“A man gotta have a code.”
— Omar Little, The Wire
Everyone needs a moral code to help guide their life; otherwise, they are no better than a leaf blowing in the wind, driven by the ever-shifting dictates of society. For many, that code is defined by their religion, for others, their community/culture, and for the majority, it is whatever they see their friends doing or whatever they are told by social media is the current definition of “right” behavior. Your code is your guide to determining what is right or wrong, both in your behavior and that of others.
In my life, I have made Stoic philosophy the basis for my code. In my code, I have defined what I believe and why (with references), and how these beliefs influence the behaviors I consider to be good (those I strive to do) and bad (those I strive to avoid).
If you lack a moral framework for deciding what is good or bad, right or wrong in your own life, or you are tired of the inconsistencies in morality as defined by religion or society, consider this a starting point for developing your own “code”.
What I Believe and Why
Humans are evolved apes.
As animals, we are still shaped by instincts and emotions, and these remain a powerful influence on our behavior. See Human Evolution Evidence
Humans are innately irrational, lazy, and emotional.
We constantly invent stories regarding what we did or failed to do, in order to deceive others or justify our actions to ourselves. Because we are so attuned to stories, we can be easily misled by them. See Predictably Irrational
Humans are not naturally guided by reason.
Reasoning takes effort and must be learned and practiced to be useful. See Misbelief
All humans are capable of evil.
Evil can be driven by upbringing, culture or religion, or an innate psychological defect in an individual. Those who are evil lack empathy and see others not as people but rather objects to be manipulated, killed or discarded in order to satisfy their needs or interests. See The Lucifer Effect
Children without proper guidance will grow up to be narcissists or worse.
Children grow into narcissistic adults as a result of poor parenting. This behavior defines the word “Bad”. See The Culture of Narcissism
Everyone makes mistakes.
It is by our mistakes that we learn what doesn’t work and work to find better solutions. Intelligence is not defined by never making mistakes, but rather by learning from them and not repeating them: the definition of stupidity. See Proverbs 24:16
Our lives are shaped by the choices we make.
Every decision we make, no matter how small, moves the arrow of our lives. At any moment, if we are unhappy with who or where we are, we can decide to make better choices. See Man’s Search for Meaning
Life is not fair.
Some things are in our control, most are not. How we respond to adversity is in our power: to either let ourselves be overcome or continue to act virtuously regardless of the outcome. See The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck
Whether there is an afterlife should not be our concern.
We will all find out one way or another when we die. To spend our lives guessing or worrying is a waste of the time we have. We should strive to live a virtuous life, and let the chips fall where they may. See The Morality of Happiness
The scientific method is our best tool for understanding reality.
When practiced correctly, it allows us to continuously deepen and evolve our understanding of reality. See A Field Guide to Lies
Science, when institutionalized, can become dogmatic.
Like religion or any other ideology, followers of outdated scientific theories can cling to them in order to preserve their power or influence, opposing evidence that invalidates their views. See Broken Science
We should be skeptical of unfounded claims.
We must test claims wherever possible and verify them as best we can before provisionally considering them valid. The greater the claim, the greater should be the evidence to support it. See Skeptic
We should remain open to new knowledge.
When we discover or are exposed to information that causes us to question our existing beliefs, we should not dismiss it out of hand. Likewise, we should not waste time examining implausible claims until there is plausible evidence to support them. See Skeptic
The larger and older an institution, the likely its purpose has been corrupted.
History shows that the more archaic an institution, the more it focuses on protecting its leaders, institution and dogma, rather than delivering on its original purpose. See The Great Degeneration
Constant lies are a warning sign of bad or evil intent.
Those who rely on deceit are showing their true character, and their words and motives should not be trusted. See The Sociopath Next Door
Strong families produce strong children.
Children raised by stable, loving, and disciplined parents have the greatest chance for happy lives and the strength to weather adversity. See Bringing Up a Moral Child
Not all cultural and moral values are equal.
Those cultures and values that tolerate or promote deviancy, injustice or violence should be resisted. See The Right Side of History, and Teach Your Children the Truth about Islam
The forced merger of different cultures leads to chaos and destruction.
Clashes between cultures with different moral values destroy those that are morally weak. See The Strange Death of Europe
An unjust law or institution carries no authority.
When laws contradict reason and virtue, they lose their claim on our obedience. To submit to them is to betray the virtue of justice. See MLK, Letter from Birmingham Jail and the Declaration of Independence
Wealth cannot be created by taking from one to give to another.
Redistribution not only distributes wealth but also power. See No, They Can’t
Nothing in life is free.
