The Stoic Creed - College of Stoic Philosophers

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238 THE STOIC CREED
moment. It has distinct significance as Theory of
Knowledge. To that we need not return.
But, looking back on its ethical and religious teach
ing, outlined in Chapters VIII. to XI., we may well
ask, What, in this teaching, is of permanent value, and
has special interest for the present day ?
The answer to this question has been given from
various points of view ;
two of them, in particular,
characteristic of recent times. First, high authorities
have commended Stoicism as an antidote to,
or a sub-
for, systematic organized religion especially,
for the Christian religion, whose pronounced supernaturalism
and doctrinal theology had become offensive.
Secondly, it has seemed to some that, without in any
way affecting people s attitude towards the Christian
religion, Stoicism may very properly be studied for its
practical counsels and wise moral precepts. It was,
doubtless, for some such reason as the second of these
that Lord Avebury (then Sir John Lubbock), not very
many years ago, when recommending to the College of
Working Men in London "the Hundred best Books,"
included in his list Marcus Aurelius s Meditations and
the Encheiridion of Epictetus. With this practical
ethical view, we may readily enough sympathize and
;
it does not seem necessary to dwell upon
it. What
ever can help one, whether Christian or not, in the
effort to live a higher life, to make character stronger
and conduct purer, may very safely be recommended
for study and assimilation. Stoicism, especially in its
later phases, can undoubtedly do this in a very marked
degree.