Broicism vs Stoicism

It’s important to refrain from being swayed by the rhetoric of figures like Andrew Tate or proponents of Broicism. Many of these individuals don’t honestly believe in their own words or understand the essence of Stoic philosophy. They aim to provoke a reaction from you under the misguided belief that you’re weak. However, their lack of understanding of Stoicism undermines their credibility.

Broicism

Broicism is a term used to describe masculinists who use Stoic philosophy online. Followers of this imitation philosophy often make some of the famous Stoic philosophers, such as Marcus Aurelius, Seneca, Epictetus, and Zeno, look like modern-day bodybuilders, which is obviously inaccurate. Anyone familiar with the history of Stoicism immediately recognizes these individuals follow what we call lowercase Stoicism.

Lowercase Stoicism is a modern term that refers to a coping style or personality trait that involves suppressing or concealing negative emotions. It’s often associated with phrases like “suck it up” or “man up.”

Stoicism

Stoicism is a school of philosophy that originated in ancient Greece and Rome and is known for its focus on practicing virtue to achieve a well-lived life.

Stoicism is the equivalent of what we now call resiliency. It is about understanding your emotions and knowing how to control them productively. Contrary to popular beliefs, it does not mean you are unflappable and never show your emotions publicly. To categorize it this way illustrates that you don’t understand it.

Books on Stoicism