Promises of something for nothing are almost always lies meant to exploit us. See No Free Lunch
Virtue is the best path to living a meaningful life.
By leveraging our capacity to reason, living in harmony with nature, accepting fate, freeing ourselves from destructive passions, and working for the betterment of the world we live in. See Seneca, Moral Letters to Lucilius
How I Try and Live My Life
Distinguish what is within my control
Epictetus made this the foundation of Stoic philosophy: “Some things are in our control and others not” (Enchiridion 1). Freedom and peace come from focusing on my judgments and choices, not on external events.
Cultivate wisdom
Wisdom is the ability to judge rightly and act according to reason. Seneca noted, “It is not that we have a short time to live, but that we waste much of it” (On the Shortness of Life 1). Wisdom helps me spend my days purposefully.
Practice courage
Life demands fortitude in the face of fear, pain, and uncertainty. Seneca reminded Lucilius that “it is not that life is hard, but that we are weak” (Letters 13). Courage strengthens me to meet hardship as training rather than disaster.
Exercise temperance
Self-mastery is the freedom not to be enslaved by our desires. Marcus Aurelius urged restraint: “If it is not right, do not do it; if it is not true, do not say it” (Meditations 12.17). Temperance disciplines both word and deed.
Uphold justice
Justice is the foundation of community, for without it, all other virtues collapse into selfishness. Marcus Aurelius declared, “Injustice is impiety” (Meditations 9.1), meaning that to wrong another person is to violate the very order of nature itself. Justice preserves human fellowship, while injustice tears it apart, and for this reason, the Stoics considered justice the highest expression of virtue.
Recognize externals as indifferent
Wealth, possessions, and reputation are not good or bad in and of themselves. As Marcus Aurelius said, “Things of themselves have no power to form our judgment. They do not come to us and say what they are. It is we who give them their meaning.” (Meditations 5.36). What makes something external to me good or bad lies in how I use it.
Train my perception
How I see events determines how I experience them. As Epictetus taught, “Men are disturbed not by things, but by the views which they take of things.” By altering my perception, I alter my reality, allowing me to experience life’s downturns without being distressed by them.
Prepare for adversity
The wise anticipate misfortune, not in fear but in readiness. Seneca counseled, “He robs present ills of their power who has perceived their coming beforehand” (Letters 91). By rehearsing hardship, I can blunt its sting.
Accept fate with equanimity
The Stoic embraces the unfolding of events as part of the greater whole. Epictetus counseled, “Do not seek for things to happen the way you want them to; rather, wish that what happens happen the way it happens: then you will be happy.” To accept what comes is to align myself with nature and find peace in its order.
Practice self-examination
Progress requires reflection. Seneca ended each day by questioning his actions: “When the light has been removed and my wife has fallen silent, I examine my entire day and go back over what I have done and said” (Letters 83).
Guard my thoughts
Not every impression deserves belief. Epictetus taught: “Do not let the force of impression carry you away; say, ‘Wait for me a little, impression’” (Discourses 2.18). By pausing, I can choose reason over impulse.
Choose my company wisely
Our character is shaped by those we spend time with. Seneca warned, “Associate with those who will make a better man of you. Welcome those whom you yourself can improve. The process is mutual; for men learn while they teach” (Letters 7). To keep bad company is to invite corruption; to walk with the virtuous is to strengthen my own virtue.
Avoid the temptations of vice
Vice is the opposite of virtue, and it corrodes the soul from within. Seneca observed, “To live with vice is to live with an enemy in your own house” (Letters 28). Anger, greed, envy, and indulgence are snares that draw us away from reason and enslave us to impulse. To shun vice is not merely to avoid wrongdoing but to preserve the health of my soul and keep the path of virtue clear.
Fulfill my duty and responsibility
The Stoics taught that life is not our own to squander but a trust we must honor. Marcus Aurelius insisted, “A man’s worth is measured by what he does to help his fellow man” (Meditations 8.26). To fulfill one’s duty—whether as parent, leader, friend, or citizen—is to live in service of the greater whole, and to shirk duty is to betray myself and the world I live in.
Transform obstacles into opportunities
Adversity can strengthen character if approached with reason. Marcus Aurelius wrote, “The impediment to action advances action. What stands in the way becomes the way” (Meditations 5.20). Like exercise, obstacles strengthen my ability to deal with adversity.
Accept that my time is limited and unknown
Awareness of death clarifies life. Marcus Aurelius reminded himself, “You could leave life right now. Let that determine what you do and say and think” (Meditations 2.11). My time is limited; I shall seek not to waste it.