The Concept of Lasting Happiness in Terms of Stoicism and Skepticism

For centuries, humanity has been digging and searching for the answer to one simple question: What is happiness? One would think, after this long, that humans would have this definition down pat. After generations and generations of searching, we should surely have an answer by now- a calculated algorithm, a simple step by step process that we can look at and say, “now that is the path to true happiness. ” Unfortunately, such is not the case. Philosophers still ponder and disagree about where genuine, lasting happiness can be found. Two major theories that seek to address this issue are stoicism and skepticism. While there is value in stoicism, true lasting happiness is most attainable through the practice of skepticism.

Skepticism proves to be more realistic than stoicism, accounts for the difference of opinion across all humanity, and allows its followers to experience emotions more completely. Stoicism is a school of philosophy explained in “Handbook of Epictetus”. Stoicism is a way of looking at life, based on the idea that happiness is found through the freedom from suffering. According to Epictetus, one can be freed from suffering by dividing reality into two parts: things that can be controlled and things that cannot be controlled. The things that I can control are only the things that belong completely to myself, things such as my thoughts, desires, and emotions. Everything else in the world does not belong to me and therefore cannot be controlled. According to the stoics, if it is not mine, then it is God’s, and God will take action and make judgements as He sees fit. “Never say about anything, ‘I have lost it, ’ but instead, ‘I have given it back. ’… How does the way the giver asked for it back concern you? As long as he give it, take care of it as something that is not your own”.

Stoicism challenges its followers to view their earthly possessions and belongings as gifts that they are borrowing. If I know that the gift is not mine to keep, then I will be able to accept when it is taken away from me. This acceptance and indifference towards the external world will lead to complete freedom from all suffering. By taking control of my thoughts and desires, and aligning them with nature, I will never be upset, angry, or disappointed with what happens to me, because I understand that those things are out of my control. According to stoic ideals, suffering occurs when one’s thoughts clash with nature. If I am able to follow these ideals closely, stoics claim that I will live a life of perfect peace and serenity.

Skepticism is another school of philosophy explored by Hume in his essay “The Skeptic. ” Hume claims that too many philosophers try to find an underlying principle of all things, and argues nature is much too diverse to be categorized within one characteristic. Skepticism is based on the idea that there are no intrinsic values. “No objects are, in themselves, desirable or odious, valuable or despicable, but that objects acquire these qualities from the particular character and constitution of the mind which surveys them”. The values in any object are not intrinsic to the object itself, but rather are the projected feelings of people. These values are subjective and relative to every person, because what one may like might be strongly disliked by another. Skeptics believe that life is strongly controlled by fortune, or luck. A person is randomly given a life and set of characteristics, and from that moment his or her life will unravel according to the life they have. The greatest luck goes to those who happen to be virtuous, when doing good things comes naturally to them. Accepting that value is relative, and that beauty is in the eye of the beholder is what skeptics claim will lead to true happiness in life. Skepticism allots for the different opinions, beliefs, and experiences of all people in a more absolute way than stoicism.

Skepticism is based on the great diversity of the world, and mankind is one of the most diverse things within it. The music that I love and think it amazing sounds like nails on a chalkboard to one of my peers. The delicacies that people in Kuwait salivate over do not sound appetizing to me in the least. Skepticism embraces the fact that there are no absolutes in the world. Even powerful things like good and evil are relative to the perceiver. Things perceived by the general public as horrendous and evil are not that way to everyone. To Hitler, he was enacting a necessary plan to rise to power. To members of Al Qaeda, they are waging a just war on the enemies of their God. In the modern world, there are countless theories, beliefs, and opinions. It is the reality of the world that abstract concepts such as good, evil, beauty, and hate are not inherent, and we project values onto concepts and things as we see fit. Accepting this notion makes it more inclusive, and therefore a better path to happiness. Skepticism embraces this notion, and its inclusivity of all humankind makes it more appropriate in the modern world.

Additionally, skepticism promotes the idea of withholding belief until there is proper evidence. Where stoicism teaches acceptance and easygoingness, skepticism says that one should embrace desire and emotion, but only after close examination. Hume criticizes the stoics for being too eager to find one underlying principle to all things, and argues that nature is too diverse. Skepticism looks and the world and recognizes that while everyone sees an object differently, it is important to see the object for what is really is, and to not get mixed up with the perceptions of others. In my psychology class, we are currently studying the concept of reason and thought. Something we have discussed at length is the idea of pre-reflective thinking and how it is harmful to society. Pre-reflective thinking comes from persons who do not seek to find evidence to support their beliefs; they do not distinguish their thoughts from knowledge and assumption. This unfavorable mindset seems to be what Hume warns his readers about in “The Skeptic. ” “When a philosopher has once laid hold of a favorite principle, which perhaps accounts for many natural effects, he extends the same principle over the whole creation and reduces to it every phenomenon, though by the most violent and absurd reasoning”. These philosophers have fallen victim to pre-reflective thinking, and mistakenly assume that aspects of the world fit their principle, when this is not true.

The opposite of pre-reflective thinking is reflective thinking. Reflective thinking comes when a person is able to distinguish opinion from judgement, and can consider evidence from various sources. This reflective thinking is the epitome of skepticism. Skeptics urge their followers to consider all the possible options and recognize that judgment is subjective to the perceiver. This reflective thinking shows how questioning the world around can in fact bring a person to true happiness. When a person is selective with his or her judgement and examines an idea before accepting it, he or she will naturally become more in tune with the world, and will be able to distinguish subjective value from objective principles. This ability to discern fact from belief puts a person on the path to lasting happiness and success. One of the pitfalls of stoicism is that it is rather unattainable to the everyday citizen. Stoicism sets the bar extremely high- a life of indifference, little emotion, and a constant state of guarding your heart. “If by close and intense meditation we render them present and intimate to us, that is the true secret for poisoning all our pleasures and rendering us perpetually miserable”. The stoic lifestyle is a very tricky lifestyle indeed. Unless a stoic can master its principles to a tee, this lifestyle will render a follower simply miserable and confused rather than filled with peace and serenity.

Another issue I see with stoicism is that the very principle of acceptance and indifference not only prevents the pain that comes with suffering and grief, but also prevents the elation and bliss that comes with all-consuming love and passion. I believe that the highs are worth the lows; times of suffering are the price we pay for the times of joy and happiness. These highs and lows are like riding a rollercoaster, where the car has to hit a low before it can soar to a high. Stoicism is no rollercoaster; stoicism is walking on pavement.

While it is true that it is much safer to walk on the pavement, I myself would much rather ride the roller coaster. As one can clearly see, there is value in the school of stoicism; however, skepticism provides the most attainable path to lasting happiness. Where stoicism preaches indifference and detachment, skepticism encourages humanity to embrace desire and pleasure, as long as we recognize that these values are subjective and relative to each person. In today’s modern society, more people should look to skepticism like a light in the dark, and use its principles as a guide to lasting happiness in a world that is constantly changing and adapting.