Stoic response: Does ancient thinker hold the secret to coping with lockdown?
Adventurer Aldo Kane is far from alone in seeking the calming wisdom of Marcus Aurelius during the pandemic. Stoicism has enjoyed a resurgence thanks to books like How to Think Like A Roman Emperor: The Stoic Philosophy Of Marcus Aurelius and The Daily Stoic. And Aurelius’ book, Meditations, penned two millennia ago, sold 100,000 copies last year. Aurelius practised Stoicism and, despite living in a crumbling empire beset with unrest and disease, was famed for remaining tranquil, wise and committed to putting his people first. “Stoics believed that turmoil of ordinary life could be made less troubling if you could control your emotional responses, by disciplining your body and your emotions, and by focusing on higher truths,” said Matthew Fox, professor of classics at Glasgow University. The events of the past year have driven ordinary people towards Stoicism which, according to Professor Fox, values self-improvement, mental discipline and a non-religious spirituality.
It’s a philosophy that influenced Christianity, and itself was influenced by philosophies from the East. “There are plenty of people promulgating Stoicism on platforms like Reddit, I’m told,” he added.”
The world of Marcus Aurelius was remarkably similar to our own in some ways but, according to Professor Fox, it’s worth remembering Aurelius could afford to stroke his chin and remain dispassionate from the comfort of a marbled Roman palace. Modern self-help techniques used by the NHS, such as cognitive behavioural therapy, share similarities with Stoicism. “Still, these are unsettled times, and some people are clearly finding Stoicism works for them,” Professor Fox added.