Are Stoics Optimists, Pessimists, or Realists?
Episode #341
In everyday conversation, we often hear terms like "optimist," "pessimist," and "realist" thrown around to describe how people approach life. These labels have clear associations: an optimist tends to see the positive in things, a pessimist expects the worst, and a realist tries to focus on practical matters without letting emotions or opinions cloud their perspective. While Stoicism has its own unique framework, many wonder where Stoic philosophy fits into this spectrum. Is it fundamentally realistic, as the Stoics strive to see life as it is? Or does it lean slightly toward optimism because of its emphasis on resilience and inner peace?
This article will explore the nuanced answer to that question by examining Stoicism’s relationship to realism and optimism, and why pessimism doesn’t make the cut.
Pessimism and Why It’s Not Stoic
To understand why Stoicism doesn’t align with pessimism, it helps to understand the psychology behind it. Pessimists expect negative outcomes as a form of emotional insulation. When they assume things will go wrong, they're less disappointed if they actually do. And if things turn out better than expected, they experience a pleasant surprise.
However, the Stoics wouldn’t endorse this way of thinking because pessimism inherently conditions the mind to focus on the negative, coloring one’s perception of life. Stoics believed that by training the mind to dwell on negative expectations, we’re priming ourselves to notice only the bad, leading us to miss the good. This perception bias has real consequences, as it can make the world appear harsher than it is, reinforcing a bleak view of life.
The Stoics, instead, practiced amor fati, or “love of fate,” which is not about expecting the worst or ignoring life’s challenges but rather about accepting life in its entirety—including hardship—with a spirit of resilience. A Stoic aims to understand life fully, rather than defaulting to seeing it through a lens of dread or resignation.
Optimism and Its Risks
Optimists, on the other hand, focus on the good, setting high expectations and emphasizing positive outcomes. While this has clear benefits, such as motivating people to approach life with hope and enthusiasm, it carries its own risks. If an optimist encounters something contrary to their positive expectations, they may struggle with disappointment, especially if those letdowns are frequent or severe. Furthermore, an optimistic mindset can sometimes overlook real dangers and pitfalls in life, leaving one vulnerable to harm that could have been avoided with a more balanced approach.
While Stoics appreciate the optimism that comes with seeking the good in every situation, they temper it with realism. They aim not to see the world solely through a positive or hopeful lens but to train themselves to face reality, accepting both the pleasant and the unpleasant without veering into denial or despair.
Realism and Its Appeal to the Stoics
Realism claims to be unbiased. A realist sees things as they are, without attaching positive or negative expectations. This clear-eyed perspective is closely aligned with Stoicism. Stoics strive to live “according to nature,” which essentially means living in harmony with the world as it truly is. This philosophy emphasizes understanding and embracing the facts of existence, focusing on what is within our control (our actions, attitudes, and thoughts) and letting go of what is not (outcomes, other people’s behavior, and external events).
The problem, as the transcript suggests, is that even realism can carry a hint of hubris. To be a true realist, one must accurately judge “what is,” yet our personal experiences and biases inevitably color our perceptions. People who claim to be realists might actually lean pessimistic or optimistic, depending on their own inclinations and biases. The Stoics addressed this by emphasizing awareness of these biases, aiming for a perspective that is as objective as possible, even if true objectivity is unattainable.
So, Are Stoics Realists with a Touch of Optimism?
In answering whether Stoics are realists, pessimists, or optimists, we can quickly rule out pessimism. Stoicism is fundamentally a philosophy of resilience, self-control, and inner peace, which has little in common with the pessimistic inclination toward expecting the worst. Stoics don’t fixate on the negative; they choose to look for growth, improvement, and clarity within life’s challenges.
However, Stoicism is not entirely cold realism, either. While Stoics strive to see life as it is, they do so with a slight tilt toward optimism. Marcus Aurelius, for example, advises finding the good in others, and Stoics encourage seeing every situation as an opportunity for virtue and personal growth. They believe in the possibility of enduring pain, poverty, or even death with a sense of inner peace and integrity. Their outlook is realistic but hopeful, rooted in the conviction that one’s response to adversity can lead to tranquillity, strength, and even happiness.
At the heart of Stoicism is amor fati—not only accepting one’s fate but embracing it with love. This perspective goes beyond mere acceptance or realism, leaning into a sort of optimistic realism. Stoics don’t just accept life as it is; they find meaning in it, even in suffering. By practicing amor fati, the Stoic learns to love their life in its entirety, seeing each hardship as a chance to cultivate resilience and virtue.
Conclusion
So, where do Stoics fall on the spectrum between pessimism, realism, and optimism? While they are fundamentally realists, their philosophy tilts toward a grounded, resilient optimism. Stoics believe that no matter the circumstance, we have the agency to choose our response and cultivate inner tranquillity, even amidst life’s inevitable challenges. This is the unique strength of Stoic philosophy: it offers a way to see life clearly, embracing reality with a hopeful, resilient heart.
Support the Show
You can expect one free episode of the podcast every single Tuesday. These episodes will either be a 20-minute (or so) solo episode diving deep into a single philosophical topic, or a guest episode, where I bring on incredible guests to chat philosophy.
For the full Strong Stoic experience, I encourage you to consider becoming a paid subscriber. You’ll get access to premium episodes of the Paradoxically Speaking podcast with Joshua Bertolotti, access to my Steps to Success interview series, a bi-weekly exclusive article analyzing a particular quote, and additional benefits from time to time.
***If you’d like to become a paid member but cannot afford it, feel free to contact me directly; I’ll happily provide a complimentary membership (no questions asked).
Stay Connected
Brandon Tumblin is most well-known for his podcast, The Strong Stoic Podcast, where he discusses philosophical ideas (solo and guest episodes).
Brandon is also a writer for THE STOIC, the official journal of The Stoic Gym.