Abstract
This paper discusses the meaning, history, and refining of Stoicism, starting in 300 BCE and continuing until today. Also, this paper mentions Stoic Logic and Stoic Ethics, as well as provides examples. It will analyze self-preservation and how Stoic philosophy believes that a person should preserve their rational being first and foremost, over their physical being (Sellars, 2014). The paper will lightly mention suicide and how several of the early Stoic philosophers committed suicide, as they believed it would be the best way for them to protect their rational being (Sellars, 2014). Furthermore, Stoicism and Hedonism will be mentioned in comparison. Stoicism believes in serving the public, as Hedonism believes in staying within a small group of friends (Banks, 2017). Lastly, the paper will discuss Natural Law, and how Thomas Jefferson used Stoic philosophy to influence his passage in the Declaration of Independence (Simon & Nice, 1997). By the end of this paper, the reader should have a clear picture of what Stoicism is, and how it is related to criminal justice.
Stoicism and its Application to the Criminal Justice System
Stoicism is the belief that “good and evil depend on the self,” and that others have power in events that can affect another person (Banks, 2017, p. 380). However, if a person can ignore those events, power cannot be exercised over another. Stoicism is an ethical theory that has been around since the death of Alexander the Great (Banks, 2017). Prior to Christianity, Romans believed stoicism was the main moral philosophy to follow (Banks, 2017). Stoicism has progressed and refined over time from its beginning by Zeno, in 300 BCE (Banks, 2017 & Sellars 2014). Unlike other ethical theories, like hedonism and ethical egoism, stoicism has a present-day influence on moral belief (Banks, 2017).
Greek Influence on Stoicism
During the Hellenistic period, Alexander the Great assumed ruling from his father, Phillip, who had placed Greece under Macedonian rule (Banks, 2017). This led to the transformation from Greek city-states to an empire (Banks, 2017). While this occurred, Greek language, civilization, and philosophy spread throughout the Mediterranean (Banks, 2017). Because of the new unified empire, philosophical thought transformed from the idea of small communities to one single entity (Banks, 2017). City-states were no more, and neither was the community based social organization (Banks, 2017). This led to the creation of new religions and philosophies, so that people could feel a sense of citizenship in this new empire (Banks, 2017). Stoicism and Epicureanism were developed (Banks, 2017).
The term “Stoics” gained its meaning in 300 BCE, when Zeno and other philosophers met around the “Painted Stoa” in Agora, Athens (Sellars, 2014). They met in the center of the city, and attracted a great audience (Sellars, 2014). The Stoics offered advice in the changing world, to the people who gathered to hear (Banks, 2017). Zeno was succeeded by Cleanthes, who was then succeeded by Chrysippus (Banks, 2017 & Sellars, 2014). Other Stoic philosophers had contributed to the changing theory of Stoicism, over time (Banks, 2017).
Understanding Stoicism
Epictetus explains that within Stoicism, all things are either within ones’ power, or are not (Banks, 2017). He continues by saying within ones’ power is their “thought, impulse, will to get and will to avoid, and, in a word, everything which is in our own doing” (Banks, 2017,
p.380). Things that are not in ones’ own doing, such as reputation, property, body, and office, are thing that are not in ones’ power (Banks, 2017). In short, Epictetus says that if a person has good character and will, external forces will not destroy that person (Banks, 2017). Stoics except whatever happens, happens (Banks, 2017).
“All that happens in the world is fixed according to some preconceived divine plan, and nothing happens by chance” (Banks, 2017, p. 380). Stoics believe that there is a reason for everything that happens, and that it is for their best interest (Banks, 2017). Stoics live life according to nature: human nature and the nature of the universe (Banks, 2017). Accepting what happens, avoids frustration (Banks, 2017). A person who cannot accept what happens, and tries to change fate, is a person who is not free. According to Stoics, death, is predestined for one by God, and therefore is good (Banks, 2017). The goal for Stoics, is reach a state of mind, where one is not vulnerable to desire or feeling (Banks, 2017). Stoic philosophers have divided the philosophical discourse into logic, physics, and ethics (Sellars, 2014).
