Stoicism vs Skepticism - who would win if these two philosophies battled it out in search for knowledge? In an attempt to answer that question, we’ll first immerse ourselves in their teachings individually, and then proceed to a comparative analysis to dissect their similarities and differences. And just when you think you've gained a firm grasp on these philosophical titans, we'll add another layer to the intellectual feast and briefly touch on how both Stoicism and Skepticism compare to another key philosophy: Cynicism. After you’re done reading, I promise you’ll never confuse these schools of thought again. Beware of their side-effects though: you might just catch an incurable case of inner peace and tranquility!
Ready for a riveting philosophical journey? Then let’s proceed.
Stoicism: Basic Tenets
Stoicism - a philosophy famed for holding moral excellence in high regard - was founded in the 3rd century BC in ancient Athens, by Zeno of Citium, a wealthy merchant who got shipwrecked in the city, embraced his destiny wholeheartedly and stayed.
The philosophy advocates for developing a rational understanding of the world, our place in it, as well as for maintaining a clear mental boundary between what is and isn’t within our control. In the Stoic worldview, one can only truly exert influence on one’s actions, thoughts and responses to external events, and it is irrational to NOT accept everything that cannot be changed. Doing so - the Stoics insist - will enable us to achieve eudaimonia (a form of long lasting happiness) and tranquility (inner peace) regardless of external circumstances.
The central focus of a practicing Stoic’s life is to cultivate an ethical character by practicing the 4 cardinal virtues: wisdom, courage, justice, and temperance. The philosophy also places great importance on self-reflection (Marcus Aurelius may very well have left us the first journal in history!) and invites us to critically examine our behavior and mindset.
Ultimately, Stoicism is a deeply practical philosophy that provides many thoughtful answers on what it means to lead a good life amidst the unpredictability and turmoil of human existence. Its teachings are simple to understand and incredibly rewarding to those courageous enough to step away from the herd mentality and apply them in their daily existence. I hope you’ll feel inspired to give them a try for yourself!
Skepticism: Main Ideas
Skepticism - another ancient philosophy dating from Ancient Greece - is a little peculiar in its stance because it rejects the idea that definite knowledge is possible, pleading for the suspension of all judgment. Skepticism is split into two branches - Academic and Pyrrhonian skepticism and scholars still argue whether these worldviews should be treated separately.
The main argument of Skepticism against absolute certainty is the fact that the world is constantly in flux, which condemns any human understanding of it to be merely temporary. Skeptics propose the abandonment of definitive claims about the world as the missing link towards achieving ataraxia (inner peace) and thus refrain from passing judgment on any and all things. They announce this position of perpetual enquiry through the phrase “I withhold assent” and implicitly state that they do not wish to commit to the truth of any assertion.
While this may seem like an abstraction, there are concrete implications for how a Skeptic engages with the world: with an open-mind and always rigorously questioning their beliefs. (Quite a radical position to take, especially when seen through the eyes of someone living in an age where “definitive truths” emerge at every corner.)
Stoicism and Skepticism: Commonalities
I know what you’re thinking - there’s no way these two philosophies have anything in common - as it seems like Stoicism has it ALL figured out, while Skepticism has NOTHING figured out. You’ll be surprised to learn that they do share some commonalities: a search for tranquility, an inward focus with an emphasis on self-improvement, as well as an acceptance of uncertainty.
Pursuit of Tranquility
At their core, both Stoicism and Skepticism wish to be guiding lights on an individual’s journey towards tranquility and being at peace with the world. However, they set forth significantly different paths to getting there.
Stoicism pleads for living in accordance with nature (which can be broadly done by remaining rational at all times) and applying the dichotomy of control by keeping our own beliefs, judgments, and actions in check.
Skepticism, on the other hand, prescribes suspending judgment and maintaining a state of inquiry as the shortest path to inner peace. Their logic is that by denying that any of our knowledge is definitive, we can avoid the emotional disturbance that comes from having our beliefs challenged or proven wrong.
Inward Focus & Self-Improvement
The two philosophies also share the belief that we should maintain an inward focus and strive for self-improvement with any opportunity. They posit that through introspection, discipline, and personal growth, individuals can attain a more profound understanding of life (or of the fact that it cannot be ultimately understood!), from which a greater sense of peace and fulfillment should follow.
Skepticism regards self-improvement as a process of intellectual development and the continuous cultivation of doubt, which will bring about a greater openness and a more nuanced understanding of the world.
A Stoic perceives their internal state as being subject to their will, so managing their perceptions and reactions to external events with wisdom is of critical importance. To this end, self-improvement is part and parcel with practicing the 4 cardinal virtues, since nobody was born excelling at this task and thus needs to practice.
Acceptance of Uncertainty
Both philosophies recognize that the human condition is exposed to a great degree of uncertainty and they recognize that absolute control over external circumstances is unattainable. Despite their superficial agreement, their treatment of this uncertainty, as well as how it fits into the greater picture, differ significantly.
For Stoics, uncertainty is natural - so it makes no sense to oppose it - and does not stand in the way of living a good (read: moral) life. The presence of uncertainty is irrelevant since practicing wisdom helps us target our actions towards what is within our control. A Stoic regards the uncharted territories in life as an opportunity to become the best version of themselves and to discover inner strength they didn’t realize they possessed.
Skepticism, however, takes the acceptance of uncertainty to another level, arguing that we cannot even rely on reason to tackle it, thus advising to maintain a position of doubt towards all things. They do not seek to tame uncertainty, but simply to detach themselves from it so that they might experience tranquility.
