Stoic Dogmatism: You Weren’t Born Good

[DISCLAIMER]

As Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) is informed by Stoic philosophy, this blog entry is part of an ongoing series regarding a book entitled The Daily Stoic: 366 Meditations on Wisdom, Perseverance, and the Art of Living by Ryan Holiday and Stephen Hanselman.

The authors quote Roman Stoic philosopher Gaius Musonius Rufus, who stated, “The human being is born with an inclination toward virtue” (page 330). Regarding this point of view, authors of The Daily Stoic state (page 330):

The notion of original sin has weighed down humankind for centuries. In reality, we’re made to help each other and be good to each other. We wouldn’t have survived as a species otherwise.

There is hardly an idea in Stoic philosophy that wouldn’t be immediately agreeable to a child or that doesn’t jibe with common sense. The ideas within it go to the core of who we are and what we know to be true. The only things they conflict with are the various inventions of society—which usually serve some selfish interest more than they benefit the common good.

It would be difficult for me to disagree more with the authors than I already do. While ancient and modern Stoics laud subjective virtues which are believed to be objective in composition, and the supposed goodness of humanity, I see no valid and reliable evidence to support these claims.

Rather, I view such unfalsifiable beliefs as little more than dogma, which one source defines as “in its broadest sense, is any belief held definitively and without the possibility of reform.” According to the American Psychological Association, dogmatism of this sort is thusly defined:

1. the tendency to act in a blindly certain, assertive, and authoritative manner in accordance with a strongly held set of beliefs.

2. a personality trait characterized by this tendency. The belief system of such an individual is strongly held and resistant to change. Nevertheless, it often contains elements that are isolated from one another and thus may contradict one another.

Stoic dogmatism is virtually impossible to alter without one who holds such dogmatic beliefs demonstrating a willingness to entertain the notion that one’s beliefs may be invalid and unreliable. For example, authors of The Daily Stoic further maintain (page 330):

You were born good. “All of us have been made by nature,” Rufus said, “so that we can live free from error and nobly—not that one can and another can’t, but all.” You were born with an attraction to virtue and self-mastery.

If you’ve gotten far from that, it’s not out of some inborn corruption but from a nurturing of the wrong things and the wrong ideas. As Seneca has pointed out, philosophy is a tool to strip it all away—to get back to our true nature.

The claim that “you were born good” is dogmatic, as well as incapable of being proved false. To expand upon what I mean, I invite you to consider that when listening to an episode of the DarkHorse Podcast by biologists Bret Weinstein and Heather Heying, Weinstein thusly stated:

You can validate the dogma. The more extreme your validation, the faster you’re going to rise. And if you say anything that goes against the dogma, you have to explain it away.

And you have to deliver the paragraph that says, “We found X, but we still believe Y.” So the point is, this is, hey, this isn’t science you’re looking at. It’s something that uses the language of science.

It has some of the methods of science, but it is not scientific because somebody’s got their thumb on the scales. Now, the right way to say what they found is, “We do not know what to make of this result. Yes, it is possible that this result does not mean what it appears to mean.”

Using scientific logic and reason (i.e., rational thinking) outlined by Weinstein, philosophical dogma, specifically Stoic dogmatism, posits, ‘We found that human beings are fallible (Y), but we still believe they’re inherently good (Y),’ all without any evidence to support the claim.

One may argue that Stoics don’t differentiate between fallibility (i.e., imperfection) and goodness (i.e., the quality or state of being good—of a favorable character or tendency). From this perspective, one can be both an imperfect person and morally or ethically good.

From an REBT worldview, people aren’t appraised or evaluated. For instance, I’m merely a faulty being. I can behave in a good or bad manner, though I’m not my actions. “So, what’s the distinction here?” you may ask, “why appraise or evaluate behavior and not people?”

Notably, I differentiate between morals and ethics. A “moral” is a person’s standard of behavior or belief concerning what is and isn’t acceptable for the individual and other people. Morals thus relate to what’s considered good, bad, right, wrong, or otherwise acceptable or unacceptable.

An “ethic” is a set of moral principles, especially those relating to or affirming a specified group, field, or form of conduct. Whereas morals relate to what is thought of as pleasing or displeasing behaviors and beliefs, ethics – based on morals – are the social rules by which we pledge to live.

For context, a principle is a comprehensive and fundamental law, doctrine, or assumption that serves as a rule or code of conduct with habitual devotion to this subjective morally and ethically right standard. Thus, principles are a form of values (something intrinsically desirable).

Given this framing of what is subjectively considered good, bad, right, wrong, or otherwise, I maintain that you weren’t born good. Objectively, you were born in a state of imperfection (e.g., you’re mortal). All the same, your behavior may be deemed subjectively good, bad, and so forth.

This is a key difference between my perspective on fallible human beings when compared and contrasted with the views of other Stoics. Thus, I don’t subscribe to Stoic dogmatism. You weren’t born good. You’re merely a fallible human being who can behave well, poorly, etc.

Alas, a Stoic may still dogmatically violate the standard outlined by Weinstein (i.e., “We found X, but we still believe Y.”). Thereby is a crucial distinction between science and philosophy. The former explores truth about reality, though the latter merely believes in concepts.

Ergo, science is a dedicated practice of learning about what simply is. Yet, Stoic dogmatism regards a method of (at times) irrationally clinging to assumptions which are incapable of being proved false. Therefore, one can merely believe in nonsense, such as “you were born good.”

If you’re looking for a provider who tries to work to help understand how thinking impacts physical, mental, emotional, and behavioral elements of your life—helping you to sharpen your critical thinking skills, I invite you to reach out today by using the contact widget on my website.

As a psychotherapist, I’m pleased to try to help people with an assortment of issues ranging from anger (hostility, rage, and aggression) to relational issues, adjustment matters, trauma experience, justice involvement, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, anxiety and depression, and other mood or personality-related matters.

At Hollings Therapy, LLC, serving all of Texas, I aim to treat clients with dignity and respect while offering a multi-lensed approach to the practice of psychotherapy and life coaching. My mission includes: Prioritizing the cognitive and emotive needs of clients, an overall reduction in client suffering, and supporting sustainable growth for the clients I serve. Rather than simply trying to help you to feel better, I want to try to help you get better!

Deric Hollings, LPC, LCSW

Photo credit, Designed by Magnific, fair use

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