometimes, its numbers could be counted using one’s fingers. Some of the distractions were the loud noises produced when military men wrestle, cacophonies of philosophers debating in Agora, and the unending whining of slaves. In contemporary times, distractions are ubiquitous, and if it is compared to a God then both are omnipresent. Due to this fact, our perceptions’ ability to interpret could be compromised especially in the Digital Age. According to Merothra (2022), the human brain could accumulate a petabyte of information which is equivalent to 2.5 million gigabytes of memory. The overwhelming data from our surroundings clouds and blurs our perception, increasing the risk of inaccurate interpretation, that will eventually cripple our decision-making capacity.
Action. The Roman Emperor uses the word action to decoct the essence of relationships. He believes that we are social animals, we are surviving as a pack, intertwined by nature to live together in harmony. The logos have dictated our responsibility towards one another– to care for them and treat them not necessarily equally, but as they deserve. Through the mindful practice of actions, the stoics believe that justice could be served. A virtuous life, therefore, is about bringing justice to the table. The stoics affirm that an individual’s worth should not be reduced to a mere object, but instead, they should be treated well as nature requires. Sociologically speaking, stoics’ idea about collectivism shares similarity with Comte, Parsons, and Spencer’s Structural Functionalism. They both imply that every part is important to constitute a whole, if one part, due to negligence detracts, chaos could become imminent.
Will. This component, for stoics, is about an effective approach to any circumstances. Among all the components, this would be the hardest one to master. A will is a skill that should be perfected first to be branded as a stoic. For Marcus Aurelius, it is an attitude of indifference towards bitter fate and circumstances. He then asserted that human beings do not have the capacity to control the present and the past, and that our power lies within our choices; what should we do? How should we act? Accepting one’s fate no matter how degrading or bitter, is the sign that will is perfected.
To encapsulate everything, being a stoic means perfecting the art of acquiescence, treating others fairly, while making objective judgment.
What are the key takeaways from the book?
Let go of the things you cannot control, and Happiness will find you.
One of the major ideas in stoicism is the dichotomy of control. This means that an individual cannot and will never be able to wield his destiny. He does not have the power to alter what is meant for him, however, his capability lies within his choices and reactions. Let us contextualize an example so that it could be widely relatable. Supposedly, an upcoming exam will be disseminated by your professor this coming week. You started to feel so afraid because he is notorious for his brain-wrenching tests which difficulty is at par with licensure examinations. Anxiety begins to creep all over your body just by the thought of the examination, and you spend so much time worrying instead of putting in the effort to study.
What you did is a violation of the philosophies' principle. For stoics, things outside their control have no power over them, and if the contrary happens, their mind will be preoccupied withdrawing capacity to act and respond soundly. To apply what the Roman Emperor says, what you should do instead of whining is to actually prepare ang get going. There is no displacement or shortcut for success, whether it is about long term or short term like quarterly examinations. The key to making everything easy is to do the difficult. As Marcus Aurelius put it:
"If things are endurable, stop complaining and endure it. Do the work with enthusiasm, for this is what nature has designed you for".
"Doing a job with principle is the key to happiness, through working, a person could discover his full potential".
Heed to your Calling
Every one of us is destined to be great. But to attain greatness, one must be willing to undergo anything that the logos wants him to do. Whether it is a tribulation or fortune, a pain or pleasure, dire or triumph, prim or sordid— stoics acquiesce to anything imposed upon them by nature. In times of challenges, they never cease to work, they do this as part of their constant search for personal betterment and serenity. However, one might ask if stoics are allowed to take a rest— of course they do! Rest, for them, is as important as work but it has certain demarcations.
The best example is our routine every morning, which is lying down on bed. Most of the time, the comfortability compels us to silence the alarm clock. Extending it five minutes more, until eventually, the body refuses to wake up and chooses to be embraced by the amenity of soft cushions. It is normal for the body to crave calmness, especially after a strenuous day, but this does not mean “rest” should last long enough that it deprives the person of his potential productivity. He could have done and accomplished a myriad of tasks, but he let himself be gormandized by indolence. To counter this, Marcus Aurelius told us:
“Work like a Roman Emperor” and “If you are struggling to wake up in the morning, think about the birds, the ants, and other living organisms outside. They are moving as early as they can to do what nature requires them to do”.
If these animals and insects can do what nature dictates them, then you should too. There is no way for you to deny your destiny. Do your part by resisting laziness, always choose to work with endurance and jubilance.
Yourself is your only liability
“Be strict with yourself and tolerant with others” - Marcus Aurelius
One of the rudiments of stoicism is about tolerance. The word, as universally defined, is about the willingness to permit differences even if it does not meet the accepted standards. Since our world consists of differences, it is important for us to possess the attitude of tolerance. Opinions, takes, transgressions or even the indignation of people should be permitted because the stoics believe that those are the manifestations of the outside factors which they cannot control. Time will come that incessant bickering and loud noises would drain someone’s patience, but despite these, stoics suggest to uphold utmost self-restraint. As the Roman Emperor put it “Harming others also brings harm to yourself”.
The world is uncertain enough that within a snap of fingers, abrupt destruction occurs. Yesterday, as cliche as it is, was a page being turned already. Tomorrow is as inscrutable as the deepest ocean trenches, no one knows what is served before us. If these thoughts would circulate all over your mind unboundedly, everything would be inconceivable. This is the reason why stoicism advocates the concept of amor fati, translated to english as “love of fate”. For them, it simply means that whatever nature or destiny gives you, the only options are to either accept it or complain about it for the rest of your life. The choice lies within yourself, you may not control destiny, but you have the prerogative to respond– and that is the grandeur of life.
“Make Philosophy as your ointment, it must condition your mind and soothe your soul.”
Marcus Aurelius
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