Situations, Roles, Duties, and Puppies

Introduction to Eudaimonia and Stoicism

In the rambling and often tumultuous journey we call life, it’s easy to find oneself swept up in the ceaseless pursuit of happiness, or what the Stoics termed ‘eudaimonia.’ It’s a concept that might seem as elusive as trying to catch smoke with your bare hands, but according to the Stoics, achieving this state of flourishing is less about grasping at the external and more about understanding the roles and duties life has thrust upon us.

Musonius Rufus: Stoicism in Everyday Life

Imagine, if you will, the sage advice of Musonius Rufus, who was one of the four great Roman Stoic philosophers. He didn’t sit in an ivory tower, pontificating about the abstract; no, he was more the type to roll up his toga sleeves and get down to the nitty-gritty of daily life. To Rufus, Stoicism wasn’t just something to muse about over a goblet of wine; it was a way of life where every action, no matter how seemingly inconsequential, was an opportunity to practice virtue.

Musonius Rufus, a lesser-known yet pivotal figure in the Stoic tradition, was a Roman philosopher who lived in the 1st century CE. He was a Seneca contemporary and Epictetus teacher, greatly influencing the latter’s teachings.

Rufus’s philosophy, although not as extensively documented as other Stoic philosophers, emphasizes practical ethics, focusing on applying Stoic principles in daily life. His views on duty reflect this pragmatic approach, stressing the importance of living according to nature and fulfilling one’s roles and responsibilities within the community and family.

I’ll be writing and posting more on Musonius Rufus in the near future, but for now, it’s worth noting he believed that pursuing virtue and performing one’s duties were not only compatible but essentially intertwined. To paraphrase the sentiment that captures Rufus’s perspective on duty, he believed that performing one’s duties with diligence and virtue is not separate from pursuing a good life; it is the very essence of it. We must engage in our roles—be it as a member of a family, a citizen, or a friend—with integrity and commitment, for in fulfilling these roles diligently, we align ourselves with the natural order and lead a life of virtue.

The Stoic Challenge of Puppy Ownership

Take, for instance, my recent foray into puppy ownership. Now, before you roll your eyes and think, “What could possibly be Stoic about dealing with a furry bundle of energy that has the bladder control of a leaking faucet?” hear me out. After more than two decades since having to train a puppy, adopting a puppy thrust me into a role filled with duties that demand patience, care, and time for training. It’s in the roles in which we find ourselves, Muesonius Rufus would argue, that we find our path to eudaimonia.

Understanding Our Roles and Duties: A Stoic Perspective

The Stoics taught us that understanding and accepting our roles and duties is crucial. This isn’t about resigning ourselves to fate with a heavy sigh; it’s about recognizing the limits of what we can control and focusing our energy on our actions and attitudes rather than the outcomes, which often flit about with the whimsy of a butterfly on a breezy day.

In my simple example of a puppy owner, the role is clear: ensure the well-being of this little creature, teach it how to navigate the world without turning the living room rug into a toilet, and somehow maintain sanity while doing so. The duties are straightforward but far from simple. And here lies the essence of Stoicism in practice: performing this role to the best of my ability, guided by virtue, while maintaining an inner detachment from outcomes beyond my control. After all, one can only hope to guide a puppy to pee outside; whether it chooses to do so before or after returning indoors is a matter often left to the gods.

Everyday Actions: The Path to Eudaimonia

Musonius Rufus, with his practical bent, would likely nod in approval at this mundane yet profound application of Stoicism. He understood that life’s essence wasn’t found in grand achievements or the acquisition of wealth and status but in how we handle the everyday duties that come our way. Whether it’s raising a puppy, nurturing relationships, or contributing to our communities, it’s the small, everyday actions, performed with intention and virtue, that pave our road to eudaimonia.

Embracing What We Can Control

But let’s not forget the other side of the Stoic coin—maintaining an inner detachment from outcomes. This isn’t about apathy or shirking responsibility; it’s about acknowledging that, despite our best efforts, we can’t control everything. The puppy may chew your favorite shoes, just as life may throw you curveballs that no amount of planning can fend off. It’s in these moments that the Stoic practice of focusing on what’s within our control—our actions, responses, and attitudes—becomes not just a philosophical exercise but a lifeline.

The Essence of Stoic Living

In the end, the path to eudaimonia, to true flourishing, lies not in the grandiose or the extraordinary but in the quiet dignity of fulfilling our roles and duties, however mundane they may be, guided by virtue, with patience and grace. It’s a journey that requires grasping Stoic principles and incorporating them into the daily, sometimes ordinary aspects of life. Whether you’re a philosopher in a toga or a sleep-deprived puppy owner, the message is the same: embrace your roles, perform your duties with virtue, and let the chips—or in my case, the chew toys—fall where they may.