Thus, living in accordance with reason and virtue is synonymous with living in accordance with the nature of the universe. ![]() He believed that the universe is governed by a universal reason, or logos, and that the human soul is a fragment of this divine nature. Zeno's teachings on ethics were particularly influential. ![]() A person's external situation was deemed irrelevant to their happiness what mattered was their internal state and how they respond to what happens to them. The Stoic school emphasized control over the passions and desires, teaching that virtue is sufficient for happiness. Zeno's ancient philosophy, later named Stoicism (after the old Stoa Poikile, the painted porch in the Agora of Athens where he taught), is based on the stoic idea that living in harmony with nature, which includes human nature, leads to a virtuous and content life. Our modern culture has honoured Zeno by naming a crater on the Moon after him. For his contributions, he was honoured with the golden crown. He was also described as "the noblest man of his age," and a bronze statue was built to honour him.ĭuring Zeno's life, he gained a great deal of respect for his teaching and brought Stoicism to a wide audience. This suggests that, despite not being Greek, he was still highly respected by the people of Athens. ![]() Who gave to Greece her books and art of writing? What need to slight thee? Came not Cadmus thence, Ancient biographies, especially those concerning philosophers, often included anecdotal or symbolic stories that were meant to illustrate the subject's character or philosophical beliefs rather than serve as factual biographies in the modern sense.Īfter his death, an epitaph was written for him: However, it's important to treat such historical accounts with a degree of skepticism. Reacting to this incident, Zeno is said to have quoted the famous line from the Niobe, a play by either Aeschylus or Sophocles: "I come, why do you call me?" and then held his breath until he passed away. The story goes that he tripped and fell, possibly breaking his toe. Zeno died around 262 BC, and the most commonly cited story of his death, as reported by Diogenes Laërtius, combines elements of stoicism and drama.Īccording to this account, Zeno died as a result of a seemingly minor accident. Zeno studied philosophy broadly before founding his own philosophical school, bringing multiple ideas together in an attempt to find the best ways to live as human beings.Īs it happens, Zeno set the stage for one of history's greatest philosophies. In Athens, after searching for ways to learn more philosophy, Zeno began his study in earnest and became deeply influenced by the Cynic philosopher Crates of Thebes, but he was also interested in the ideas of other philosophers like Socrates, the Megarians, and Platonist philosophy. This chance meeting with the bookseller turned out to be a pivotal moment in his life and in western philosophy. This book gave him his first taste of philosophy, in the form of a description of Socrates. This wreck took Zeno to an Athenian bookseller, where he found a copy of Xenophon's memorabilia. ![]() It's widely believed that, while travelling as a merchant transporting purple dye from Phoenicia to Peiraeus, he suffered a shipwreck that washed him ashore near Athens. The best account we have of Zeno's life is from the biographer Diogenes Laërtius in his book, Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers, written in the 3rd century AD.ĭiogenes reports him as a man with a dark complexion, a haggard appearance, and who lived an ascetic life despite his wealth. Zeno of Citium was an influential philosopher from Cyprus, best known as the founder of Stoicism, a school of Hellenistic philosophy that emphasizes the importance of virtue and wisdom, focusing on personal ethics informed by its system of logic and views on the natural world.īorn around 334 BC in Citium (modern-day Cyprus), his life is somewhat obscure.
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