Pronoia: The Stoic Providence

Roman Stoicism from the Aristocratic Republic to Marcus Aurelius

Colin E. Davis

• Publisher: Austin Macauley Publishers
• Year: 2024
• eBook ISBN:
  9781035833474
• Topic: Philosophy
• Subtopic: Philosophy History & Theory

In the vast expanse of the mind lies a space, delicately poised between tangible reality and the ethereal unknown. This realm, governed by the unwavering justice and cosmic reason of the logos, is familiar to only a select few: philosophers who grasp its profound significance. Within Pronoia: The Stoic Providence, the spotlight is cast not on a linear history of Stoicism, but on its deeper theoretical underpinnings. The narrative delves into the Stoics' understanding of humanity's place within this living logos and the contrasts between these philosophical beliefs and the martial character of the Roman state. As the text unfolds, readers are introduced to how Stoic thought shaped the vision of an ideal state and the role of the principate from Augustus to Marcus Aurelius. Critical questions emerge: Why did the Stoic circle uphold the 'optimus civis' and dismiss certain emperors they deemed unworthy? How did iconic Stoic figures like Cato the Younger and his nephew Brutus become symbols of philosophical resistance against the early empire's less 'enlightened monarchs'? Only the philosopher-king, wielding the wisdom of both worlds, can bridge these realms, bestowing upon his subjects a understanding of their cosmic destiny. This exploration illuminates the intricate intersections of philosophy and politics within the Stoic worldview.

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title Page
• About the Author
• Dedication
• Copyright Information ©
• Acknowledgment
• MAP OF THE MEDITERRANEAN BASIN AND THE ROMAN EMPIRE
• Preface
• Part A: Hellenistic Fire
• Shadows in the Cave
• Chapter One Stoic Cosmology
• Chapter Two Metaphysics and ‘Things Indifferent’
• Part B: Roman Stoicism
• Chapter Three Stoic Ethics and Duties Within the Aristocratic Republic
• Chapter Four Roman Stoicism and the Mixed Constitution
• Chapter Five Augustus—Fulfilment of the Stoic Corrector-King
• Chapter Six The Stoic Paradox
• Chapter Seven Tyrants and the Stoic Opposition
• Chapter Eight Progress Towards Virtue
• Chapter Nine The Philosopher King
• Chapter Ten Stoic Existentialism
• Timeline of Stoicism in the Hellenistic and Roman World to AD 180
• Appendix 1 Zeno’s Works
• Appendix 2 On Kingship—Dio Chrysostom
• Appendix 3 Hymn to Zeus by Cleanthes (Abridged)
• Appendix 4 List of Cited Stoic Philosophers from Zeno to Marcus Aurelius
• Appendix 5 Extracts from Book One of the Meditations
• Appendix 6 The Stoic Porcia
• Specific Terms
• Bibliography
• Notes