Stoicism

    Antisthenes

Stoicism was influenced by the Cynics, such as Antisthenes and Diogenes.  Cynics believed that civilized life made people soft and weak.  They valued independence, honesty, and toughness.

Stoicism itself began with Zeno and, after Greece was take over by Rome, became popular with many Romans, including the slave Epictetus and the emperor Marcus Aurelius.

Stoics believed in a cosmic order or force called the logos or God, Nature, or Fate.  The logos controls all things, but we can control our attitude toward events.  This attitude should be one of uncomplaining acceptance, according to Stoics.  Like the logos we should be rational and impartial.

Since God creates nature, Stoics say, nature is good, and since nature gives us reason, reason is good.  Our guides to morality should be natural impulses and reason.  Nothing bad can happen to a good person because only moral virtue is good, and this cannot be taken from someone.  Actions and events do not matter.  Only one's attitude, intention, or motive, i.e. one's will, matters.

Passions are a bad kind of belief.  They are a kind of belief because our emotions depend on what we believe is important, and because understanding some statements involves emotion.  The rational part of the soul/mind is not distinct from the emotional part therefore, Stoics say.  Feelings are kinds of belief (e.g. this is good, this is bad, etc.).

Passions are bad beliefs because they are false (only moral virtue matters), unnatural, unnecessary, uncomfortable, uncontrollable, and the obviously bad ones are inseparable from the seemingly good ones.  A wise person will have no passion, only the reasonable, calm emotions of joy, caution, and wish.  The wise feel no pity or wonder.  Only they are truly free and self-sufficient.