The ancient Stoic philosophers are often celebrated for their focus on universal values like justice, wisdom, courage, and temperance. While these values or cardinal virtues are timeless, modern audiences might not immediately associate ancient Stoicism with concepts like diversity and inclusion. In fact, I’m regularly trolled by misogynists about writing about Stoicism on the same blog where I write about diversity.

Let’s explore how Stoicism reflected diversity and inclusion in its philosophy and practices, highlighting five key examples where the ancient Stoics transcended the social boundaries of their time. These examples include the inclusion of women, respect for enslaved individuals as rational beings, the acceptance of non-Greeks and Romans as philosophical equals, advocacy for cosmopolitanism, and the promotion of social justice.

Historical Context: Diversity And Inclusion In Ancient Stoicism

Stoicism originated in Athens around 300 BCE, founded by Zeno of Citium, who was himself a non-Athenian, a Phoenician from Cyprus. From its inception, Stoicism was a philosophy that rejected parochialism, emphasizing the universal capacity for reason and virtue rather than distinctions of nationality, gender, or social status. Unlike other schools of philosophy, which often catered to elite males, Stoicism sought to address all individuals as part of the broader human community.

1. Inclusion Of Women In Stoic Philosophy

While much of ancient philosophy excluded women, Stoicism stood out for recognizing women’s rational capacities and ability to practice philosophy. Stoics believed that the capacity for reason, a defining characteristic of humanity, was not restricted by gender.

Key Examples:

Porcia Catonis, the daughter of Cato the Younger, embraced Stoic ideals of courage and rationality, demonstrating that women could live according to Stoic principles. Her actions during her husband Brutus’s conspiracy against Caesar highlight her philosophical rigor.

Arria the Elder, a Roman Stoic, exemplified courage when she supported her husband’s decision to die honorably rather than submit to tyranny. Her famous act of stabbing herself to show her husband that death could be faced without fear reflected the Stoic ideal of emotional control and fortitude.

The Stoics held that virtue and reason were universal and could not be limited by gender.

Musonius Rufus, a Roman Stoic philosopher and one of the key figures of Stoicism, explicitly argued that women should be educated in philosophy because they share the same capacity for virtue as men. “Women as well as men… have received from the gods the gift of reason, which we use in our dealings with one another and by which we judge whether a thing is good or bad, right or wrong… Moreover, not men alone, but women too, have a natural inclination toward virtue and the capacity for acquiring it, and it is the nature of women no less than men to be pleased by good and just acts and to reject the opposite of these.”

2. Recognition Of The Humanity Of Enslaved Individuals

The Stoics were notable in their era for their progressive views on slavery. While they lived in societies that accepted slavery as an institution, they challenged its moral basis by emphasizing the inherent dignity and rationality of all humans, regardless of their social status.

Key Example:

Epictetus, one of the most famous Stoics, was born into slavery. Despite his condition, his master allowed him to study philosophy, and Epictetus later gained his freedom. His teachings reflect a profound understanding of human equality, as he argued that true freedom lies in mastering one’s desires and emotions rather than in external circumstances.

The Stoics believed that the only true distinctions among people were those of virtue and vice, not external factors like social status or wealth. As such, even enslaved people could be wiser and more virtuous than their masters if they lived according to reason.

3. Acceptance Of Non-Greeks And Non-Romans

The Stoic philosophy’s roots in cosmopolitanism, the idea that all humans are citizens of a single, universal community, meant that it naturally included people from diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds.

Key Example:

Zeno of Citium, the founder of Stoicism, was a Phoenician from Cyprus, a region often viewed as “barbarian” by the Greeks. His acceptance into the intellectual elite of Athens and his philosophical contributions challenge the ethnocentric biases of the time.

The Stoics taught that virtue was not dependent on birth, nationality, or ethnicity but was universally accessible through the application of reason. Marcus Aurelius, a later Stoic, echoed these sentiments in his Meditations, reminding himself that all humans share the same divine reason and should be treated with respect.

4. Cosmopolitanism: The Brotherhood Of Humanity

One of Stoicism’s most revolutionary ideas was its vision of a cosmopolis, a universal city where all humans are equal citizens. This idea directly opposed the tribalism and exclusionary practices prevalent in ancient societies.

Key Example:

The Stoic philosopher Hierocles described a model of ethical responsibility through circles of concern, with the self at the center and expanding outward to include family, community, and ultimately all of humanity. This framework encouraged individuals to recognize their shared humanity with even distant strangers.

The Stoics believed every human being possessed a fragment of the divine logos (reason) and was thus part of a single universal family. This belief laid the groundwork for inclusivity, advocating for empathy and cooperation across cultural and social divides.

5. Advocacy For Social Justice

Stoicism also informed governance and leadership practices, with many Stoic philosophers advocating for fairness, justice, and the welfare of the broader community.

Key Example:

As Roman Emperor, Marcus Aurelius applied Stoic principles to his leadership. He sought to govern justly, emphasizing humility and the importance of serving the common good. His focus on treating all individuals with fairness, regardless of their status, reflected Stoic values.

Justice was one of the four cardinal virtues in Stoicism, along with wisdom, courage, and temperance. Stoic leaders like Seneca and Marcus Aurelius argued for compassionate treatment of subjects and emphasized that power should be used to promote the common welfare rather than personal gain.

Modern Resonance: Stoicism’s Relevance To Diversity And Inclusion

Since Stoicism is a practical philosophy, one has to ask how this applies to modern conversation about diversity and inclusion. Contrary to many wannabe Stoics of the 21st century who promote Stoicism as a strictly male philosophy, the opposite is true.

Of course, one has to understand that even the ancient Stoics were products of their times. Therefore, they wouldn’t think about emancipation, feminism, or inclusion as we think about it today. The ancient Stoics would still be quite misogynistic. They would see men and women as equal but still see each having a unique role in society.

However, that doesn’t change the fact that all the main Stoic figures of ancient Greece and Rome accepted, at that time rather rare notion that both men and women are equal in their capacity to reason and practice philosophy.

A lot has changed over more than two thousand years, and our view of what equality means has evolved. Stoics today would see that some of the ancient Stoics’ notions contradicted each other and that the cardinal virtues of wisdom and justice help to resolve any contradictions and misogynistic leanings.

As Scott Aikin and Emily McGill-Rutherford write, “Stoicism’s value theory provides sufficient material for not only the in-principle argument that women are equal partners with men in the cosmopolis (or as citizens of the world), but that unequal opportunity is unjust, misogyny is a failure to recognize the dignity of a fellow rational creature, and individual choice is a deep source of moral value.”

When there is a conversation about diversity, inclusion, and equity, the Stoics will stand on the side of justice. For example, should men and women have the same pay for the same work? Should they get the same opportunities at work? Without a doubt! Would Stoics get involved in the conversation? Definitely. Stoics were frequently active in societal matters and saw it as their duty.

While Stoicism teaches us to accept the world as is, it doesn’t mean being passive. Stoics would work toward making the world a better place for everyone. They would do it using reason and be realistic about what they can achieve and what is under their control. They would find the right balance of promoting social justice while accepting that some things are not under their control.

Putting It All Together

The ancient Stoic emphasis on universal humanity, equality of rationality, and shared citizenship in the cosmos has striking parallels with modern concepts of diversity and inclusion.

Stoic philosophy challenges individuals to look beyond superficial differences and recognize the intrinsic worth of every person.

By embracing this ethos, we can foster greater empathy, equity, and collaboration in our own communities.

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