This week’s episode is a chapter from my book Stoicism 101. I was able to get permission from my publisher to share a few chapters, so I thought I’d share this one with you. Enjoy!
Virtue: The Sole Good
Quotable Voices
“Of things some are good, some are bad, and others are indifferent. The good then are the virtues and the things which partake of the virtues: the bad are the vices, and the things which partake of them; and the indifferent are the things which lie between the virtues and the vices: wealth, health, life, death, pleasure, pain.”
—Epictetus
Unlike many other philosophical traditions, Stoicism teaches that virtue is not merely an attribute of a person’s character, but the very essence of what it takes to live a good life. The Stoics went so far as to posit that living a life of virtue is not just a means to an end but the end itself—the sole good.
Philosophical Definition
virtue: According to the Stoics, virtue is the highest good and consists of living in accordance with reason and nature. Virtue is the foundation of moral character and the key to true happiness. The Stoics held that there are four cardinal virtues: wisdom (the knowledge of what is good and bad), courage (the ability to face fear and adversity with strength), justice (treating others fairly and acting with moral integrity), and temperance (self-control and moderation in all aspects of life).
Why Virtue?
So why would the Stoics argue that the only good in life is the cultivation of virtue? Wouldn’t being comfortable, wealthy, or famous also lead to a good life? The reason that the Stoics felt that virtue was the only good is because developing one’s virtue is something that is fully under one’s control. Things that are external to you are all things outside of your control. Marcus Aurelius, the Roman emperor and Stoic philosopher, succinctly encapsulates this ethos in his Meditations: “Very little is needed to make a happy life; it is all within yourself, in your way of thinking.”
Contrast with Aristotle’s View of Virtue
Zeno of Citium, the founder of Stoicism, adopted Plato and Aristotle’s idea of the four cardinal virtues as essential for eudaimonia (flourishing or happiness). But the Stoics diverged significantly from Aristotle’s conception of the good life and the role of virtue within it.
Aristotle felt that virtue, while central to his teachings, is not the sole good; rather, it is part of a broader conception of the good life that includes external goods such as wealth, health, and beauty. Aristotle argued that these external goods, while not intrinsically valuable, contribute to a flourishing life when combined with virtuous activity.
The Stoics, on the other hand, argued that external factors—wealth, health, and even life itself—are indifferent to one’s moral character and, therefore, irrelevant to one’s happiness. They neither contribute to nor detract from the moral value of your life but are things against which you can improve your virtue. By developing your ability to live virtuously, you can be impervious to the swings of fortune and find inner tranquility in any situation. Epictetus sums it up succinctly when he says, “Show me a man who is sick and happy, in danger and happy, dying and happy, in exile and happy, in disgrace and happy. Show him: I desire, by the gods, to see a Stoic.”
Why These Virtues?
So why did the Stoics choose these four virtues over all others? For the Stoics, the four cardinal virtues were not just abstract ideals but practical guides for daily conduct and the foundation of ethical living. They help people to manage what is truly within their control—their responses, decisions, and attitudes—thereby fostering resilience, equanimity, and moral clarity, leading to a life that is impervious to external circumstances. Marcus Aurelius explains this in Meditations where he writes: “Take me and cast me where thou wilt; for there I shall keep my divine part tranquil, that is, content, if it can feel and act conformably to its proper constitution.”
Self-Reinforcing
The four cardinal virtues are also self-reinforcing. It takes courage to practice the self-awareness needed to develop wisdom. It takes wisdom and temperance to know how to be courageous without being reckless or cowardly. It takes wisdom, courage, and temperance to apply justice fairly without regard to status or wealth. Each virtue is necessary to help you develop and strengthen your other virtues.
Implications of the Stoic Perspective
The Stoic perspective on virtue as the sole good has profound implications for ethical living. It holds that true contentment and moral excellence lie in one’s character and choices, rather than in the accumulation of external goods or the avoidance of discomfort. Epictetus says, “Is freedom anything else than the power of living as we choose? ‘Nothing else.’” By cultivating a life of virtue, a person strengthens their character, which in turn helps them to weather the ups and downs of life.
By developing virtue, a person can maintain their integrity in all circumstances, not only those that seem to be negative but those that one might consider positive. History is filled with stories of those who gained wealth, power, or fame, and yet ended up squandering their wealth, abusing their power, or finding themselves destitute because of their lack of character. It takes virtue not only to handle failures but also to manage the pitfalls that can come with success.
Stoicism presents a rigorous and transformative vision of the good life, centered on the primacy of virtue. By positing virtue as the sole good, Stoicism offers a stark contrast to what people often believe contributes to a good life. As you navigate the complexities of modern life, the Stoic commitment to virtue as the sole good remains a powerful beacon, guiding you toward integrity, purpose, and peace.
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