Stoicism, originating in Athens around 300 BCE with Zeno of Citium, is an ancient Greek and Roman philosophy centered on living a virtuous and well-reasoned life. Emerging from the Cynic tradition, it gained popularity through public teaching at the Stoa Poikile, a painted colonnade. Stoics believe the universe operates according to reason (logos), emphasizing rational discourse, physics, and naturalistic ethics. Virtue, encompassing ideals like prudence, fortitude, temperance, and justice, is essential for achieving eudaimonia, or lifelong flourishing.
Central to Stoicism is the cultivation of emotional self-control, calm problem-solving, and rational judgment. Passions, anxieties, and insecurities are viewed as misguided reactions to be controlled through self-discipline. Stoics focus on what they can control, primarily their reactions to external events, and accept what they cannot. While acknowledging "indifferents" like health and wealth, Stoicism emphasizes virtue as the sole good, viewing external factors as merely "material for virtue to act upon". Prominent Stoics include Marcus Aurelius, Epictetus, and Seneca.
