The Banquet of Life

People nowadays use the word stoic to describe someone who can endure pain and suffering, without showing much or any emotions or nagging about it. And in something rare in philosophy, the modern usage of the word is actually linked to the original meaning.

Stoicism is a Hellenistic school of philosophy, founded by Zeno of Citium in the early 3rd century BC. Most famous practitioners of this philosophy include Epictetus, Seneca, and the great Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius.

This lasting philosophy holds that virtue is true happiness, and because of this, a sage is immune to misfortune. Stoicism doesn’t deal with much theorizing and complex ideas, its core is quite simple, human beings cannot fully control the world and outcomes produced in it but they can control how they react to these outcomes. Action is what concerned the Stoics, mere words and aphorisms mean nothing if the philosopher isn’t practicing the good life.

Stoicism has few central doctrines, most importantly the idea that the world is unpredictable and the we must prepare for it. We must be strong, calm, and patient, and always keep in mind that life is quite brief. Most importantly we should learn that dissatisfaction lies in our incapability to control our urges, desires, and not knowing how to react properly in difficult situations.

Stoic philosophy is not just a set of beliefs or ethical claims, but in a way a lifestyle, and a mindset involving constant practice and training, following the practice of logic, Socratic dialogue and self-dialogue, contemplation of death, and meditation aimed at training one’s mind to remain in the present moment.

An important aspect of Stoicism involves improving one’s ethical and moral being by having a will which is in accordance to Nature. The Stoics believed that living according to reason and virtue is to live in harmony with the divine order of the universe, while recognizing the common reason and essential value of all people. They therefore promoted Egalitarianism, and, unusually for their day, encouraged the acceptance of even slaves as equals on the grounds that all are the “sons of God”. They also denied the importance of external differences such as status and wealth in social relationships.

The most famous and prominent Stoic leaders are as stated before, Epictetus, Seneca, and Marcus Aurelius. Each one of these philosophers offered new ways to help people get through the hardships of life, with brilliant words and aphorisms.

Epictetus overcame the horrors of slavery, ending up founding his own school which led to teaching many of Romes greatest minds. Seneca, the man who was charged with suicide by Nero, was concerned with consoling his wife and friends. And of course, Marcus Aurelius, one of the greatest leaders in his time, spent a good portion of his time in meditation writing brilliant pages calling for compassion, patience, and restraint.

Epictetus was born a slave at about A.D. 55 in Hierapolis, Phrygia, located in the eastern borders of the Roman Empire. Early in his life he had a passion for philosophy, and with permission from his owner, he studied Stoic philosophy under the master Gaius Musonius Rufus. After Nero’s death — the fifth Roman emperor who ruled with tyranny and cruelty — Epictetus began to teach philosophy in Rome and then later in Greece where he founded a philosophical school teaching Stoicism — among his students was the future emperor of Rome, Marcus Aurelius.

According to Epictetus, what hurts us often isn’t outside occurrences happening to them, no matter how depressing or hard they may be, it only affects us as much as we let it. Being patient and learning restraint helps us, react better to misfortunes, accepting them and understanding the causes and how to resolve such issues. One should especially master controlling anger, as it is a very toxic feeling. What angers you controls you, you become its slave, free yourself from the chains of anger to live a free life.

One of the most accurate and concise ways in describing Stoicism in a nutshell, is Epictetus’ metaphor of life as a banquet. The great philosopher goes on to say:

“Remember that you must behave as at a banquet. Is anything brought round to you? Put out your hand, and take a moderate share. Does it pass you? Do not stop it. Is it not come yet? Do not yearn in desire towards it, but wait till it reaches you. So with regard to children , wife, office, riches; and you will some time or other be worthy to feast with the gods. And if you do not so much as take the things which are set before you, but are able even to forego them, then you will not only be worthy to feast with the gods, but to rule with them also. For, by thus doing, Diogenes and Heraclitus, and others like them, deservedly became divine, and were so recognized.”

― Epictetus, The Enchiridion

Epictetus’ metaphor here is quite simple, advising people to behave and go through life as if they were at a banquet. When sitting at a banquet, one awaits the offer of food, and when presented, takes a moderate share, and then passes it to another guest. One should not seem eager for what’s to come, it’s considered impolite at a banquet, and impatient and needy in life.

Happiness sometimes is described as life without any heavy attachment to material things, or even emotional things. Being a stoic does not mean being emotionless, it does not mean suppressing one’s feelings too. Stoicism is the art of patience and hard work, if one wants something he works for it; if he does not acquire it he should not grief, but understand that this is a part of life, and that this was not meant to happen.

Regarding life as a banquet means regarding life as a short and temporary phase. Stoicism teaches us not to let things and events take control and dictate how we react.

Stoicism if one may say is a philosophy for the real world, outside the world of sophisticated language and complex theories. It has a clear path and aim, it is like a guide through the tribulations of life, even more so in these modern times. Stoicism is a series of reminders, tips and aids for living a good and virtuous life ultimately achieving happiness along this journey.