Virtue is the highest good in Stoic philosophy from "summary" of Stoicism and the Art of Happiness by Donald Robertson
According to the Stoics, the highest good in life is virtue. This concept lies at the heart of their philosophy, guiding their thoughts and actions. Virtue, for the Stoics, is not just one good among many; it is the ultimate good, the key to living a fulfilling and meaningful life. To understand why virtue is considered the highest good, we must look at the Stoic understanding of the nature of the human soul. The Stoics believed that we are all born with a spark of divine reason within us, which they called the "logos." This rational principle is what sets humans apart from other animals and allows us to act in accordance with the natural order of the universe. Virtue, then, is the expression of this divine reason in our thoughts and actions. It is the alignment of our will with the universal reason tha...
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