Stoicism in a Surveillance State: Virtue in the World of 1984
Episode #364
Introduction
In this episode, we dive deep into the totalitarian world of George Orwell’s 1984 and ask: Could a Stoic survive—and even thrive—there? What does inner freedom look like when the outer world is a prison? And how might Stoic philosophy be the ultimate rebellion in a world where truth is erased, thought is policed, and fear is everywhere?
Setting the Stage: What is 1984?
For those unfamiliar, Orwell’s 1984 is a chilling vision of a dystopian society where:
Truth is falsified by the government’s Ministry of Truth.
Citizens are constantly surveilled via telescreens.
Thinking against the regime is considered a crime: “Thoughtcrime.”
People who dissent disappear—vaporized—from both life and history.
This isn’t just fiction. It’s a magnified reflection of the fragility of truth and the strength of state power.
The Dialogue: Cassius and Alex
To bring Stoic philosophy into this world, we imagine a conversation between two people:
Cassius – a Stoic living in the 1984 regime.
Alex – a modern person, overwhelmed by the chaos of everyday life.
Through their dialogue, we explore what it means to be internally free even when the world is externally oppressive.
Key themes in the dialogue:
Peace does not depend on freedom of movement, but on freedom of thought.
Virtue can survive even in secret, in silence, and under threat.
Modern people may have more freedom, but often less peace.
Alex:
I don’t get it. You live in hell. Cameras, lies, no freedom. How can you stay calm? How can you not collapse under the pressure?
Cassius:
Because I do not depend on the outer world for my peace.
Alex:
You’re being watched every second. You could be vaporized tomorrow. You can’t speak freely or even think freely. Doesn’t that destroy you?
Cassius:
They can watch my hands, but they cannot chain my mind unless I offer them the key.
They can kill my body, but not the part of me that reasons, chooses, and remains just.
Alex:
That sounds like denial.
Cassius:
It is clarity. You, too, are surrounded — not by telescreens, but by temptations and noise. Endless choices, but no stillness. You mistake movement for freedom.
Alex:
Okay. But I’m not being tortured. You are.
Cassius:
Then your situation should allow you to practice virtue even more easily. Or do you believe peace only comes in easy times?
Alex:
No, but… I guess I never thought of freedom as something internal. I always thought it had to mean doing whatever I want.
Cassius:
Then you are a slave — not to the Party, but to impulse. To opinion. To fear.
A man in chains who obeys his reason is freer than one who obeys only appetite in a palace.
Alex (quietly):
That’s hard to hear. But maybe true.
Cassius:
Truth is often hard — especially for those raised in comfort.
But take heart: the soul does not need ideal conditions to be great.
Even here, in this ruined world, I can be honest. Brave. Just. Disciplined.
I can do what is right, even when it costs me.
Alex:
And what if they break you? Like Winston. Like everyone?
Cassius:
Then let them break my body. Let them claim victory over my flesh.
But if I choose my response wisely until the end — then they have not truly won.
They have only shown that I held to virtue in a world that no longer recognizes it.
And that, my friend… is defiance at its purest.
Alex:
You’re not what I expected. You’re not bitter.
How can you stay so… whole?
Cassius:
Because I do not place my happiness in things they can take from me.
I live by this: Do what is right. Let the rest come as it will.
Alex (softly):
“Let the rest come as it will.”
Maybe that’s where my peace is too.
Cassius:
It always was.
What Would a Stoic Do in 1984?
1. Protect Inner Freedom
“They can kill my body, but they cannot kill my soul.”
A Stoic wouldn’t fight the regime with violence or loud defiance. They would protect the only thing that truly belongs to them: their judgment, values, and choices.
2. Accept What’s Out of Their Control
“Do not demand that things happen as you wish, but wish that they happen as they do.”
The Stoic doesn’t whine or wish for a different world—they act rightly within this one.
3. Practice Silent Virtue
Even if speaking truth is dangerous, a Stoic can:
Offer kindness in a harsh world.
Support others with calm presence.
Write down truths quietly for future generations.
4. Prepare to Suffer with Dignity
“The greater the difficulty, the more glory in surmounting it.” — Epicurus
To suffer while holding onto reason is to resist with dignity. It is the ultimate act of rebellion: to remain whole when the world tries to break you.
Modern Application: Are We Really Free?
Alex’s life might not include telescreens, but he is distracted, restless, and often a slave to impulse. The takeaway?
Freedom isn’t just the absence of surveillance—it’s mastery over the self. The dialogue asks modern listeners:
Are we truly free, or just entertained and overwhelmed?
Are we shaped by reason, or ruled by fear and appetite?
Final Thought:
The Stoic’s goal isn’t to win power—it’s to stay whole. In a world like 1984, where the regime owns everything but your soul, holding onto virtue is the most powerful thing you can do.
“Do what is right. Let the rest come as it will.”