The Stoic Response

A stoic doesn’t view events as “something that happened to me”. It is both wrong and ineffective for a stoic to react as such. These events merely occurred, and a stoic knows this. Take the coronavirus pandemic as an example. The world has been crushed by a virus largely dependent on people for transmission. The virus has grown to effectively prey on our best human qualities, especially our desire to gather and be merry together. While there has been a scientific response, it hasn’t been clear and the advice throughout the course of the pandemic has been muddled and often incorrect. In that same breath, the helpful advice rooted in science and cemented with factual information has been challenged on every level, including from many in the White House of the United States. How does a Stoic respond to this? It’s hard to look at death, financial destruction, and social lockdowns as sources of opportunity or personal growth. The stoic understands the potential negatives of every situation, but in accordance with nature, must act within their own control. Their response must be clear and calculated, so as to avoid the temptations of destructive behaviors and subsequent harmful actions. With a clear mind and a full heart comes a clear and helpful response for everyone. There is no “good” or “bad” here, in the externals beyond our control. The communal responsibly to act in this manner is within oneself and is wholly controllable. This is how a Stoic responds.