Estoicismo

Sat 30 Sep 2017 02:00:50 PM -03

Crítica

  • É uma filosofia aceitável para diagnóstico: aceitar os fatos, nossos limites e a inutilidade das expectativas.

  • No entanto, pode ser conformista: o escravo se acostumar a aceitar ser escravo, senhor a ser senhor.

  • Também pode ser egocêntrica, uma vez que leva à conclusão que uma pessoa só pode contar consigo mesma ou, no limite, com seu próprio pensamento. Na verdade somos completamente dependentes e nada pode ser assumido de antemão. Mas todos e todas estamos nessa, então alianças são fundamentais!

  • Parece, ao mesmo tempo, uma vida medrosa e mesquinha, porque para evitar sofrimentos ela prefere se abster de possíveis alegrias. Somos assim tão frágeis?

  • O estoicismo é útil como parte da bagagem de uma vida simples mas que luta por melhor condições dentro de um meio social. Ela ajuda a lidar com as situações difícieis.

The Enchiridion

                            THE ENCHIRIDION


                                   I

There are things which are within our power, and there are things which
are beyond our power. Within our power are opinion, aim, desire,
aversion, and, in one word, whatever affairs are our own. Beyond our
power are body, property, reputation, office, and, in one word, whatever
are not properly our own affairs.

Now the things within our power are by nature free, unrestricted,
unhindered; but those beyond our power are weak, dependent, restricted,
alien. Remember, then, that if you attribute freedom to things by nature
dependent and take what belongs to others for your own, you will be
hindered, you will lament, you will be disturbed, you will find fault
both with gods and men. But if you take for your own only that which is
your own and view what belongs to others just as it really is, then no
one will ever compel you, no one will restrict you; you will find fault
with no one, you will accuse no one, you will do nothing against your
will; no one will hurt you, you will not have an enemy, nor will you
suffer any harm.

Aiming, therefore, at such great things, remember that you must not allow
yourself any inclination, however slight, toward the attainment of the
others; but that you must entirely quit some of them, and for the present
postpone the rest. But if you would have these, and possess power and
wealth likewise, you may miss the latter in seeking the former; and you
will certainly fail of that by which alone happiness and freedom are
procured.

Seek at once, therefore, to be able to say to every unpleasing semblance,
“You are but a semblance and by no means the real thing.” And then
examine it by those rules which you have; and first and chiefly by this:
whether it concerns the things which are within our own power or those
which are not; and if it concerns anything beyond our power, be prepared
to say that it is nothing to you.

                                  XII

If you would improve, lay aside such reasonings as these: “If I neglect
my affairs, I shall not have a maintenance; if I do not punish my
servant, he will be good for nothing.” For it were better to die of
hunger, exempt from grief and fear, than to live in affluence with
perturbation; and it is better that your servant should be bad than you
unhappy.

Begin therefore with little things. Is a little oil spilled or a little
wine stolen? Say to yourself, “This is the price paid for peace and
tranquillity; and nothing is to be had for nothing.” And when you call
your servant, consider that it is possible he may not come at your call;
or, if he does, that he may not do what you wish. But it is not at all
desirable for him, and very undesirable for you, that it should be in his
power to cause you any disturbance.