In a world inundated with fake news and disinformation, the ancient philosophy of Stoicism offers valuable insights for developing critical thinking and discerning truth. Stoicism emphasizes personal ethics informed by its system of logic and views on the natural world. So, how can Stoic principles and virtues be applied to navigate today’s complex information landscape and protect oneself from manipulation?

Understanding What is in Our Control

A core tenet of Stoicism is the distinction between what is in our control and what is not. Epictetus, a prominent Stoic philosopher, stated that we cannot control external events, only how we respond to them. In the context of information, this means recognizing our limited ability to control the media and the information disseminated but having full control over how we process and respond to it.

The Role of Rationality and Logic

Stoicism places great emphasis on rationality and logic. Marcus Aurelius, a Stoic emperor, advocated for a life guided by reason as opposed to emotion. In the face of fake news, a Stoic approach involves a methodical assessment of information, questioning its source, intent, and evidence. This rational evaluation helps in differentiating between factual reporting and sensational or biased content.

Practicing Intellectual Humility

Stoicism teaches the virtue of intellectual humility — acknowledging the limits of one’s knowledge. In an era where misinformation can be pervasive, it’s vital to be open to new information and willing to revise beliefs when presented with credible evidence. This humility prevents ideas’ entrenchment, a common tactic used in manipulative information campaigns.

Developing Emotional Resilience

Stoics believe in developing emotional resilience, not suppressing emotions but understanding and managing them effectively. When encountering manipulative content, especially those designed to elicit strong emotional reactions, Stoicism teaches us to pause and reflect, thus reducing the likelihood of impulsive reactions based on misinformation.

Fostering Community and Cooperation

Stoics view humanity as part of a larger community, emphasizing cooperation and compassion. In combating fake news, this perspective encourages collective efforts in fact-checking, sharing reliable information, and educating others about misinformation.

The Importance of Virtuous Character

Stoicism upholds the development of a virtuous character, which includes wisdom, justice, courage, and temperance. Applying these virtues in the context of information means:

• Wisdom: Seeking knowledge and understanding and discerning truth from falsehood.
• Justice: Ensuring fairness in judgment and not spreading unverified information.
• Courage: Challenging misinformation and not succumbing to peer pressure or popular opinion.
• Temperance: Exercising restraint in the consumption and sharing of information.

Thought Experiment: Vaccination

While it is true that others can influence and even manipulate your thoughts, in the end, they are still your own thoughts, and only you can decide what you want to think. We hate feeling manipulated and often respond with annoyance or anger to fight back. Unfortunately, we often completely misunderstand who actually manipulated us and when. Our judgment is what failed us in the first place, and careful introspection and consideration of cardinal virtues can help us see the true manipulation.

For example, during the pandemic, there was a high number of people refusing vaccination on the grounds that no one would tell them what to do and that they were free to choose. They felt strongly that the government or even the companies behind the vaccines were manipulating them. However, one could also argue that this stance was already a result of manipulation by others who were trying to build a following for their own benefit. So, where is the truth? Who manipulated whom?

We all need to answer these questions ourselves but to help with the answer, we should turn to the cardinal virtues of practical wisdom, justice, courage, and temperance. Let’s analyze the two positions with these virtues in mind.

“By analyzing your decisions through the lens of cardinal virtues, you can better understand whether you are allowing yourself to be manipulated into doing the wrong thing or being influenced to do what is right.”

First, let’s consider the government’s request for citizens to take the vaccine. Practical wisdom tells you that by taking the vaccine, you will contribute to the benefits of the whole population. Justice tells you that it is only fair for each citizen to do their part to protect others. Courage may be required as you hear that the vaccines are not well-tested yet, and there might be a risk if you take them. Temperance would ask you not to overreact and approach the whole matter calmly.

On the other hand, how do you embody these virtues when you refuse vaccination because you are free to choose, and no one will tell you what to do? Practical wisdom suggests that, yes, the decision is only yours; however, it is also not for the benefit of everyone but only for yourself. If no one gets vaccinated, then the illness will spread even faster and kill those most vulnerable who need our protection. Are you acting justly? Not really, as you essentially prioritize your freedom to choose over the lives of others. Are you acting courageously? Again, not really, as you are acting cowardly by being unwilling to risk even the slight chance that the vaccine will have unintended consequences for you. And are you acting with temperance? Well, if you start actively fighting and spreading your thoughts all over social media and even in the streets, you are overreacting and indulging your need to be heard and visible, even if your message and actions can harm others.

Thought Experiment: Lion

If you feel that the vaccination thought experiment is not clear enough or too polarizing, let’s imagine that we were dealing with a lion that would come to your neighborhood instead of a virus. The mayor of the city would then instruct its citizens to go to the street and fight the animal. In this scenario, there would be two types of people. Some would claim they are free to do whatever they want and refuse to comply. Moreover, they would actively spread hate on social media and criticize those who choose to go out and fight the lion. On the other hand, others would listen to the mayor and courageously confront the lion. Some may even lose their lives in the process. Which of these two groups would you respect and follow? Who would you want to be friends with?

The first group consists of individuals who only care about themselves. They believe that others should fight on their behalf and cowardly stay at home while spreading hatred towards those who follow the mayor’s request.

The second group fulfills their civic duty by bravely stepping out to fight the lion. They do so not just for themselves but for the safety of everyone in the neighborhood.

By analyzing your decisions through the lens of cardinal virtues, you can better understand whether you are allowing yourself to be manipulated into doing the wrong thing or being influenced to do what is right.

Putting It All Together

Stoicism teaches us to approach information with a balance of rationality and emotional resilience. Rational evaluation of news and information, questioning sources and intent, and relying on logic rather than emotion are essential in distinguishing fact from fiction and allowing us to pause and reflect before reacting impulsively to information that might be designed to manipulate our feelings.

The practice of intellectual humility, recognizing the limits of our knowledge, is crucial in an age where misinformation is rampant. This humility enables us to remain open to new information and willing to revise our beliefs in light of credible evidence. It guards against the entrenchment of ideas, a common technique in manipulative information campaigns.

Finally, the Stoic virtues of wisdom, justice, courage, and temperance can guide our engagement with information. Wisdom involves seeking knowledge and understanding, justice requires fairness in judgment, courage is needed to challenge misinformation, and temperance calls for restraint in information consumption and sharing.

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