Marcus Aurelius and the Later Stoics - College of Stoic Philosophers

"uCHAPTER IITHE STOIC PHILOSOPHER"ANALYSIS1. Greek Philosophy (in the sphere of conduct) is foreign in itsorigin, and abstentionist ; aims at discovering a Law or aUnity beyond conventional Sanctions and the City -State.2. Classical Greek temper delights in variety ;but Greek Thoughtdesires a Unity, which as beyond the Multiple, becomes pureNegation.3. Philosophical Quietism in contrast to vigorous democratic life.4. Disappointment of the Sage who in the supposed new domain ofFreedom encounters resistance and incalculable forces.5. A Practicalachieved in the political world by AlexUnity"ander and by Augustus; Roman aristocrats,condemned toidleness and introspection by the new government, join theparty of abstention and indifference.6. Their "Supreme Unity," at first Fate or Destiny, and implyingfutility of endeavour, becomes a religion of devotional yetdespairing Theism.7. Roman Philosophy as Syncretist and Eclectic; with littleemphasis on Absolute Truth, and much on casuistry and individual needs ; the dogmatic materialist becomes an agnosticand a mystic.8. Chieffeatures of the eclectic writers in the first two centuries,Christian and Pagan.% 9. Concentration on the Inner Life as the sole reality.10. Stoical doctrine transformed according to personal character ofits chief Roman exponents, Seneca, Epictetus, and MarcusAurelius.1. GREEK Philosophy cannot be called a nativeproduct of Greek soil, or a spontaneous and original18