Stoicism 101: The Stoic view of the role of virtue in achieving happiness

The Stoic philosophy emphasizes the importance of living a virtuous life to achieve happiness. According to the Stoics, virtue is the only true good, and all external things, such as wealth, power, and fame, are ultimately indifferent. This means that they do not inherently contribute to happiness, but it is how we perceive and respond to these things that determine our happiness.

According to the Stoic view, the key to achieving happiness is to cultivate virtues such as wisdom, justice, courage, and self-control. These virtues allow us to live in accordance with reason and cultivate a rational, objective perspective on the world. By living in this way, we can free ourselves from negative emotions such as anger, fear, and envy, which the Stoics believe are caused by irrational desires and attachments to external things.

For the Stoics, happiness is not the absence of suffering or the attainment of pleasure, but a state of inner peace and tranquillity that arises from living a virtuous life in accordance with reason. This means that even in the face of suffering or hardship, a Stoic can maintain a sense of peace and contentment because they are not swayed by negative emotions or attached to external things.