What Do Ancient Stoics Say About the Madness of War?

TL;DR

Ancient Stoics like Seneca and Epictetus argue that war is madness driven by greed and selfish interests. They highlight the insanity of valuing transient external gains while disregarding the suffering and destruction caused by conflict. By focusing on personal interest over the well-being of others, individuals perpetuate a cycle of violence that ultimately leads to fruitless outcomes.

Transcript

Man, naturally the gentlest class of being, is not ashamed to revel in the blood of others, to wage war, and to entrust the waging of war to his sons, when even dumb beasts and wild beasts keep the peace with one another. The ancient Greeks and Romans were pretty familiar with the phenomenon of warfare. Through violent confrontations, they expanded... Read More

Key Insights

• 🫱 Ancient Stoics like Seneca and Epictetus opposed war due to its barbarity and destruction.
• 🙈 War was seen as a manifestation of widespread madness and greed by Seneca, contrasting human behavior with that of animals.
• 🥺 Attachment to selfish interests and external pursuits lead to conflicts and wars, according to Epictetus.
• 🥺 Pursuing transient and unreliable things through war results in immense suffering and sacrifices, ultimately leading to unworthy outcomes.
• 😀 Warlords like Marcus Aurelius faced ethical dilemmas between fulfilling political ambitions and maintaining Stoic virtues.
• 💍 The destruction caused by warfare and the displacement of millions question the rationale behind engaging in violent conflicts.
• 🫱 Chasing inferior and uncontrollable external things in war results in exchanging tremendous pain for unworthy prizes.

Questions & Answers

Q: Why did ancient Greeks and Romans engage in warfare?

They waged wars to expand their empires and defend against external threats like the Persians and Germanic tribes.

Q: What were the Stoic objections to war?

Stoics believed war to be madness, driven by ignorance and selfish desires, causing immense suffering and destruction.

Q: How did Seneca view war in comparison to individual crimes?

Seneca saw war as a much more significant crime than individual murders, highlighting the inconsistency in societal values.

Q: According to Epictetus, what drives people to engage in war?

Epictetus believed that wars stem from people's attachment to selfish interests, leading them to pursue external and transient things at the expense of others' lives.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Ancient Greeks and Romans engaged in warfare to expand their empires and protect their territories.

• Stoics like Marcus Aurelius faced ethical dilemmas between warfare and Stoic teachings.

• Seneca and Epictetus provided insights on why war is considered madness and driven by selfish interests.