Hellenistic Greek philosophers moderated and improved earlier philosophies into the ethical philosophy of Stoicism. The realistic, but morally idealistic philosophy was particularly popular among the Romans, where it was important enough to have been called a religion.
Originally, the Stoics were the followers of Zeno of Citium who taught in Athens. Such philosophers came to be known for the location of their school, the painted porch/colonnade or stoa poikile; whence, Stoic. For Stoics, virtue is all you need for happiness, although happiness is not the goal. Stoicism was a way of life. The goal of Stoicism was to avoid suffering by leading a life of apatheia (whence, apathy), which means objectivity, rather than not caring, and self control.
1. Marcus Aurelius
2. Zeno of Citium
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3. Cleanthes
Cleanthes was the second head of the Stoic school. He looked at physics as the base for ethics.4. Chrysippus
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5. Cato the Younger
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6. Pliny the Younger
A Roman statesman and letter writer, Pliny the Younger admits that he is not Stoic enough to be merely content with the consciousness of having done his duty.7. Epictetus
Epictetus was born a slave in Phrygia but came to Rome. Eventually he won his freedom from his crippling, abusive master and left Rome. As a stoic, Epictetus thought man should be concerned solely with will, which alone he can control. External events are beyond such control.8. Seneca
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