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Human beings are often framed by their perceptions of and responses to the insurmountable and inevitable fact of mortality. It is a recurring pattern in humanity’s quest for meaning that has befuddled philosophers, theologians, and scholars across centuries. Individual and societal attitudes towards death have come to define our basic understanding of life and its value. One such philosophical approach that deals with the humbling reality of death is Stoicism. Each of us, whether knowingly or unknowingly, practices certain aspects of Stoicism, which posits that an enlightened and virtuous life is achievable by accepting our existence’s impermanent and transient nature.
Death, in the Stoic philosophy, is considered an integral part of the human lifecycle and must therefore be recognized unflinchingly, without fear or avoidance. This acceptance stems from the basic Stoic premise that we ought to concern ourselves with what we can control and accept or ignore what we cannot. It directly involves the application of reason and virtues to understand life as an ever-changing process, with death as an inevitable and natural conclusion. This acknowledgement erases the trepidation and horrors traditionally associated with death, enabling individuals to lead a life defined by tranquility, joy, and fulfillment.
Zeno, the founder of the Stoic school of philosophy, viewed death as an undeniable truth and further castigated the act of mourning as a sign of emotional immaturity. He posited that fear of death arises from ignorance and lack of understanding. Zeno’s teachings embodied his belief that considering death as part of life’s process contributes to mental fortitude and emotional resilience, equipping us with an ability to appreciate life in its entirety.
Marcus Aurelius, the famed Stoic Emperor of Rome, wrote extensively on the subject of death in his seminal work, Meditations. Aurelius emphasized that rather than being a catastrophic event, death is the cessation of sensory experience, and thus, deems it an undisturbing and benign event. He famously wrote, “Death smiles at us all; all a man can do is smile back”.
Seneca, another prominent philosopher in the Stoic pantheon, spoke about death with unmatched clarity and insight. Seneca argued, “He who fears death will never do anything worthy of a living man. But he who knows that this was the condition laid down for him at the moment of his birth will live on those terms.” Seneca, in this quote, succinctly expresses an elemental Stoic belief that embracing the inevitability of death can empower us to live a life filled with courage, meaningful actions, and purpose
Stoicism, with its pivotal focus on acceptance, offers a transformative perspective on death that deviates significantly from standard narratives. It is this difference in perspective that helps us as humans to frame life experiences in a way that enables personal growth, mental strength, and emotional resilience.
In the realm of Stoic philosophy, acceptance is often foundational. Stoics regard the universe as an organized and rational entity. This worldview mandates that rational beings, like humans, must seek to understand and accept the universe’s laws and rules. One such law that we consistently encounter is the inevitability of death.
The Stoics call for an unwavering acceptance of death. They perceive it as an inevitable part of life and a reflection of the natural order of the universe. Death, therefore, should not be feared, but instead accepted with grace and dignity. Accepting death, according to the Stoics, is not a passive resignation but an active part of our efforts to lead a virtuous life. Recognizing our mortality can remind us of our values, inspire us to live according to those values, and focus on what truly matters: our character, integrity, and actions.
Drawing from their balanced worldview, the Stoics considered death as an integral part of nature and life. They perceived existence in a cyclical manner, where birth and death are two phases of the same cycle, each with its own validity and place in the universal order. This cyclical perspective negates the fear of death, framing it instead as a transition from one state of existence to another.
To further illustrate this concept, it’s useful to revisit the Stoics’ fundamental concept of ‘Logos.’ Logos represents rationality, order, and logic that governs the universe. According to the Stoics, Logos is active in nature and everything that happens, including our death, is part of the Logos’ plan. Accepting death, therefore, means accepting the larger plan that Logos has for the universe and for us. By aligning ourselves with nature—an extension of aligning with Logos—we can embrace death as natural, just as we embrace birth and life.
As one of the most revered Stoic philosophers and a former emperor of Rome, Marcus Aurelius had unique insights on death. He wrote extensively on the subject in his ‘Meditations,’ and his thoughts are still cherished and pondered over by modern Stoics.
In the aforementioned quote, Marcus Aurelius uses the metaphor of a voyage to discuss the inevitability of death. By comparing life to a journey, he suggests that death—like the end of a voyage—is a natural and expected outcome. We are bound to ‘get out’ or die at some point, because it’s merely the completion of our life’s journey.
In his famous saying, Aurelius equates death and birth as secrets of nature. Both are beyond our control and are events that we must pass through in our existence. Here, Aurelius further stresses on the naturalness of death and its place in our lives. He redirects the narrative towards acceptance rather than fear, giving sage advice on equanimity and serenity in the face of life’s greatest certainty: death.
Stoic principles, as presented by Lucius Annaeus Seneca the Younger, oftentimes referred to simply as Seneca, open up another dimension on the concept and perception of death. Being one of the founding pillars of Stocism, Seneca’s views and teachings on death are of notable importance. His writings illustrate an approach to death that calls for rationality, acceptance, and preparedness. He presents death not as an unfortunate or dreaded event, but as a natural endpoint of life’s journey, an event every individual should be equipped to face with open eyes. Seneca’s meditations on death extend beyond the individual, they explore the collective human condition and provide useful grounds for insightful discussions on morality, happiness, and virtue.
