Existentialism and Stoicism

Existentialism and Stoicism share some key agreements and disagreements. Stoics believe in an inherent meaning provided by God or nature, while existentialists reject this notion. Existentialists see the world as absurd due to the lack of meaning, while Stoics believe in order and purpose. Existentialism emphasizes that existence precedes essence, that we must construct our own meaning and reject pre-established functions. Both philosophies recognize the angst and struggle involved in grappling with the meaning of life. Stoics and existentialists encourage authenticity and reject nihilism as a way to confront the inherent lack of meaning. While they have some differences, Stoics can adopt certain tools from existentialism to authentically face ambiguity and difficulty in life.