Logic
In philosophy, logic focuses on logos, which is “reason, language, or argument” (Sellars, 2014, p.55). Specifically, it includes formal and rhetorical arguments, speech, philosophy of language and truth, grammar, and dialect (Sellars, 2014). Logic is comprised of dialect and rhetoric; other Stoic philosophers also included definition and canonic (Sellars, 2014). Logic was mainly defined by Chrysippus, as little of Zeno’s logic is known (Gourinat, 2009). Zeno coined the term “cataleptic” or “katalepsis,” which was translated to “criterion of truth” or “comprehensio” (Gourinat, 2009, p.6). This led to the legacy of Stoic philosophical vocabulary and grammar, which was the foundation of Alexandrian grammar, where modern grammar is derived from today (Gourinat, 2009).
Ethics
The goal of Stoicism is to follow nature (Gourinat, 2009). Self-preservation is the longing or drive for all animals and human beings (Sellars, 2014). The most important thing to a person is their presence and continuance. A person will base their decisions off what they think is in their best interest and try to evade what they think will be bad (Sellars, 2014). Although somewhat selfish, this is the foundation for all Stoic ethics (Sellars, 2014). For example, a soldier is captured as a prisoner of war. The enemy interrogates the soldier for information and threatens his life. If the soldier were to give the information up to the enemy, to stay alive, the soldier has destroyed his being as an “independent rational being” (Sellars, 2014). If the soldier were to withhold the information from the enemy, even though not alive, it will contribute to his self-preservation. As a rational person, the soldier should stand up to the enemy, even if he were to lose his life.
The aspect of self-preservation in Stoic theory brings about the topic of suicide (Sellars, 2014). It is said that suicide may be the most appropriate act for a person, if it is to preserve them as a rational being (Sellars, 2014). Many early Stoics, such as Cato, Zeno, and Cleanthes, took their own life, as they saw it as the only rational action (Sellars, 2014). Although a person would want to preserve their physical existence, Stoic thought is to preserve yourself as a
rational being first (Sellars, 2014).
Stoicism and Hedonism
Stoics believe in serving the community and public involvement (Banks, 2017; Simon & Nice, 1997). For example, police officers, teachers, priests, and other individuals serve their community through their work, on a day to day basis. However, Hedonism focuses on withdrawing from the public-life, and putting focus on a group of like-minded friends (Banks,
2017). Both ethical theories explain how to deal with circumstances that are beyond our control (Banks, 2017). Additionally, both explain that ones’ character cannot be disconnected from their actions.
Stoic Influence and Criminal Justice
A part of Stoic philosophy, is to believe in natural law (Simon & Nice, 1997). The Stoic emphasis on natural law, which stated that there were universal principles guiding human existence, had predisposed many political thinkers in early centuries (Simon &Nice, 1997). For example, Thomas Jefferson used Seneca’s writings for moral direction when writing his passage in the Declaration of Independence (Simon & Nice, 1997). Jefferson says in the passage “all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights,” and further goes on to reference “Laws of Nature and Nature’s God” (Simon & Nice, 1997).
Natural law provides a standard for evaluating policies and practices (Simon & Nice, 1997).
Conclusion
In conclusion, Stoicism is the belief that “good and evil depend on the self,” and that others have power in events that can affect another person (Banks, 2017, p. 380). Stoicism is an ethical theory that has been around since the death of Alexander the Great (Banks, 2017). Stoic beliefs have progressed and refined over time from its beginning by Zeno, in 300 BCE (Banks, 2017 & Sellars 2014). Unlike other ethical theories, like hedonism and ethical egoism, stoicism has a present-day influence on moral belief (Banks, 2017). Stoicism influences the criminal justice field, in that Stoic philosophy was a resource used by Thomas Jefferson, while writing the Declaration of Independence (Simon & Nice, 1997). Additionally, Stoic philosophy believes in serving the public, as do the police officers in our communities, and the judges whom sit in our courts (Simon & Nice, 1997).
References
Banks, C. (2017). Criminal Justice Ethics: Theory and Practice. Los Angeles: SAGE.
Gourinat, J.-B. (2009). Stoicism Today. Iris: European Journal of Philosophy & Public Debate,
1(2), 497-5511. Retrieved from https://saintleo.idm.oclc.org/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=tru e&db=hlh&AN=47365081&site=ehostlive&scope=site
Sellars, J. (2006). Stoicism. Durham [England]: Routledge. Retrieved from https://saintleo.idm.oclc.org/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=tru e&db-nlebk&AN-924387&site-ehostlive&scope=site
Simon, C. A., & Nice, D. C. (1997, June). Stoicism: relevant applications for contemporary public administration. American Review of Public Administration, 27(2), 168+. Retrieved from http://link.galegroup.com.saintleo.idm.oclc.org/apps/doc/A19621800/PPPM?u=sain1121
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