Nature Life

The ancient Stoics posited that leading a virtuous life entails living in harmony with nature. The precise meaning of this assertion remains a subject of inquiry. Are we to follow our instincts, as animals do, or should we adopt a lifestyle that is environmentally friendly? In this video, I explore the philosophical tenets of the ancient Stoics. The founder of the Stoic school, Zeno of Citian, left behind a limited legacy, consisting primarily of a series of quotations. The Byzantine scholar Johannes Tobias compiled a valuable collection of extracts from Greek authors, which shed light on Stoic ethics and Zeno's proposals. In essence, everything that exists can be classified as good, bad, or indifferent. As I have discussed in a previous video, these three categories form the pillars of Stoicism. Tobias tells us that the good consists of wisdom, moderation, justice, courage, and all that is virtuous or participates in virtue. Conversely, the bad comprises folly, intemperance, injustice, cowardice, and all that is vicious or participates in vice. The so-called indifferent things are neither good nor bad, but they may be preferred or dispreferred. Examples of indifferent things include death, looks, money, reputation, and so forth. The Stoics believed that living in harmony with nature is the ultimate goal and is equivalent to leading a virtuous life. Since virtue leads to happiness, people who live in conflict with nature are not happy. However, it remains unclear how we can put this philosophy into practice. What do the Stoics mean by nature, and how can we, as human beings, live in accordance with it?

There exist various interpretations regarding the nature of Stoicism, and given that the primary accounts of the early Stoics have been lost, we must turn to other authors for clarification. Diogenes Laërtius, a biographer of Greek philosophers, has noted that the Stoics referred to the nature of all things, also known as the nature of the whole, including human nature as a constituent of this whole. He summarizes this concept as follows: "the end turns out to be living in agreement with nature, taken as living in accordance with one's own nature and with the nature of the whole." Upon examining our planet, we observe that everything possesses its own unique characteristics. For instance, water flows to the lowest point, nourishing all that it encounters along the way, yet it lacks the capacity for thought. Nevertheless, water is an integral component of a system, and it performs its duties admirably. Similarly, plants produce oxygen and serve as food for animals, which in turn can serve as food for other animals, including human beings. The Stoics recognized that human beings, like animals, possess a natural inclination towards self-preservation. This arises from what Zeno referred to as "okuses," which signifies self-ownership or the appropriation of resources to meet the needs of individuals or species. We accumulate resources, protect ourselves and our loved ones, care for our bodies, and seek shelter. However, what distinguishes us from animals is our capacity for rational thought. This is a significant game-changer. For example, both humans and animals possess a natural tendency to be hostile towards the unknown, as it could pose a threat. In humans, we often observe hostility towards individuals from other countries with different facial features, skin color, language, and so forth, despite experiencing an urge to be hostile towards the unknown.

We are presented with the option to approach our urges in a rational manner and determine whether or not to act upon them, much like we would approach a sexual desire or the sudden impulse to strike our superior after being reprimanded. Unlike animals, humans possess the ability to rationalize our natural urges and make conscious decisions, rather than being driven solely by instinct. Marcus Aurelius, a Roman Emperor, emphasized the importance of living in accordance with nature and defining our individual nature within the larger context of the world. While we may possess varying strengths and weaknesses, all individuals have the potential to lead fulfilling lives, regardless of the challenges they may face. Living virtuously and in harmony with nature involves embracing our unique qualities and utilizing them to our advantage. As Marcus Aurelius reminds us, we are a part of nature and have the ability to act in accordance with it.