Stoicism is one of the most influential and enduring philosophical schools of the Hellenistic and Roman eras, offering a profound practical framework for ethics, psychology, and personal resilience. 1. Full Name of the Founder and the Philosophical School: The founding father of Stoicism was 'Zeno of Citium' (c. 334 – c. 262 BCE). The school derives its name from the 'Stoa Poikile' (Painted Porch), a public colonnade in the Agora of Athens where Zeno gathered with his disciples to teach. 2. Historical Background and Biography: Zeno was a Phoenician merchant from Citium in Cyprus. After surviving a devastating shipwreck in which he lost all his wealth, he arrived in Athens and immersed himself in philosophy, studying under the Cynics, Megarians, and Academics. Stoicism developed across three major phases: Early Stoicism (Zeno, Cleanthes, Chrysippus), Middle Stoicism (Panaetius, Posidonius), and Late Imperial Roman Stoicism (Seneca, Epictetus, and Emperor Marcus Aurelius). 3. Core Philosophical Structure and Concepts: Stoic philosophy is traditionally divided into Logic, Physics, and Ethics. - The Logos: Stoics believed that the universe is an interconnected, rational cosmos governed by a divine reason (Logos). - The Dichotomy of Control: Stoicism posits that humans must distinguish between what is up to us (our thoughts, beliefs, impulses, and actions) and what is not up to us (external events, outcomes, reputation, and mortality). Suffering arises when we attempt to control the uncontrollable. - Virtue as the Supreme Good: Virtue (Wisdom, Courage, Justice, and Temperance) is the sole necessary and sufficient condition for human flourishing (Eudaimonia) and inner peace (Ataraxia). - Amor Fati and Living in Accordance with Nature: Embracing fate and rationally accepting the natural order of the universe. 4. Profound Impact on Society, Ethics, and History: Stoicism introduced early notions of Universal Cosmopolitanism, regarding all human beings as equal citizens of the universe regardless of class or ethnicity. It profoundly influenced Christian theology, Enlightenment philosophy (such as Spinoza and Kant), and modern psychology, serving as the direct theoretical foundation for Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT).