ZENO - THE ANSWERS

<BODY> <CENTER><FONT SIZE=5><B><FONT SIZE=6>ZENO</FONT><BR> THE STOIC</B></FONT></CENTER><P> <FONT SIZE=4><B>All is Revealed</B></FONT><P> <A HREF="../t03/g050.html" TARGET="_top">Stoicism</A> was a complex doctrine which saw a universe ordered by a divine power (<A HREF="../t03/g028.html" TARGET="_top">Logos</A>). Man achieved tranquillity by acting in accordance with the universal law of nature. The fundamental aims of the Stoic are rational self control and adherence to the laws of nature.<P> Zeno identifies the primary virtues as being wisdom, courage, justice and temperance. The good man, in possession of such virtues, finds happiness, for his actions are guided by right reason. Zeno was the first to devise the concept of duty as being right and proper conduct, but for him, doing one's duty meant undertaking actions in keeping with universal law, not meeting other people's expectations. In this scheme, there is nothing intermediate between virtue and vice, good and evil, justice and injustice - no shades of grey. No degrees of vice can be recognized since the seriousness of a crime would not be judged according to its effect on humans but on the universal order.<P> The wise man is free from passion, free from vanity, indifferent to opinion of him, earnest and vigilant in cultivating his own soul and in self improvement. He sees the good in all situations. When he is joyous, his elation is rational, not unthinking emotion. He may wish things to be a certain way rather than another, but his desire also is rational, free from passion. Only such a man is truly free. <BR clear=left><BR> <HR width=100%> <A HREF="http://www.creatorix.com.au"><IMG SRC="../creatorix.gif" WIDTH="85" HEIGHT="40" BORDER="0" ALT="Creatorix" align=right></A> </BODY>