Stoicism

Stocism is a Grecian philosophy made famous by Socratic scholar Antithenos and his followers, the Cynics.  The Stoic school was established in 300 BC by philosopher Zeno, but was later passed on to Cleanthes and then to Chrysippus.  According to historians, these men are important to the first of three Stoic movements.  While important men such as Diogenes and Panetius founded the second movement, it is the third movement that was truly the most influential and is the movement discussed in Sophie's World.

Per definition, Stoicism is the belief that God is not a form, that in fact, he is everything and everyone.  If this philosophy sounds familiar it is because Stoicism and Pantheism have roughly the same general ideas about God and spirituality, but Stoicism has a more definitive structure.  The most significant contribution to philosophy the Stoics made was the hypothetical syllogism and the knowledge that there is an intelligible order in the universe (Logos), and that the world is a continuum of Logos and matter.  According to the Stoics, the spirituality of a person is the manifestation of Logos, thus returning to the point that God is everyone.

Basic Stoic tenets are similar to those of Christianity and many governments across the world.  As a Stoic, one must swear to follow the virtues of justice, courage, wisdom, and decorum.  A prime example of modern application of these timeless virtues is in law enforcement.  Although there are exceptions, for the most part, a policeman swears to protect justice, utilize courage and wisdom, and is often judged by his behavior or decorum. 

Although the cardinal virtues of Stoicism are important, there is one principle that permeates all things Stoic.  That principle is that goodness is not visible from the outside, but it is the soul - Logos - that defines a person.  It was from this law, not the virtues, that the Stoic culture was designed.  The most important men in the designing of Stoicism were Marcus Aurelis, Heraclitus, Lucius Annaeus Seneca, and Epictutus.  These men are responsible for the notary third phase of Stoicism and are in part responsible for the four tenets of Stoic culture.

The Four Tenets:

Tenet One:
There is in order in the universe that Humans are not capable of understanding, this order is called Logos.

Tenet Two:
Nature is the relationship of Logos and matter.

Tenet Three:
Humanity must be respectful of Nature and Logos. 

Tenet Four:
A Stoic chooses to live by the four cardinal virtues: wisdom, justice, courage, and decorum.