In your personal development journey, you may have stumbled upon Stoicism and Existentialism - two very influential philosophies that have shaped countless lives over the centuries. Since they have a lot in common, you may be struggling to decide which one will help you uncover life’s meaning faster and more deeply. This post will compare and contrast their approaches to life, shedding light on why people often mistakenly lump them together.
After a brief theoretical exploration, we'll analyze how a Stoic and an Existentialist might navigate a real-life scenario. Then, we’ll try to give a definitive answer to which of these philosophies might serve you better in your personal growth journey and why. Fasten your seatbelts; this is a philosophical ride you don’t want to miss!
Stoicism in a Nutshell
Stoicism is an ancient philosophical tradition founded by Zeno of Citium in Athens in the 3rd century BC and later developed through the teachings of Epictetus, Marcus Aurelius and Seneca.
Virtue ethics lies at the foundation of Stoicism, and Stoics believe that a meaningful life is one lived in the pursuit of virtue, manifested through wisdom, courage, justice, and temperance (the 4 cardinal virtues of Stoicism).
Perhaps the most influential Stoic concept is the Dichotomy of Control: the idea that many of the events in our lives are not up to us, but that in spite of this, we do have control over how we respond to those events.
In light of the Dichotomy of Control, for a Stoic, inner peace and contentment come from accepting the world as it is and doing their best to behave in line with reason and moral virtue.
Existentialism in Brief
Existentialism emerged in the 20th century and is a philosophical movement centered on the individual and their subjective experience of the world. At the heart of existential thought is the belief that life has no prescribed meaning, and that it is up to each individual to create their own purpose.
Existentialists posit that we are "condemned to be free," meaning that we are thrown into existence, and then bear the responsibility for making sense of our life and the world around us. Key figures of existentialism include Søren Kierkegaard, Friedrich Nietzsche, Jean-Paul Sartre, and Albert Camus, among others.
Existentialists believe that we are the architects of the meaning of our life through the choices we make, and that we should strive to live authentically. They also discuss themes like freedom, authenticity, despair, absurdity, and death, all the while asserting the primacy of individual existence, choice, and personal responsibility.
(Note: Existentialism and Nihilism are NOT the same thing - Nihilism completely rejects the idea that life has any meaning. I will briefly talk about how Nihilism, Existentialism and Stoicism differ later in the post, so stay tuned.)
Stoicism and Existentialism: Similarities
Having looked at the main characteristics of Stoicism and Existentialism, it’s time to take a look at their similarities. Let's uncover these common threads, shall we?
Personal Responsibility
Although they express this idea in different ways, both Stoicism and Existentialism believe that as human beings, we have full agency over our lives.
For Stoics, proof of this agency is found in our inalienable ability to control our responses to life events regardless of circumstances, while Existentialists see the human condition as being characterized by “radical freedom”.
Whether you’re a Stoic or an Existentialist, the facts of the matter are the same: there are no excuses or external factors to blame; you are entirely responsible for your actions and for who you become.
Authenticity
Closely linked to the theme of agency is the concept of authenticity, which both philosophies engage deeply with.
Since they do not believe in the existence of a predetermined meaning of life, Existentialists encourage us to create our own values and live in accordance with them, embracing the freedom and the accompanying existential angst of forging our own path.
Stoics, too, prize authenticity, but frame it a little differently. For a Stoic, being authentic means living in harmony with nature (including your own nature, i.e.: personality) and with reason, for doing otherwise would go against human nature.
Living in the Present
As a consequence of taking full responsibility for our lives and living them authentically, both philosophies advocate for living in the present.
This stance is fundamentally about accepting reality and making conscious choices - for Stoics in service of virtue, for Existentialists in order to give our lives meaning. It is, however, important to note that for Stoics there is a mindfulness component to living in the present, while for Existentialists refusing to do so is simply seen as absurd.
These two philosophies seem quite aligned on a lot of issues, which might make you think that they are actually different flavors of the same school of thought. Not so fast. Let’s spend some time on their disparities to better understand why this is not the case.
Stoicism and Existentialism: Differences
Stoicism and Existentialism offer vastly different perspectives on many themes, but to understand their differences it is enough to examine their individual positions on the following:
- what the meaning of life is,
- whether they believe our lives are predetermined or completely free, and
- what they point to as the fundamental source of human happiness.
Let’s dive in!
The Meaning of Life
One of the most profound differences between Existentialism and Stoicism lies in their respective stances on the inherent meaning of life.
The Existential view posits that life is fundamentally meaningless - simply a blank canvas upon which we must paint our own purpose. This perspective is a source of a sense of boundless freedom, but also of overwhelming responsibility and existential angst at potentially getting it wrong.
While Stoicism agrees with the part about responsibility, it maintains that meaning is derived from how we respond to the events in our lives, with virtue and reason being our guiding stars. The purpose of life for a Stoic is to cultivate an excellent moral character - a task that is not easy, but accessible to all.