One of Seneca’s key philosophies is that death is neither dreadful nor final. Stoics believe in an ongoing cyclical existence, and as such, view death as merely a part of the rhythmic ebb and flow of nature. “Death is the release from all pain and complete cessation, beyond which our suffering will not go; it returns us to that peace in which we reposed before we were born. If someone pities the dead, let him also pity those not yet born” – thus spoke Seneca. He reckons with death and presents it as a return to a peaceful state, reiterating the Stoic principle of aligning one’s life and practices with nature’s rhythm.
As a vital figure in Stoic philosophy, Epictetus’s teachings enrich the discourse on meditating upon and facing death. His teachings put emphasis on the control of the self, arguing that though we may not control the world and the events that occur within it, we can control our perceptions and reactions to them. As such, one’s perception of death makes a world of difference in how one approaches and experiences it.
Epictetus in his works often highlights the necessity to deeply understand that events like life and death are ultimately out of human control, they are what he classifies as “things not up to us”. He affirms that becoming conscious of this reality is key to a content life. In his Discourses, he says, “It’s not things that upset us, but our judgment about things.” By controlling our judgment and reaction to death, we untangle ourselves from the fear attached to it, allowing us to lead more serene and meaningful lives. Notably, Epictetus does not devalue life by promoting this distancing from mortality’s inevitability, but rather accentuates the infinite worth of the present. Accepting mortality allows us to embrace life and value it while it lasts.
Overcoming fear of death is a recurring theme within Stoicism. It presents death as an inevitable, natural process, not something to be anxiously anticipated or feared. The Stoic way encourages accepting death as a part of our existence and confronting our mortality with courage, grace, and tranquility. The Stoic beliefs, strategies, and meditations on death offer valuable insights on how to guide our thoughts and behavior to overcome the inherent fear of death.
Epictetus, for instance, suggests that the fear of death springs from ignorance and misguided judgment. It is our own faulty perceptions that create fear, as he explains in his Enchiridion saying, “Men are disturbed not by the things which happen, but by the opinions about the things: for example, death is nothing terrible, for if it were, it would have appeared so to Socrates; for the opinion about death, that it is terrible, is the terrible thing.” The key, therefore, lies in our ability to change our opinions of death, rendering it less a subject of dread and more an accepted part of human existence. Such a mindset allows us to live our lives more fully, appreciating the present moment and being less anxious about the inevitable.
The pain and sorrow associated with death are universal human experiences. Persons who adhere to Stoic philosophy, however, perceive grieving and mourning differently. Grief, as dictated by Stoicism, should be viewed as a natural reaction to loss, but it must not become a permanent state. Evidence of this perception can be found within the teachings of Seneca, who wrote, “We are born into a world of things which are all destined to die, and for all creatures it is the same: whatever enjoys the conditions suited to its growth begins to decay as soon as it has reached its peak. We are fragile and our good fortune has a knack of deserting us. The only path to peace, therefore, lies in dismissing all these fears and despising the blessings of fortune.” Through this statement, Seneca implies that to overcome grief, we must first accept the ephemerality of life itself.
The notion of ‘Amor Fati,’ love of fate, underpins the Stoic approach to grief. This concept nudges us to embrace whatever comes our way, including the pain that accompanies the loss of a loved one. Parens, “Amor Fati” is a call to acceptance; a plea to cherish our fate as it is, rather than what we’d like it to be. Epictetus cemented this ideology with his words, “Do not seek for things to happen the way you want them to; rather, wish that what happens happens the way it happens: then you will be happy.”
Stoic philosophers like Marcus Aurelius, Epictetus and Seneca offer us a roadmap of principles we can employ to deal with death. The stoic framework can guide us to accept death calmly and without fear. The first principle is to acknowledge loss as a natural part of life and embrace our fate (‘Amor Fati’). When we perceive death as a natural event rather than something gruesome or scary, our fears can lessen significantly.
Another principle involves understanding our grief and then governing our response to it. This concept is rooted in Stoic dualism, particularly distinguishing between things we can control and those we can’t. Seneca encapsulates this in his quote, “We suffer more in imagination than reality.” Recognizing that we cannot control death, but we can control how we respond towards it can aid in navigating our grief.
Following the Stoic principle of adhering to rational thoughts can also help us in dealing with death. Stoic philosophy encourages us to test our thoughts and perceptions against reality and let reason dictate our judgments. In ‘Meditations,’ Marcus Aurelius reminds us, “Just that you do the right thing. The rest doesn’t matter.”
The Stoic perspective on death provides invaluable insights into our own mortality. Embracing death, as the Stoics proposed, allows us to liberate ourselves from fear and apprehension. By understanding death as an integral part of nature, we can foster acceptance and emotional resilience.
Moreover, the philosophies from Marcus Aurelius, Epictetus, and Seneca provide an effective and practical toolkit to manage grief and sorrow. By instilling the principles of Amor Fati and rational judgment, Stoicism encourages us to consider death as more than an ending—it can become a teacher, a motivator, and a catalyst for meaningful living.
In concluding, we return to the words of Seneca, “We are all chained to Fortune: the chain of one is made of gold, and wide, while that of another is short and rusty. But what difference does it make? The same prison surrounds all of us, and even those who have bound others are bound themselves; unless maybe you think that a chain on the left side is lighter. Honor and shame: in both cases it is a slavery.” Stoics, through their engagement with the concept of death, challenge us to come to terms with life’s greatest certainty and in doing so break the chains of fear, living a life free and according to reason. As we continue our journey, it’s worth carrying these Stoic insights on death as a guide – a map towards acceptance, understanding, and wisdom.
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