In ethics, too, the difference of the two Schools is also fully
apparent. Stoic morality recognises, at least conditionally, a positive
and negative value in external things and circumstances; the Cynic
allows to these absolutely no value. The former forbids affection
contrary to reason, the latter any and every kind of affection. [1038]
The former throws the individual back upon human society, the latter
isolates him. The former teaches citizenship of the world in a positive
sense, requiring all to feel themselves one with their fellow-men; the
latter in a negative sense, that of feeling indifferent to home and
family. The former has a pantheistic tone about it, due to the lively
feeling of the connection between man and the universe, and a definite
theological stamp owing to its taking a stand by positive religion; the
latter has a rationalistic character, owing to the enfranchisement of
the wise man from the prejudices of popular belief, with which it has
exclusively to do. In all these respects Stoicism preserves the
original character of the Socratic philosophy far better than Cynicism,
which only caricatured them. Still it departs from that character in
two respects. In point of theory the Stoic doctrine received a
systematic form and development such as Socrates never contemplated;
and in natural science, it cultivated a field avoided by Socrates on
principle, however much its doctrine of Providence, and its view of
nature as a system of means subordinated to ends, may remind of
Socrates. On the other hand, interest in science, although limited to
the subject of ethics, is with Socrates far deeper and stronger than
with the Stoics, the latter pursuing scientific research only as a
means for solving moral problems. Hence the Socratic theory of a
knowledge of conceptions, simple though it may sound, contained a
fruitful germ of unexpanded speculation, in comparison with which all
that the Stoics did is fragmentary. The Stoic ethics are not only more
expanded and more carefully worked out in detail than those of
Socrates, but they are also more logical in clinging to the principle
that virtue alone is an unconditional good. There are no concessions to
current modes of thought, such as Socrates allowed, who practically
based his doctrine of morals upon utility. On the other hand, the moral
science of the Stoics also falls far short of the frankness and
cheerfulness of the Socratic view of life. If in many respects it toned
down the asperities of Cynicism, still it appropriated its leading
principles far too unreservedly to avoid accepting a great number of
its conclusions.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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