Practicing Stoic justice

In Stoic thought, justice isn’t only about laws, punishment, or balancing the scales. It’s deeper and more foundational—a virtue grounded in our responsibility to live in harmony with others and uphold what is right, not just what is legal or easy. Stoic justice, in this sense, asks more of us. It’s not about retribution—it’s about relationship.

Justice is one of the four cardinal virtues in Stoic philosophy, but unlike courage, temperance, or wisdom, it cannot be fully practiced alone. It calls us into community. Justice, then, is a social virtue—one that demands engagement, not detachment.

Much of my work focuses on systems change: food justice, equitable education, ethical leadership, and community development. These aren’t abstract ideals—they are the living, breathing consequences of how well (or poorly) we practice justice in community practice. In my work on food waste and food insecurity, for example, I see injustice in both excess and absence.

Mindless injustice

We throw out edible food while our neighbours go hungry. We overproduce and under-distribute—and many are willing to rationalize both as “just the way things are.” To a Stoic, this imbalance is not only inefficient—it’s immoral.

What does not benefit the hive does not benefit the bee. - Marcus Aurelius, Meditations, 6.54

Stoic justice requires us to see that our lives are not entirely our own. We are part of a shared human experience, and it is in service to the whole that we fulfill our nature. Justice, from the Stoic perspective, is about equity, dignity, and duty. This often means sharing what we have and helping others not out of charity but out of necessity. For the Stoic, justice isn’t about being “nice”—it is about being human.

Outrage often masquerades as righteousness

This distinction has become even more important in a world where outrage often masquerades as righteousness. Stoicism helps us distinguish between retribution and justice. Stoic justice is not punitive— it is restorative. It aims to correct, not to condemn.

He will not be angry with the wicked, because they are merely unfortunate, and he will pity them rather than hate them. - Seneca, On Anger, 1.15.1

Anger may feel powerful, but justice rooted in wisdom requires compassion and restraint.

Justice is practiced in action

And justice, like all Stoic virtues, is practiced in action and found in the particulars. It exists in our daily choices: in how we show up for our neighbours, how we allocate our resources, and in how we treat those who have less power than we do. Sometimes it means quietly redistributing surplus food. Other times, it means challenging a system or questioning a norm.  Often, it starts by asking: “What don’t I know?”

Stoic justice is also a guide for how we treat ourselves. As someone facing a few chronic health conditions, I’ve had to learn that self-compassion is not indulgence— it’s integrity. We cannot practice justice in the world while acting unjustly toward ourselves. I find this to be a particularly helpful reminder when I navigate my growing understanding of and experience with the Stoic dichotomy of control. I am not always successful—but I continue to try.

Fidelity to truth, to community, and to our own conscience

Ultimately, Stoic justice is not only about fairness—it’s also about our fidelity to truth, to community, and to our own conscience. It is about choosing what is right, even when it is inconvenient or unpopular. That act redefines how we behave, how we share, and how we show up for one another.

In a noisy, reactive world, Stoic justice speaks with calm conviction. It says: Do the right thing—not because you will be rewarded, but because it is who you are when you live in accordance with nature. Not because others deserve it, but because virtue demands it. Especially when no one is watching.

Andi Sciacca serves as the Chief Academic Officer and as the Director of Accreditation & Assessment for the European Graduate School. She is also the Environmental Sustainability Program Coordinator for the FEED MKE Program for the City of Milwaukee.

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