The Philosopher as a Doctor of Souls: Virtue and the Stoic Approach to Life
The famous Stoic philosopher Epictetus, in his Discourses, presents an interesting analogy. He likens a philosopher to a doctor and the philosopher's school as a hospital for souls. This concept is rooted in the teachings of Socrates, who believed that the primary duty of a philosopher was to nurture and care for one's soul, in the same way that a physician attends to one's physical body. The soul, in this context, refers to our thoughts, beliefs, and inner selves.
Socrates argued that the state of our soul significantly impacts the quality of our lives. Material possessions and external factors are essentially value-neutral because their ultimate worth depends on the moral character of the person who possesses or experiences them. In Socrates' view, the genuine value of an individual lies in their character rather than their possessions.
This philosophy led certain thinkers to renounce the external world and embrace a lifestyle of asceticism. Diogenes of Sinope, for example, is said to have lived in a barrel like a stray dog for a period of time. However, Zeno, the founder of Stoicism, adopted a more nuanced approach. While Socrates categorized possessions as "indifferents," Diogenes exhibited a strong aversion to them that went beyond indifference. This raised an important question: if money and material wealth are truly indifferent, why should we care whether we are rich or poor?
Zeno proposed that it is a natural human instinct to seek things that contribute to our survival, such as food, shelter, health, and physical comfort. He termed these objects "preferred indifferents." Socrates, on the other hand, reserved the label "good" for a virtuous, morally upright character. While we might prefer wealth over poverty and health over sickness, the crucial idea here is that a virtuous character is the only genuinely good thing in life.
Stoicism teaches that nurturing one's soul involves cultivating virtue. This moral development entails embracing the four cardinal virtues of Stoicism: wisdom, justice, courage, and moderation. These virtues will be discussed in greater depth later in this series.
Stoics believed that happiness is achieved through living in harmony with Nature, both the external world and our own human nature. The role of a philosopher, therefore, is to guide and support others in their pursuit of this harmony. Philosophy, for the Stoics, was not simply an academic or theoretical exercise. Instead, it was a practical, hands-on endeavor aimed at helping individuals live the most fulfilling and meaningful lives possible.
In conclusion, the Stoic approach to life, as informed by Socrates, Zeno, Epictetus, and other philosophers, places a strong emphasis on nurturing the soul through the cultivation of virtue. This practical philosophy encourages living in harmony with Nature and prioritizing moral development above everything else.