Bio: Zeno of Citium was highly influenced by the Cynics. Came from Citium on the island of Cyprus, born in 334BCE. He was a merchant, but then decided to study philosophy. Became the student of Crates. Valued civic duty - having responsibilities in society. Set up his own school in the painted colonnade, or 'stoa poikile' of the Athenian agora. His student Cleanthes succeeded him as head of the school when he died in 262BCE.
Insight: Zeno taught the internalisation of the cynic virtues of self-mastery, and 'apatheia' or indifference to fortune, and facts of life such as ageing, illness, and death.
Insight: Stoicism was founded by Zeno of Citium in the third century BCE.
Insight: Stoicism derives its name from the Greek word 'stoa' which means porch, which is where Zeno first taught is students.
Insight: Zeno taught that virtue is happiness, and that our perceptions of things - rather than the things themselves - are what drive our well-being.
Insight: Stoicism teaches that we cannot control anything outside of our reasoned choice - which includes how we think about and respond to external events.
Bio: 333-264BCE.
Insight: According to the stoic school there exists a fire or breath (pneutua) in the natural world that produces a rational and morally good order (kosnios). This natural law can be grasped through right reasoning, with a community of moral beings called a cosnropolis.
Insight: Stoicism, the indifference to hardship or pain, was founded and taught by Zeno of Citium (335-263BCE) in Athens.
Insight: Stoicism derives its name from the 'Stoa Poikile' or painted porch where Zeno taught.
Insight: Zeno believed that virtue, based on reason involves living in harmony with fate, and that we should free ourselves from passion and emotion.
Bio: Founder of the stoic school. Taught that nature is reality, that we must use our capacity for reason and accept things that we have no control over, and control that which we do - including our emotions and response to things.
Insight: Zeno believed that virtue is sufficient to ensure happiness and the good life.
Bio: 335-263BCE. Came to Athens in 313BCE. Founder of the Stoic school c. 300BCE. Studied under Crates the Cynic, Antisthenes, Zenocrates, Polemo. Began teaching in the 'stoa' or painted porch in the agora in Athens, which is where the name Stoicism derives from.
Insight: Founder of the Stoic school.
Bio: Studied under Polemo, and Cynic philosopher Crates. Cleanthes and Chrysippus followed as heads of the Stoic school. None of Zeno's writing has survived.
Insight: Stoicism got its name because Zeno of Citium did his teaching in a public porch, or stoa, in the agora of Athens.
Bio: Travelled to Athens in 313BCE, and decided to devote his life to philosophy. Student of Cynic Crates of Thebes. Cynicism had a big influence on Zeno. Became a teacher at the agora of Athens, in the painted porch or 'stoa', which is how Stoicism got its name. Zeno was the founder of Stoicism.
Bio: Zeno began studying philosophy with the Cynics. Cynicism did not give Zeno a sense of well-being so founded the school of Stoicism. Taught that there is nothing wrong with enjoying life's pleasures, as long as they do not take control of your life, and you are prepared for them to disappear.
Insight: One goal of stoicism, taught but Zeno, is to eliminate negative emotions.
Bio: Founded stoicism around 300BCE. Taught in the 'Stoa Poikile' (painted porch), which is where stoicism derives its name. Influenced by the Cynics. Teachings placed emphasis on wisdom and virtue.
Insight: Stoicism derives its name from 'Stoa' (painted porch) where Zeno of Citium (334-262BCE) started teaching philosophy. His philosophy focused on mental control, with the basic idea of focusing mental capacity on what we can control and ignoring the rest.
Bio: 333-261BCE. The first stoic. Zeno's father was a merchant, bought back philosophy books for Zeno to read. Zeno found himself in Athens as a result of a shipwreck, met Crates the Cynic and became his pupil. It is said that Zeno commented "I made a prosperous voyage when I suffered shipwreck." Started teaching philosophy at the "porches" in Athens - the Stoa - which is where the name Stoicism comes from.
Bio: Founder of Stoicism in Athens in third century BCE.
Key Insights & Principles
Stoicism
Zeno of Citium was highly influenced by the Cynics, including his teacher Crates.
Stoicism derives its name from "Stoa Poikile", or painted porch, which is where Zeno of Citium started teaching his philosophy in the Athenian agora in the 3rd century BCE.
Zeno taught the cynic virtues of self-mastery, and indifference to things external to one's control including fortune, ageing, illness, and death.
Zeno taught that virtue is happiness, and well-being is often derived from our perception to things, rather than the things themselves.
Stoicism teaches that we cannot control anything outside our reasoned choice, only how we respond to external events.
Stoicism philosophy believes that the natural world produces a rational and naturally good order, which we can understand through our reasoning.
There is nothing wrong with enjoying the pleasures of life, as long as they do not take control of it, and that you are prepared for them to disappear.
One goal of stoicism is to eliminate negative emotions.
