“We accept that we in fact control far less than our predecessors believed they could. We accept that we “lose” control of some mental territory.”

Is Stoicism a cure for depression?

Is a depressed Stoic a contradiction in terms? A question surely worth asking particularly given the prevalence of mental health issues in our time. It’s also worth asking from the philosophical point of view since it reveals a lot about reformed Stoicism.

We find little about it in the writings of ancient Stoics. It’s no surprise given the little medical knowledge antiquity had. And yet today we can’t have a serious discussion of Stoicism unless we confront the question. As I will outline, it comes down to the absolutely fundamental matter of what we can and what we can’t control.

Let me start with a simple question some folks ask: is Stoicism a cure for depression? Some answer affirmatively that we can employ Stoicism to combat it without recourse to pharmaceutics or therapy. Their argument is roughly this – i f Stoicism boasts it can bring happiness to humans, then, almost by definition, it needs to be able to eradicate depression. Depression, after all, consists of the ultimate lack of happiness. If Stoicism provides happiness, then it surely cures depression. Right?

Stoics change their thoughts, not the world

Not at all. To show this let me state the above reasoning in a slightly different fashion: a Stoic focuses on changing their own thoughts rather than changing the outside world (to use the Descartes’ phrasing). Alter your thoughts properly and you will be happy – that’s the Stoic promise.

Redirecting our thoughts is no walk in the park

The tacit premise in it, however, is that it’s easy to change the course of our thoughts. (Or at least that it is easier than changing the course of events). This idea in turn doesn’t dovetail with the scientific knowledge of our time. Certainly, changing the outside world may be tough or straight impossible, yet it doesn’t follow from this that redirecting our thoughts is a walk in the park. The ancients were overly optimistic in defining the extent of our control over our own mind.

Here depression kicks in. Let’s agree workingly that depression is a derailment of the pattern in which our mind works. Does it entail it’s easy to repair it ourselves? No. Does it mean we are able to do it on our own with no help from medical professionals? Hell, no.

There is a lot going on in the mind that we don’t control

Make no mistake: we are discussing a deep philosophical point here, one of the cornerstones of all ethics. Where is the demarcation line between things within our power and those outside of it? The ancients’ position was quite rough-hewn: we can control our mind, we cannot control the outside world. Sounds simple but it’s a bit of a reach. Modern science makes us humble: we control only a small part of our own mind. There are more things happening in it than was dreamt of in ancient philosophy. These happenings may be just as independent from us as the motions of planets are.

If I were to give a single example of the difference between ancient and reformed Stoicism, this is quite a critical one. We accept today what science tells us about how the brain works and thus we agree to redraw the line between what is and what isn’t in our power. We accept that we in fact control far less than our predecessors believed they could. We accept that we “lose” control of some mental territory. We concede ground and it’s worth it. If Stoicism is to be a viable, relevant, and inspiring philosophy for the 21st century, then we need to accept that there is a lot going on in the mind that we don’t control at all.

Some say these concessions nullify Stoicism, but I believe it’s the contrary. This is exactly what gives it strength and new life! This is what enables a deeper, more mature Stoic outlook on things.

A Stoic is defined by how they deal with depression

What about depression itself then? The answer is simple. A Stoic isn’t defined by having or not having depression, just as he or she isn’t defined by a flu or a leg broken from a misstep. A Stoic is – as always – defined by one thing and one thing only: by how he or she deals with the given situation. And the proper way to deal with depression is to see it as any other condition. You are depressed, Stoic? So do what the scientific consensus dictates. Go to the doctor. Start a therapy. Get meds. Nothing more, nothing less.

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Dr. Piotr Stankiewicz, Ph.D., is a writer and philosopher, promoter of reformed Stoicism. He authored Manual of Reformed Stoicism, and Does Happiness Write Blank Pages?

 

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