The First of Four Virtues — Stoic Justice
Within the philosophical framework of Stoicism, social justice is synonymous with aligning one’s life with nature and virtue. Among the four cardinal virtues — justice, temperance, courage, and wisdom — justice takes precedence as it profoundly influences the others.
In Stoicism, justice is a fundamental virtue associated with fairness, respect, and the fulfillment of one’s role in society. In the current climate, marked by concerning regressions in the legal control of women’s bodies, the concept of justice is acutely important. For Stoics, justice is rooted in the rational approach to maintain inner harmony while upholding fairness and equity in dealing with others in the world.
Stoic justice goes beyond simply adhering to laws or social norms. It recognizes the interconnectedness of humanity and emphasizes the requirement for respect and cooperation among people, institutions, and cultures. Advancing the idea of justice beyond legal, religious, or cultural doctrines, Stoic justice integrates acting with wisdom, benevolence, and compassion towards all living beings, highlighting the importance of autonomy and respect.
Lawrence Kohlberg, a renowned developmental psychologist, and moral educator at Harvard University for many years, developed a progressive model of philosophical and psychological development of moral reasoning. Kohlberg’s apex of moral thinking, called the post-conventional level, seems to align with the Stoic concept of justice. Moral reasoning elevates from self-centeredness to a consideration for others. The ability to reason evolves out of an initial reliance on external authority, dogma, and society norms, to the individual gradually internalizing values. This shift begins to develop independent reasoning and ethical principles.
Stoic social justice underscores living in accordance with nature and virtue. In today’s world, this means embracing the rational and orderly structure in the universe, often referred to as “nature” or “the natural order.” Living in accordance with natures involves understanding and accepting that much is out of our control, change is a constant, and knowing one’s role and responsibilities to ourselves, others, and society.
Living in accordance with nature requires one to exercise the virtues of justice, courage, wisdom, and temperance in every aspect of life. It necessitates acknowledging the interconnectedness of all living beings, treating them with kindness, compassion, and fairness, and cooperating for the greater good.
Central to the virtue of Stoic justice is striving for internal tranquility, a state of equilibrium through life’s storms. The Female Stoic is reminded that resilience and clarity of mind are essential for navigating life’s challenges effectively.
In Stoicism, living in accordance with virtue represents the commitment to the fundamental principles of wisdom — identifying what is truly valuable and important in life; courage — the ability to face uncertainty with bravery and resilience; temperance — practicing moderation, self-control, and restraint; and justice — striving to be honest, compassionate, and fair, and advocating for the welfare and rights of all.
May The Female Stoic be a safe place for humanity to grow into an elevated state of social justice and moral advancement. We are challenged to transcend conventional moral reasoning that is deeply rooted in external ethics, legal structures, religious doctrines, and cultural expectations. Rather, we aspire to nurture a state of internalized equilibrium by integrating our individual principals of moral excellence.
