Is Stoicism Toxic?
Is Stoicism toxic?
The short answer is no.
The long answer is that it can be if you do not have a good understanding of the philosophy.
In this article, you will learn what Stoicism is and what it is not. You will also learn how to protect yourself from psychological harm whilst practising Stoicism.
Stoic vs stoic
One of the biggest reasons people believe Stoicism is toxic is because they are mixing up the word Stoic with stoic.
Stoic with a capital ‘S’ is a noun which represents followers of the philosophy called Stoicism.
But stoic with a small ‘s’ is an adjective with potentially toxic connotations.
Here is the common definition for the word ‘stoic’.
A person who can endure pain or hardship without showing their feelings or complaining.
One imagines someone being whipped with a blank look on their face.
This definition hints at a person who represses their emotions and feelings.
A person as cold as ice who is unbothered by any hardship.
This theoretical person would not be a human being but a cyborg of some kind.
Is Stoicism toxic? Let’s talk about emotions
People falsely assume that Stoic philosophers repressed their emotions.
This is not true, they mastered their emotions to such a high degree that the uninitiated would assume they were repressed.
Imagine a natural bodybuilder who trains diligently for 20 years.
He has perfect nutrition and treats the gym like a temple.
After 20 years, people who never stepped into a gym would accuse him of taking steroids.
This is the same story on the emotional plane; people who have never studied their minds would never understand a Stoic.
One of the central teachings of the Stoics is the idea that our interpretation of events is what determines our subjective experience of said events.
“It’s not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters.”
— Epictetus
Shit happens to everyone.
But why are some people able to overcome negative events better than others?
We have all heard of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) but why do some people experience Post-Traumatic Growth (PTG)?
Why do twins who grow up in similar circumstances often develop different personalities?
It’s because EVENTS do not make us.
Our relationship to those events is what ultimately determines the joy we will experience in life.
Stoicism is simply a means of training the mind not to automatically react to ‘negative’ events.
It’s not about denial but exercising our ability to choose.
Stoicism is not a philosophy for victims who perpetually want to remain in the psychologist’s chair.
It’s not for people who think events create their reality.
It gives people power, this is why many are now claiming it is toxic.
Does Stoicism Have Toxic Exercises?
Some of the most popular Stoic exercises including voluntary discomfort and negative visualization can be perceived as toxic if not practiced properly.
Voluntary discomfort is about depriving yourself of things you typically indulge in and learning to face adversity.
A person practising voluntary discomfort might choose to sleep on the floor from time to time.
Perhaps do a 48-hour fast.
They might go outside in the cold without a jumper.
This is all done in moderation not excess.
Voluntary discomfort isn’t meant to harm the individual but instead expose them to small stressors.
Stress is what helps you grow.
To get stronger at the gym you need to increase the weight over time.
You need to practice hard problems that stress your mind to get better at mathematics.
Stress is the mechanism for psychological and physical growth.
This is a good thing; it is not toxic.
It’s toxic only when pushed past the point of benefit, but Stoic philosophers never advised of such things.
Certain phrases which deal with negative visualization scare people away from Stoicism.
“When giving your child or wife a kiss, repeat to yourself, ‘I am kissing a mortal.’”
— Epictetus
Why would anyone want to remind themselves of their loved ones’ potential death?
This isn’t toxic, it is merely confronting reality.
The Stoic occasionally visualized potential harm coming his way to increase his sense of gratitude that such an event has not happened.
It also allowed the blow to be softened if the event were to ever happen.
Many people are blindsided by life when things go wrong because they never considered such a possibility.
When loved ones die, people typically say,
“Why me?”
Yet, a similar thing has happened to billions of other people and not once did they consider it.
Nowhere in Stoic teachings is the advice given to visualize morbid happenings.
You are not told to see things as you would in horror films.
It’s not about traumatizing yourself but instead considering possibilities.
Is Stoicism Healthy? Relationship with death
One area which might seem toxic to some is a Stoic’s relationship with death.
Stoics would famously say Memento Mori which means ‘remember you must die’.
They didn’t say this because they were a death cult.
They didn’t say this because they were eager to enter Valhalla like marauding Vikings.
They said this as a reminder to live a life according to virtue.
Many people never consider their mortality and hence do not value their lives.
They follow the wills of others and are susceptible to subconscious suggestions because they do not have any guiding principles.
“There are only a few who control themselves and their affairs by a guiding purpose; the rest do not proceed; they are merely swept along, like objects afloat in a river.”
— Seneca
Remembering one’s death from time to time allows you to reorient your life towards your guiding purpose.
Instead of getting caught up in petty dramas like the masses, you focus on what will bring you fulfilment (perhaps spending time with family).
“Soon you will have forgotten everything; soon everything will have forgotten you.”
— Marcus Aurelius
Many of the teachings are about letting go of your mortal ego.
Understanding the greater context of nature and how we are all united. (A stoic concept called ‘Sympatheia’.)
To some, Stoic quotes like this seem nihilistic and toxic, but if you really study the philosophy, you will see the deeper meaning.
Stoics believed life had a purpose.
The chief goal was to reach the state of Eudaemonia, which could be done by following the Stoic cardinal virtues: Prudence, Justice, Courage and Temperance.
None of these traits are toxic.
They help us work together to create a better world.
Conclusion
Stoicism is not a toxic philosophy.
Stoicism is an empowering philosophy which brings hope to people during hardships. Many people attribute Stoic philosophy to giving them courage during tough times. Such people include George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, Ralph Waldo Emerson and countless more.
Ignore the nonsense about Stoicism being a toxic philosophy. Stoicism is valuable, and you should begin practising today.
Do this, and you will be one step closer to living and dying well.