Technological Stoicism: an old philosophy in the service of new technology

Eleni Karabatzaki, Associate Professor of History of Philosophy (ret.) University of Ioannina

Stoicism is one of the three new philosophical schools , which appeared during the hellenistic times as a response to the newly emerged socio-political needs of an “oecumenic” age(the other two being Epicureanism and ancient Scepticism). The main focus of all three was moral, the achievement of eudaimonia-well being throuh apathy, ataraxia, and epoche respectively.

Stoicism with a life-span of 500 years and three phases(Ancient, Middle and New) exercised a great impact on Roman Society, Renaissance and Enlightenement, as well as in recent years as a very helpful moral, practical philosophy for every day life.

It is very interesting that , starting 15-10 years ago, there is an ever growing recognition of the value and utility of stoic ethics, particularly their views on wisdom, courage, justice, and phronesis vs the problems, moral and existential, produced by the application and use of information and artificial inteligence technology for the well-being of those working in theses fields, as well as of the general public. In this paper having as a starting point the last work of Edward Spence we will shortly present and discuss these views, which believe that accepting at a practical level the stoic views, we can have a substantial help for the ‘control’ of these technological acievements, which, if abused, threaten human psychologial, and social well-being.

Selective bibliography

Spence , Edward: Stoic Philosophy and the Control of AI Technology, Rowman and Littlefield, Maryland, 2021

Jill, James, Stoicism when Technology fails: Ancient Step for a Modern Path, Cicero Institute, modern Stoicism.com

Holiday , Ryan and Hanselman, Stephen , The daily Stoic: 366 Meditations on Wisdom, Perseverance, and the Art of

Living,(https: //en.m.wikipedia.org)

De Haro, Giullielmino, The Stoicism of management(ie-edu/insights/articles)

Pigliucci, Massimo and Lopes, Gregory: A Handbook for New Stoics. How to thrive in a World out of your Control. 52 week by week Lessons(e-book)