Parallels between Western and Eastern philosophies abound and can be explained by their independent observation of human nature (which is universal). A particularly interesting case is that of Stoicism vs Confucianism - two schools of thought that place personal virtue at the core of human existence, yet differ in their approaches to achieving it.
This post will explore the basic tenets of Stoicism and Confucianism with an emphasis on their individual definition of virtue, then highlight the similarities and differences in what they consider to be a life led in its pursuit. Finally, we will look at how a Stoic and a Confucian would approach the same everyday dilemma to better understand the implications of adopting one philosophy over the other.
Ready? Let’s get started.
What is Virtue according to the Stoics?
In Stoicism, virtue (arete) is considered the highest good and thus the only worthwhile human pursuit. The term is used to signify moral excellence and Stoicism asserts that virtue is sufficient for happiness and is entirely within our control, unlike external goods like wealth, reputation, or even health.
Leading a virtuous life according to the Stoics necessarily implies being aligned with nature and reason, as well as with the other the four cardinal virtues (wisdom, courage, justice, and temperance).
To obtain arete, you should use:
Wisdom - to make rational decisions and separate what is and isn’t within your control
Courage - to face challenges without fear and act morally regardless of the difficulty of doing so
Justice - to treat others fairly, kindly and respectfully, and
Temperance - to control your desires and impulses, thus allowing reason to prevail over them.
(I’ve also written a more detailed explanation of the Stoic virtues, as well as an introduction to Stoic philosophy, so check out those posts to learn more.)
If you choose to make the pursuit of virtue your overarching goal, you will be handsomely rewarded, since you will attain tranquility (apatheia) and freedom from suffering (ataraxia), which will lead to a state of inner peace and contentment.
Having examined the Stoic view of the problem, let’s see what Confucians think of when they talk about virtue.
What is Virtue in Confucianism?
Confucians believe that attaining virtue is a life-long pursuit that involves constant learning and self-improvement. Education (studying the classics and taking the example of wise people) is seen as a key tool for moral development, as is filial piety (respect and care for one’s elders).
Practicing rituals and a constant awareness of one’s conduct in society are also important ways in which scholars can develop their moral character. In this context, appropriate conduct involves respecting social hierarchies (for example that between ruler and subject, parent and child) and fulfilling one’s duties within them.
Five different behaviors form the foundation of Confucian virtue:
benevolence (ren) - which encourages us to be kind and compassionate towards others,
righteousness (yi) - which advocates for doing the right thing no matter the circumstances,
ritual propriety (li) - which implies following social norms and maintaining social order,
wisdom (zhi) - which fosters the acquisition of knowledge as stepping stone to virtue, and
integrity (xin) - which relies on being reliable and keeping your word.
Confucians believe that following these rules of conduct will lead to a harmonious society, as well as the attainment of personal moral excellence.
Stoicism vs Confucianism: Meeting Points
Despite underscoring the importance of different values as a basis for developing a moral character, both Stoicism and Confucianism point to the pursuit of virtue as a means to live a good life.
Both schools of thought advocate for self-control and continuous self-improvement as well as for gaining an understanding of one’s place in the grand scheme of things: the Universe for Stoics, society and family for Confucians.
Furthermore, both philosophies encourage their disciples to accept their reality - what is outside of one’s control (Stoicism), one’s role in society (Confucianism) and to not fight against them.
With a deep focus on ethical conduct, Stoicism and Confucianism have a lot in common. To better understand the unique perspective they provide, it’s time to turn towards their differences.
Stoicism vs Confucianism: Dividing Lines
Stoicism and Confucianism differ in two important ways: in what they deliver to their practitioner (broad moral guidelines and food for thought vs. a pre-established code of conduct) and the emphasis they place on either the individual or society more broadly. Here’s what I mean by that:
Philosophy vs Ideology
An important difference between the two schools of thought is that Stoicism is considered a life philosophy, while Confucianism is broadly regarded as an ideology. The terms are often used interchangeably, but are not identical. Here’s why.
Philosophy is a discipline that investigates the truths and principles of being, knowledge, or conduct, aiming for wisdom and rational inquiry. It typically doesn't advocate for specific behaviors or actions but instead provides a framework for understanding the world and our place within it.
On the other hand, an ideology is a system of beliefs or ideals, especially one that forms the basis of economic or political theory and policy. It is more prescriptive, often advocating for specific actions or behaviors based on its principles. Critical examination of these prescriptions is generally discouraged, since it is implied that the sage providing these guidelines of behavior was a learned enough person to be equipped to set them for others.
To put it very simply - a philosophy is mostly focused on providing questions and food for thought, while an ideology is more strongly biased towards providing answers.
This is why Confucianism prescribes specific rituals, behaviors, and social responsibilities (such as filial piety), while Stoicism leaves it up to the practitioner to decide what the best way of implementing the philosophy is for their specific situation.
Relationship Between Society and Individual
Another aspect that sets these philosophies apart is their main focus (ie: what they optimize for).
Confucianism emphasizes the importance of fulfilling societal responsibilities above all else, while Stoicism - although a prosocial philosophy that values good personal relationships - places more focus on the individual.
In other words, for a Confucian, the best possible personal situation is a result of a moral, well-functioning society, while for a Stoic, it is a collection of moral individuals that leads to a moral, well-functioning society.
The difference is not simply a pedantic matter for academics to argue about, because it reveals a fundamental difference about what a Stoic vs a Confucian perceive to be their sphere of control.
What Stoicism recognizes is that what other people do - and how they relate to us in a social setting - is not up to us. As long as we have done our best to be moral in our contacts with others, there is nothing else we can do to influence the outcome of those interactions.
This is not to say that a Confucian would compromise their personal integrity in order to fulfill their social duties, but that their priority queue would have them optimize for performing those duties above the moral impetus of questioning their validity.
This difference in priority queue between a practitioner of each philosophy is best illustrated through an example.
A Stoic vs a Confucian in a Real-Life Challenge
Imagine that a Stoic and a Confucian are both laid off from their job during the recession.
The Stoic would gracefully accept the situation and remind themselves that they are not their job before delving into the search for a new one. They would maintain gratitude for the other aspects of their life that have not gone wrong (health, family etc).
On the other hand, a Confucian would likely feel a deep sense of shame at having lost their job, since this implies that they have not fulfilled their societal obligations sufficiently. They would be motivated to quickly find another one so that they can return to making meaningful contributions to the world at large.
While the end result might be the same - both the Stoic and the Confucian embark on a journey towards finding new employment - their internal state differs considerably. The Stoic focuses on their internal state, finding peace in adversity and recognizing that a job is an external, while the Confucian is outwardly-focused, worrying about having jeopardized their place in society and disappointed their elders.
Wrap-Up: Morality is the Ultimate Goal, Regardless of Philosophical Flavor
Whether you believe Confucian ideology is more effective in helping you develop your moral character, or whether you appreciate being prompted with the right questions by Stoic philosophy instead is ultimately up to you.
What is most important is that you set an intention to behave morally in the first place and that you remain committed to this pursuit no matter what challenges you may face in your daily existence.
It goes without saying which of the two schools of thought I adhere to. After all, this website is NOT called the Confucian Optimizer. 😉
Having learned about Stoicism vs Confucianism, you may want to delve deeper into the concept of virtue. You might enjoy reading about the difference between Stoicism and virtue ethics.
And if Eastern philosophy is on your mind, be sure to check out this post about Stoicism vs. Daoism (Taoism) as well.