Scope of Freedom (and Determinism)
I’ve already hinted at the fact that Existentialism rejects any idea of determinism since it claims that we are radically free and bear the burden of shaping our own destiny. Stoicism, however, advocates for the existence of the ‘Logos’ - a universal reason which ultimately drives us whether we like it or not. This does not mean that Stoicism argues that human beings are not free; they simply see the scope of that freedom as being limited to our actions, our mind and our judgments.
In a world where so many things are beyond our control, isn't there something profoundly liberating about this Stoic viewpoint?
Fundamental Source of Happiness
Directly related to their stance on determinism, Stoicism and Existentialism take a different view of where happiness comes from. (It’s important to note that both philosophies agree that happiness is possible in the first place.)
For an Existentialist, authentic happiness comes from creating your own reality through your choices when you decide to engage with “radical freedom” and make the most of it.
For a Stoic, happiness (or rather, eudaimonia) comes from accepting the world as it is and making the best of the hand you’ve been dealt.
Stoicism vs Nihilism vs Existentialism
If you’re surprised by what you’ve read so far because you expected the existential viewpoint to be different, you may have been confusing Existentialism and Nihilism. Allow me to explain.
Nihilism is a philosophy that takes the Existentialist viewpoint of life's lack of predetermined meaning even further and posits that life is actually meaningless. While an Existentialist would still fight to find their purpose - in its essence a life-affirming stance - a Nihilist would see all human striving for meaning as futile in the grand scheme of things.
Stoicism and Nihilism mainly differ in their approach to the meaning of life, as well as in their treatment of emotions. The goal of a Stoic is to achieve emotional resilience, while a Nihilist hopes to master complete emotional indifference. If you want to dive deeper into the topic of how Nihilism compares to Stoicism, I’ve written an entire post about that.
What does it mean to be Stoic vs Existentialist IRL?
To better understand how the Existential perspective differs from the Stoic one, let’s imagine that an Existentialist and a Stoic are faced with the reality of a romantic breakup. This event can be emotionally intense and challenging, making it an interesting example to explore how a Stoic versus an Existentialist might approach it.
The Stoic Approach
With the Dichotomy of Control in mind, a Stoic would first recognize that the end of the relationship is something outside of their control, but that must nevertheless be accepted. They wouldn't attempt to deny or avoid this reality but would instead face it with equanimity by not casting it in either a negative or positive light.
They would then turn their focus inward, working to manage their emotional response to the breakup. Employing reason to understand their feelings, they would strive to maintain inner peace and tranquility despite the external upheaval.
The breakup would ultimately prove to be an opportunity to practice qualities such as resilience, patience, and understanding, which allows them to grow as an individual and be better equipped for their next relationship.
The Existentialist Approach
Considering the strong emphasis on individual freedom and the subjective nature of human experience in Existentialism, a practitioner of the philosophy would likely view the end of a relationship as an integral part of their unique personal journey, perhaps even an opportunity for self-discovery and of redefining their individual identity.
They would not shy away from feeling the gamut of emotions associated with the breakup, viewing this as an authentic response to a significant life event. They might choose to reflect deeply on what the relationship meant to them, what its ending signifies, and how it shapes their understanding of their existence.
They might experience angst and confront feelings of loneliness or despair, but they are likely to reframe these feelings as essential components of their existential freedom and individual growth.
Kudos for getting this far! We’re almost at the end of our journey - it’s time to reflect on which philosophy might be the right one for you to adopt as a beacon for sailing life’s turbulent waters.
Is Stoicism the Best Philosophy …
… to look towards when searching for the meaning of life?
Given our exploration of Stoicism and Existentialism, it's clear that each philosophical system provides its unique insights and perspectives on life. However, Stoicism stands out as a particularly practical and empowering philosophy for many.
The Existential perspective, while celebrating our “radical freedom”, often also plunges us into a sea of angst. The very liberty to create our own purpose can become a burden, making us fearful of living suboptimally or making the wrong choices. This approach - although potentially liberating - can feel like navigating an uncharted sea without a compass.
In contrast, Stoicism offers a more grounded path. From the Stoic's perspective, we may not control the events that happen to us, but we have complete control over our responses. This focus on emotional regulation, virtue, and acceptance allows us to navigate life's challenges with fortitude and tranquility.
Which philosophy is better for you ultimately hinges on your personal beliefs and whether you think life is (at least partially) predetermined.
So I turn the question around to you: in the case of Stoicism vs Existentialism, who will you plead for? Tell me in the comments!
If you enjoyed this post about Stoicism vs Existentialism, you might be interested in how this ancient philosophy compares to another popular modern philosophical school of thought.
I’ve written this post to help you explore the difference between Stoicism and positive thinking. You might want to have a look!
