The Stoic Philosopher #17 COSP
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perspective of a human living its life, and is indispensable to the Philosopher
committed to making progress.
Stoics are familiar with the example of the Sage, and the importance of holding a model of the
character of one who has gone before in front of our eyes, who we can use as a yard stick by which to
check our progress, and as a spur to greater effort in our practice. Yet Logic itself has a character
which we would do well to emulate. This should be no surprise. We are to follow nature. Nature is
rational. Logic, at least in part, is the art of reason.
1) Logic is simple. By this I do not mean it is easy, but that it contains nothing superfluous. Syllogisms
contain the bare minimum number of steps, there is nothing present which need not be there. Our
minds too, ought to endeavor to think only those thoughts which are necessary. “So in every case one
should prompt oneself: “Is this, or is this not, something necessary?” (Meditations, 4:24)
2) Logic is egalitarian in its handling of facts. Whether the assertibles in a syllogism concern the
weather or a terrorist attack, the necessary conclusion must follow in exactly the same way. As Stoics
whilst we grant ourselves the bandwidth to distinguish between preferred and non-preferred
indifferents, the impressions we receive, from a moral perspective, are equally indifferent and we are
to treat them as such.
3) Logic is fearless in so far that it does not shirk from conclusions. The human mind frequently avoids
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reaching unpalatable conclusions, often preferring willful ignorance to truth which might hurt. Yet a
syllogism cannot stop half way, even if we would rather the conclusion were different. As Stoics we too
must face, and even embrace and love the truth, even if our instinct is often to avoid it.
4) Logic is beautiful. I used to have a maths teacher who, each lesson, would tell the class that maths
was beautiful. As a teenager I smirked at what seemed a ridiculous statement, but now I feel I do
understand it. Similarly logic has an ascetic quality, perhaps deriving from its balance and its order.
The good person too, has a beauty, something which can be recognized from their eyes, speech, and
body language. “In short, the good and honest man should have the same effect as the unwashed –
anyone close by as he passes detects the aura....the good, honest, kindly man has it in his eyes, and
you cannot mistake him.” (Meditations, 11:15)
5) Logic is eternal. The syllogisms Stoics studied were necessarily true 2,000 years ago, are true today,
and will be true in 2000 years time. There is a timeless quality too about the path of the Stoic, our
environment and society changes have changed beyond recognition, yet the path of the wise man is
entirely unchanged.
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