What Makes a Good Life: A Stoic Perspective

The human experience is an ongoing pursuit of happiness and fulfilment. Throughout history, philosophers have grappled with the question:

What makes a good life?

While some chase wealth, fame, or pleasure, these pursuits often leave a sense of emptiness. Stoicism, an ancient philosophy, offers a unique perspective, arguing that a good life stems not from external circumstances, but from living virtuously.

Many equate a good life with wealth and fame. However, history is littered with examples of individuals who, despite immense wealth and fame, led unfulfilling lives. Similarly, the pursuit of constant pleasure often leads down a path of diminishing returns.

Stoics believe the true good lies in consciously choosing and acting virtuously. Unlike fleeting pleasures or external circumstances, virtue is cultivated within ourselves. It is the constant pursuit of wisdom, justice, courage, moderation, and self-control. As Marcus Aurelius stated,

“Waste no more time arguing about what a good man should be. Be one.”

Living virtuously requires a three-pronged approach:

• Wisdom: Recognizing the distinction between what is within our control (our choices and actions) and what is not (external events and other people’s behavior). Epictetus emphasized this by saying,

“Happiness and freedom begin with a clear understanding of one thing: some things are within our control, and some things are not. It is only after we accept this that we can begin to find peace.”

• Benevolence: Treating others with fairness, kindness, and compassion, acknowledging our shared humanity.
• Emotional Control: Mastering our emotions to act virtuously, not be ruled by them. Stoicism teaches that negative emotions arise from our judgments and interpretations of events, not the events themselves.

Stoicism acknowledges the challenges of pursuing virtue in the face of overwhelming emotions. To overcome this hurdle, they advocate for reframing our perceptions…