Stoic vs Epicurean Philosophy - Movie Review Example

Stoic vs. Epicurean Philosophy – A Film Analysis Marcus Aurelius could well sense how fleetinghis days were and that conspicuous ageing has increasingly caused the strengths of his youth to wear away. Since he has been able to manage living his life and leading by virtue and wisdom gained, his philosophy apparently holds the key to the Roman emperor’s real treasure and after foreseeing his demise, it occurs that Marcus Aurelius can only attain to a resolved end once Maximus becomes convinced to carry on his legacy and fulfill the rest of the objectives which would not afford to neglect involvement of the principles the emperor is profoundly invested in to keep in the name of honor over his philosophical achievements and of the glory and light which Rome is foreseen to come by. On trying to reform the moral state of the Roman Empire during his reign, Marcus Aurelius adopts such Stoic thought as placing much significance to the goodness of abstract entities of satisfaction despite absence of physical gratification. In one momentous portion of the film where Maximus said “I’ve seen much of the rest of the world. It is brutal and cruel and dark. Rome is the light,” Marcus Aurelius initiates his reply with “Yet you have never been there. You have not seen what it has become,” to allude that by ‘light’ he is pertaining to a kind of Rome that appreciates the essence of discernment or is at the point of truly maintaining high regard for intellectual enlightenment. To Maximus, nevertheless, on expressing his desire to go back home, in exchange of the outcome of valor shown within a long battle as an efficient military general, the Epicurean perspective manifests in utilizing this reaction towards the offer by which Marcus Aurelius affirmed “There is always someone left to fight. How can I reward Rome’s greatest general?” yet Maximus, with consistent heart and knowing the consequence he would utterly desire to gain, chooses to be granted an experience of life that is far from all troubles he has gotten accustomed to confront and would not certainly wish any further to dwell in such situation and the torments it brings to him and his comrades as a whole. His imagination of returning to his farm in Spain despite potentials at proceeding with the emperor’s request indicates the fundamental Epicurean belief that pleasure for which physical pain and mental anxiety are eliminated makes human yield to true happiness. The Epicurean character of Maximus is consequently one that fosters natural desires that are necessary so even while his courage and abilities are at work to their fullest, the fulfillment of his goals relies on simple or basic human activity and consumption which are tangible by nature that Maximus also misses the emperor’s high esteem of him as he pays focus to his original concern. In the principal doctrine of Epicurus, ‘Gladiator’ projects through Maximus the Epicurean proposition that ‘It is impossible to live a pleasant life without living wisely and well and justly, and it is impossible to live wisely and well and justly without living pleasantly. Whenever anyone of these is lacking, when for instance, the person is not able to live wisely, though he lives well and justly, it is impossible for him to live a pleasant life (Epicurus).’ So on uttering “There is no one left to fight, sire,” Maximus may have seen the futility of having to fight to defeat an enemy and win over a favor whether nationalistic or otherwise, because of the frequency of killings, as it instills indirect commission of crime and therefore prevents one from living well and justly in this case. On telling “You have proven your valor once again, Maximus. Let us hope for the last time,” Marcus Aurelius implies a Stoic approach that entails continuation of labor to meet a non-natural achievement since his yearning for the reformation of Rome’s moral aspect toward sincere virtuosity likely calls for an indefinite span filled with distressful undertakings and series of failures besides occasional victories. The intelligence behind the forces demonstrated by Maximus and his army on gaining triumph over the Germanic barbarians during the prolonged war has been acclaimed by Marcus Aurelius to the point of declining to consider his biological son, Commodus, for his heir, thus aiming to be annexed later by his adopted son and general to whom the full privileges of the throne are intended to be transferred. It is very unusual and most probably difficult for a father to hold such plan in execution however the Roman emperor would, in complying to align every move with the real motives, under Stoic light, prefer to sacrifice, a behavior distant from the recognition of Epicurean philosophy. Choosing to be relieved of the emperor’s desire, on the contrary, Maximus responds with the line “with all my heart, no,” to the offer, being fully conscious of the grave responsibility, commitment, and possible disillusionment that go with great honor. Likewise, the general is simply obligated to fulfill his duties apart from the natural longing that necessitates his returning to the state of order after battles where his actions are most alienated from all his imaginings of the real meaning of pleasure or perfection. To an Epicurean paradigm – ‘Death is nothing to us; for the body, when it has been resolved into its elements, has no feeling, and that which has no feeling is nothing to us.’ In the similar manner, stoicism recognizes the difference between matters that are within and those that are beyond human control. It argues that death is nothing dreadful, or that the only way it could be determined as such is when people surround the notion of death with the judgment that it is dreadful (The Ecole). Ataraxia, for the Epicurean individuals, refers to a state of mental tranquility that can only be possessed by getting rid of people with complicated living and who are politically involved. Instead, an Epicurean claims that one must establish affectionate and trustworthy friendships for him to be influenced with the similar pleasant attributes which enable him to acquire the desired tranquility of the mind. Equivalently, a Stoic point of view pertains to ‘apatheia’ as a mind state characterized by the absence of emotional turmoil. This may extend to allowing apathy or indifference to function over external things whereas both Epicurean and Stoic perspectives agree that the state of tranquility or imperturbability is the highest possible form of happiness one must go after. With a refined version of austere ideas presented by hedonism on pleasure, an Epicurean uses the principle that the maximum pleasure is reached once all pain, up to the slightest amount, is abolished. Stoics nevertheless appears to have acquired the Cynic premise which states that excessive wanting leads to unhappiness. As opposed to Epicureanism, it rather takes into account the significance of pursuing peace of mind through rational self-discipline than happiness by merely detaching from the presence of any pain (Stoicism). The film has successfully reiterated the political stance of the retiring Roman emperor who undoubtedly expresses how crucial it is for him to secure leadership which would genuinely address Roman’s way with human reasons which he is inclined to resolve by means of teaching subjects or nation the value found in wisdom and virtue from which material pleasure is excluded. To get to this end, Marcus Aurelius continues to dwell within a political atmosphere believing that whatever risks it brings about would direct an individual to a more sensible, intellectual process of getting into the desired outcome of gaining a serene philosophical identity. Apart from self-contentment through physical gain, Stoics encourages engagement with politics for the purpose of yielding to self-preservation. Without political affairs in their midst, Epicureans otherwise believes that anxiety is dissolved thereby alluding inexistence of pain since politics normally creates further annoyances to mental condition, posing threat to ignore sentiment or image of natural desires in mind which is opted to receive ataraxia as part of pleasure. Stoic and Epicurean philosophies both have their share of advantage and disadvantage depending on the balance by which humans are able to regulate either principle in accordance with the good that suits their lives and priorities. On examining the attitudes shown through the characters of Maximus and Marcus Aurelius, the Stoic approach seems to play superior since its immaterial goal and cause can become capable of affecting a multitude. A human being with Stoic upbringing develops flexibility that enables him to communicate with and handle different types of people whether good or bad which in effect, would build for him rich sources of knowledge and wisdom from which to draw strength of character. Works Cited Epicurus. “Principal Doctrines.” 2004. http://www.faculty.umb.edu/gary_zabel/Courses/Moral_and_Social_Problems/3.html. 9 Dec 2010. “Stoicism.” The Ecole Initiative. 2007. http://ecole.evansville.edu/articles/stoicism.html. 11 Dec 2010. “Stoicism.” 2010. http://jmerritt.net/documents/Philosophy/History/Ancient/Stoicism.htm. 10 Dec 2010. Read More