“Regardless of how mistaken you believe someone else to be, mocking or abusing them (as Epictetus once said) is not the way to lead them back to the proper path; that will usually just turn them against you even more. ”

Snobbery takes many forms

There are many types of snobbery in the world – from class snobbery to intellectual snobbery to reverse snobbery and beyond – but the root cause of all of them is the same: For whatever reason, a person (or group of people) believes he is superior to others due to advantages of wealth, social status, intellect, beauty, achievement, or some other external characteristic.

As Stoics, we know that these externals do not determine a person’s worth since they depend, at least partly, on luck and circumstances. They are not completely within anyone’s control. But it’s very easy to forget this, and sometimes our egos may tempt us to start looking down on others. Therefore we must always be on our guard against snobbery of all kinds. Given the nature of philosophy, we must be especially careful to guard against spurious intellectual or moral superiority.

Philosophers’ reputed conceit

Philosophers in general have a reputation for believing they are more intelligent and intellectually sophisticated than others. This has been true since ancient times. Epictetus constantly made fun of snobs and wannabes, skewering not just those who prided themselves on wealth or good looks, but also those puffed up about their scholarly accomplishments. Here are a couple of his barbed responses to philosophical hopefuls:

Student A: Take the treatise On Motivation and see how thoroughly I’ve read it.

Epictetus: That’s not what I’m seeking to know, slave, but how you’re exercising your motives to act and not to act, and how you’re managing your desires and aversions, and how you’re approaching all of this, and applying yourself to it... - Discourses 1.4.14

Student B: But isn't it the case that I'm a scholar?

Epictetus: And for what purpose do you pursue your studies? Isn't it so that you may be happy, slave? Isn’t it so that you may achieve constancy of mind? Isn't it so that you may be in accord with nature and pass your life so? - Discourses 3.10, 10-11.

True philosophers, Epictetus insists, have no desire to show off. They are not concerned with how they appear to others, and they don’t try to boost their own ego through logical pyrotechnics. Instead, they go about the real business of philosophy – seeking truth, cultivating virtue, and leading exemplary lives – without fancying that they are smarter than anyone else.

We are not superior to others

In fact, the quest for truth and virtue necessarily leads us to understand that no matter how smart or educated we are, we are not superior to other people. We are prone to the same errors in judgment and the same cognitive biases as everyone else. Fortunately, the wiser we become, the better we are at recognizing our own flaws and limitations. As Seneca reminds us: “You should use philosophy to remove your faults, not to criticize other people's.” - Letters on Ethics, 103.5.

Intellectual and moral humility

The clear message from the ancient Stoics is one of intellectual and moral humility. Stoicism is never about trying to enhance our own status at the expense of other people. Rather, it’s about approaching others in a spirit of openness and goodwill. Regardless of how mistaken you believe someone else to be, mocking or abusing them (as Epictetus once said) is not the way to lead them back to the proper path; that will usually just turn them against you even more.

The very smartest people don’t need to prove their intelligence to anyone. Instead, they use their ample cognitive gifts to listen, learn, explore, understand, cooperate, and persuade others. In doing so, they not only improve the world, but they also demonstrate how wisdom really works: not by putting other people down, but by lifting them up.

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Brittany Polat, author of Tranquility Parenting: A Guide to Staying Calm, Mindful, and Engaged, holds a Ph.D. in applied linguistics but currently researches and writes about Stoic psychology and philosophy. Brittany's latest project is Living in Agreement, where she applies her lifelong interest in human nature to the discourse and practice of inner excellence.

 

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