Stoicism vs Skepticism: Divergences
We’ve covered a lot of ground already, but now comes the even more interesting part: the exploration of the differences between Stoicism and Skepticism. We’re about to have a closer look at their contrasting perceptions of knowledge, divergent approach to virtue, the distinct roles they assign to logic, and whether they are more inclined to the theoretical or the practical.
Perception of Knowledge
Stoicism holds an optimistic view on the attainment of knowledge, recognizing that while we may never understand the Universe completely, some of its guiding principles can become transparent to us through reasoned thought and logic. This consideration stems directly from the Stoic belief in the Logos - the guiding principle of all existence and reiterates the importance of rationality to the philosophy.
Skepticism, on the other hand, postulates that existence is so vast that it makes knowledge unattainable; the most we can hope for is to find reliable enough beliefs and thinking systems to get through life unbothered. In other words, the Skeptic strives for accuracy rather than completeness and sees the pursuit of improved beliefs as a sisyphean task that is at odds with achieving inner peace.
Ethical Standpoint
You’ll be surprised to hear that Skepticism and Stoicism have radically different stances when it comes to ethics.
Skepticism is not in favor of any particular moral code, since adopting one implies that one can be certain that a specific course of action is always the best. Such a thought process goes against the grain of continuous doubt, so they prescribe an openness to different ethical perspectives instead.
In stark contrast, Stoicism takes a strong stance on ethics and even regards the cultivation of virtue as the most significant human enterprise. Stoic ethics are rooted in the idea that living in harmony with nature (reason) and observing the 4 virtues creates not only a just society for all, but also a peaceful life for the individual.
View on Reason and Logic
You may have noticed that both Stoicism and Skepticism have a lot to say about the role of reason and logic in living a good life and that they fundamentally oppose each other when it comes to how reliable they believe them to be.
For a Stoic, reason is the only trusted mental faculty, and an ally in living a righteous and peaceful life. The fact that we can think logically is perceived as a gift from the divine, and the gateway to understanding our role on the stage of life. Rationality also is the foundation for ethical decision making, so should be employed at all times.
Skepticism is more cautious about the reliability of reason and logic, doubting that it can provide us with knowledge that is absolutely certain. What is even more interesting is that they also doubt the existence of universal natural laws - clearly they hadn’t seen enough innovation to realize that engineering achievement is an implicit proof that we can understand at least some natural laws reliably.
Theory vs. Practice
Last, but not least, the two philosophies differ in how applicable they are to daily life.
If Skepticism sounds very abstract to you and you can’t see yourself applying it to mundane challenges - you’re not alone! It’s certainly a philosophy that leans more theoretical and does not set out to give recipes on how to live. It centers itself around epistemological questions (= questions pertaining to knowledge), seeking to define its limits.
By comparison, Stoicism takes an extremely practical approach and leaves no stone of daily life unturned, providing an abundance of wisdom on how to respond to life’s ups and downs. (One need only remember Marcus Aurelius’ description of his food as “the dead body of a fish” to realize just how deeply rooted in everyday life these teachings are!)
Cynicism vs Stoicism vs Skepticism
To gain an even broader perspective on how Stoicism and Skepticism relate to each other, we only need to look at one of their philosophical predecessors: Cynicism, whose origins can also be traced back to ancient Greece.
Cynicism is a philosophy that identifies authenticity as the secret to living a peaceful life, going as far as to reject all social conventions (Diogenes, I’m looking at you and your barrel!) This suggests a prioritization of the inner self of the individual over how they present themselves to the world - perhaps the first stepping stone for philosophies that center on inner experience.
Since Cynicism was already popular at the time both Stoicism and Skepticism emerged, its influences are visible in both of their stances.
For Stoicism, this cross-pollination is likely to have happened through Zeno of Citium - who was familiar with Cynic teachings - and is visible in the way most Stoic advice is targeted towards building an individual’s character - a gentle nod to Cynic authenticity. (If you’d like to learn more, check out how Cynicism compares to Stoicism in this post.)
The Skeptic’s doubting stance is an echo of the Cynic desire for radical independence and non-conformity, but is broader in scope, questioning not only the relationship between the individual and their exterior reality, but also knowledge in its entirety.
Conclusion
One might argue that the Skeptic emphasis on doubting our perceptions and withholding judgment carries the risks of falling into intellectual passivity or even total disengagement from life. By always doubting and never committing, it is possible to eschew the responsibility of decision-making (and the risk of being wrong!), which is cowardice masquerading as epistemological uncertainty.
In contrast, Stoic philosophy offers a more dignified path towards tranquility, empowering its students to participate fully in life, steering their course with rationality and wisdom. It is a philosophy that teaches us that our journey through life can be rewarding, even if it doesn't unfold exactly as we had hoped.
And let’s face it - even on the toughest of days, what we crave is not retreat from existence, but the suspension of suffering. If the solution were as simple as withdrawing from life - perhaps based on the lofty observation that true knowledge is unachievable - you would have done it already and found inner peace.
Since you’re here looking for philosophical guidance, it’s probably safe to assume that tranquility will require a bit more effort than that. Luckily, you now have a trusted resource for Stoic sustenance to refer to as you make your way through the puzzle of life. So get out there and make the most of the ride! I’m rooting for you!
If you enjoyed reading this post, you might also enjoy looking at the similarities and differences between Stoicism and Nihilism or even Stoicism and Existentialism.
