Introduction to Queer Stoicism
A general overview of Stoicism as a philosophy and how we can take the ancient lessons it offers and apply them to the Queer life to live better lives, be better people, and weather the storm swirling around us in today's political and socio-economic climates.
STOICISM LEARNING
Kenkaid Gallman
8/3/20254 min read
Beginning of Stoicism
Stoicism or Stoic Philosophy was the brain child of a man named Zeno of Citium around 200 BCE (Before Common Era). The original basis of this philosophy according to Zeno was a focus on Logic; putting logical thinking over emotional responses to positive, negative, or neutral happenings in life, Physics; a belief that nature is in itself divine and a perfected machine of function and beauty, and Ethics; striving to make decisions that do not harm your fellow human, nature, or yourself be it physically, mentally, or spiritually.
What drew me in to this man as a philosopher was the interesting fact that he was believed, according to the writings of Diogenes Laërtius, to only be attracted to other men. I didn’t find this out until later on in my studies of Stoicism as I back tracked to it’s origins about a year in wondering how this philosophy got its start and was it possible it could be related to the Queer life. The belief that Zeno was — in modern terms — a gay man, gave me hope that this philosophy could possibly be the key to finding a way to live our lives meaningfully and feel validated as ourselves.
Modern Stoicism
Modern Stoicism is focused on three philosophers and their writings as they are the only semi-direct writings we have of Zeno’s Stoic Philosophy as it is recognized today.
Marcus Aurelius
His book Meditations has been one of the most popular Stoic texts and has countless adaptations, translations, and other writings inspired by it available all over the world. At its core it is the interpersonal thoughts, musings, and journal entries of arguably one of the most powerful men the world had ever known to date. Known as the last of “the five good emperors” of Rome, he was also known as the Philosopher King; allowing his studies of Stoicism to determine how he lived his life, created policy, and ruled over the empire of Rome and its people.
Seneca
One of the most wealthy men in Rome in his time and one of the most influential financial advisors to Emperor Nero, a cruel and brutal man who eventually caused Seneca’s death, he was therefore an interesting paradox. Philosophy teaches that a man who consumes and collects wealth beyond imagine will ultimately lose himself to selfish action and turn away from the very teachings of humility Philosophy promotes. However, Seneca was able to maintain his philosophical journey while maintaining his wealth and dealing with the brutality of Nero keeping himself humble, centered, and virtuous.
Epictetus
A man born into slavery in a wealthy household who eventually became one of the most influential men in philosophy and taught Stoicism to countless others for 25 years once he gained his freedom. After being banished with all the other philosophers from Rome by Emperor Domitian he continued his teachings in his own school of philosophy until his death.
These three men from three different backgrounds, different paths in life and different points in time have so many cross sections with each other in their individual journeys in Stoicism. To me this validates the path of Stoicism is for anyone to pursue regardless of background, birthright, gender, sexuality, or financial status.
The Four Virtues
Courage
Not in the sense of courageous acts of foolish bravery and putting yourself or others in danger. More of a sense of bravery in the face of adversity or a struggle. This can be in the form of financial hardship like losing a large sum of money in the stock market, personal loss such as losing a close friend or family member, basically a misfortunate or tragic event that serves a turning point in your life. How you react to this point in your life is what determines your courage. Do you stand and face it or run away?
Temperance
This is in reference to moderation, tempering our actions and thoughts and doing nothing in excess. Excess is doing too much of something to the point that it is harmful to you or others. This can be food such as overeating, spending money to the point of ‘breaking the bank’, even exercising to the point of injury is excess. Negative thoughts swirling in our head and not being willing to stop the cycle can be another form of excess and a test of temperance. Coping mechanisms are one way to temper these thoughts, I’ll have more on that in another article.
Justice
This one is a bit self explanatory, your sense of justice for yourself and others. Being righteous in your actions and thoughts. Here are some examples; seeing something wrong taking place and having the courage to stand up and say no more. Not following the pack when they are making fun of another person for the way they look, speak, or think. Even if their way of thinking is different than yours. Standing up for what’s right and just, this can be in the form of activism against injustice, volunteering for a just cause, donating to those in need or organizations that support the less fortunate.
Wisdom
This virtue comes into play when you are deciding which of the other three virtues are needed or a combination of two or more of them for a specific set of situations. It can also be in the form of increasing knowledge of topics and decisions needed in work, life, and socioeconomic spaces. As an example, using temperance to seek out specific teachers for a subject or lesson, using courage to buck up and join a cause you agree with that also aligns with the virtue of justice.
Queerness and Stoicism
As mentioned above gender and sexuality have no bearing over anyone being able to study this philosophy of Stoicism. The founder was very possibly a gay man, that right there is validating for me personally as a Queer person. Stoicism and philosophy in general is an interpretation of lessons as they apply to an individual’s life, struggles, successes, and failings.
As Queer people we know struggle, we experience it everyday when we walk out our door. We feel the success of finding, starting, and affording gender affirming care, the failings of not seeing the results we want in our own bodies, minds, the minds of others, social-media spaces, and political platforms. Having a mentality to ‘brave the storm’ and to persevere despite the odds stacked against us is what is needed. Especially in the current political climate for us here in the United States.
Stoicism offers a framework for us as Queer people to live our lives despite the climate we are facing today with Courage, Temperance, Justice, and Wisdom.
Sources
https://dailystoic.com/epictetus/?source=post_page
https://dailystoic.com/seneca/?source=post_page
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zeno_of_Citium?source=post_page