As Stoicism has grown in popularity - the number of searches for the term having more than doubled in the past decade - misconceptions about the philosophy have surged. A common misinterpretation wrongly assumes that Stoics are encouraged to be indifferent: aloof in their interaction with others, emotionally detached, even callous. Yet, this could not be farther from the truth.
If you've been avoiding Stoicism because you believe it advocates for apathy, you're missing out on a philosophical framework that could give you the tools to increase your resilience and reach your goals from a place of inner peace, rather than anxiety.
Here’s why.
The Gist of Stoic Thought
Stoicism, founded in the 3rd century BC, is as relevant today as it was in ancient times due to its practical teachings that rely heavily on critical thinking, rationality and an unwavering commitment to moral excellence.
The most well-known Stoic principle is the idea that every situation we encounter can be classified as either “under our control” and “out of our control” - a dichotomy that is useful in determining what our time is best spent on if we want to change our circumstances (hint: the former).
The so-called reserve clause: “Fate permitting” is the famous reminder that acknowledges that our plans and actions are always subject to external factors beyond our control. This idea is crucial for understanding Stoic “indifference”, because it narrows down the scope of what is truly indifferent.
Stoicism and Indifference
For a Stoic, being indifferent is not about being disinterested in the world and everything that’s in it, but rather, about not letting things that are out of our control disturb our peace of mind as we go about conquering the challenges of our existence.
Stoic indifference is a gateway to tranquility and the mental sustenance required to keep going and is a natural side-effect of recognizing that we can only do our best since whether we succeed is not up to us.
(It’s important to note that if you’ve given it your utmost, behaved ethically and haven’t emerged victorious, you haven’t failed from a Stoic perspective - since the only goal of a Stoic is to achieve moral excellence, which is attainable under any life circumstance.)
Equanimity is NOT Indifference
A Stoic strives for equanimity - a fancy word for composure - because it allows them to keep a level-head at all times and to approach life from a rational perspective, which reduces the suffering of not understanding the world or one’s place in it. This is not to say that Stoics do not experience emotions, but that they view them as feedback about their behavior and approach towards external events, rather than destabilizing states of mind.
Preferred and Dispreferred Indifferents
The concept of preferred and dispreferred indifferents also contributes to the misunderstanding that Stoics are detached. Let’s briefly look at what these are and put that myth to bed once and for all.
In the Stoic sense, preferred indifferents are those aspects of life that are nice-to-have, but irrelevant in terms of helping us attain moral virtue. Think: health (yes, you read that right), wealth and reputation. Dispreferred indifferents are their opposites - nobody wants to be sick, poor and thought ill of, but being subject to them does not affect their capacity of being an ethical actor on the stage of the world.
(I’ve written an entire post about this, so if you’re interested, make sure to check it out by clicking on the link above.)
Stoic vs Indifferent
To further clarify the differences between a Stoic and a merely indifferent person, let's consider a relatable real-life example: being laid off during a recession.
An indifferent person might approach this unfortunate event by appearing nonchalant, shrugging it off and remaining seemingly unscathed, displaying neither overt sadness nor any particular drive to seek new employment. Their behavior would likely raise questions about their engagement with reality and their general attitude towards personal growth and progress.
The Stoic would approach the situation quite differently and begin by acknowledging that they live in recessionary times - a circumstance they have not chosen for themselves and which they cannot single-handedly influence. They would then logically understand how layoffs fit in the grand scheme of things and understand that what has happened was outside of their control, since their job performance had a steady track record.
They would allow themselves to experience the natural emotions that might surface from such an event: sadness, disbelief, a certain unease towards the future etc without being overwhelmed by them. With reason as their guiding principle, they would devise a plan for moving forward.
Although the job loss could be perceived as a negative event, the Stoic's equanimity allows them to see it as an opportunity: perhaps to pursue a more fulfilling career path, to learn new skills, or to simply grow stronger and more resilient through adversity. This perspective shift allows them to go through the same life event as the indifferent person, but have a completely different experience.
Conclusion
In our exploration of Stoicism vs Indifference, we've seen that these concepts, while superficially similar, are fundamentally different. Stoicism is not a philosophy of uncaring or disconnection, but one of balance, understanding, and rational action. Indifference in the Stoic sense is not about dismissing emotions or events but about navigating them with equanimity and wisdom.
The belief that Stoics are indifferent in the conventional sense couldn't be further from the truth. Stoics care deeply about life, but do so with the understanding that not everything is within their control. By embracing this mindset of healthy detachment, we can find a lasting sense of peace and resilience in our lives - the true promise of Stoic philosophy.
Even if you’re not ready to become a Stoic yourself, think back on the concepts you’ve encountered today when you need an oasis of calm to draw from before responding to whatever lies in front of you.
If you’ve enjoyed this post or learned something, why not try a Stoic exercise? Memento Mori and The View From Above might be just what you need to unlock your next level of resilience, so have a look!
