What do the 3 Stoic disciplines have in common with the 3 branches?

You've probably come across the three Stoic disciplines of desire, action, and assent and heard that Stoicism is based on logic, physics, and ethics. For a long time, I struggled to bring both parts together and connect them in a way that made sense to me. It was just a little confusing. Here's my approach to unraveling this tangle. Hopefully, it'll help you, too.

The 3 branches

The following pillars or branches are the foundation of Stoicism's philosophical system:

1. Logic
2. Physics
3. Ethics

As there's no particular umbrella term for those three elements, I'll stay with branches for consistency.

Logic

Cultivating rationality and critical thinking skills is the essence of logic. 

As seekers of truth, we strive to comprehend nature and our individual roles (physics). How can we do that? By using logic to examine every thought process, emotion, and decision. Through engaging with logical principles and methodologies, we can navigate the complexities of information and arrive at sound conclusions that stand the test of scrutiny.

Physics

Physics seeks to seize the essence of nature and our role within it. It's vital to recognize the two aspects: nature as a whole and our role.

Stoic physics is significantly broader than modern physics or natural philosophy. So, when discussing Stoic physics, we must keep both distinct from each other so that we don't get misguided by our general understanding of physics.

In Stoicism, the cosmos is a pantheistic god (also called nature or the universe). God is the foundation of everything and embodies rationality as well as creativity. Constant change is the world's nature, and it's driven by the logos of God - the active principling governing everything with reason. Everything is woven together, and like a spider senses the slightest tremor when its delicate web is disturbed, it is the same in the universe. A faint touch on one end can cause a vibration and ripple through to the other.

To expand our limited perception and learn to recognize the details of the cosmic web, we engage in profound observation, conscious experiences, and deep reflection. That way, we can gather knowledge and understanding of how actions can cause an effect that shapes our lives in an interconnected cosmos. 

Ethics

At the center of Stoic ethics are profound reflections on virtue and human character (arete). It's not only about what is good or bad but also how we want to live and in what kind of society we want to live.

All of this helps and guides us in the pursuit of a fulfilling life.

Actively practicing kindness and handling other difficulties like insults or general life struggles assist us in achieving apatheia, the state of being free from passion. Most Stoic exercises are part of, or at least contribute to, ethics.

The 3 disciplines

Introduced by Epictetus, the three disciplines build a framework to practice Stoicism. By taking a closer look, we'll soon see how they are connected with the three branches.

The disciplines are:

1. Desire: The discipline of desire helps us understand our desires and aversions (negative desires) and decide where to focus our energy.
2. Action: Action leads to executing our decisions in alignment with the Stoic virtues and nature.
3. Assent: The discipline of assent helps us to make clear and rational judgments.

How both go hand in hand

To uncover their association, we need a link: the virtues. The best way to explain it is the Stoic egg, fantastically illustrated by Massimo Pigliucci (I recommend reading his article).

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I've used a slightly updated version of the Stoic egg and added "courage" as the second virtue of Stoic ethics.

Ethics - Justice/Courage - Action

The virtues of justice and courage are linked to ethics and action and ensure that we act and behave according to our nature. We expand the circles of concern, are kind to others, and think and act in a way that benefits the human family and the universe as a whole.

Physics - Self-Control - Desire

Obviously, we need self-control to tame our desires. But what's the connection to physics? Well, physics is about understanding the natural order of things, including our human role. At the same time, the discipline of desire helps us to understand what we should desire and what not - according to our nature. It fosters the understanding of what is good, bad, and indifferent.

For example, we naturally desire food and water to sustain our bodies. However, excessive desires, such as gluttony or addiction, can lead us away from our true nature and cause harm to ourselves and others.

By practicing self-control, we align our desires with the natural order of things and learn how to apply considerations from physics.

Logic - Wisdom - Assent

Wisdom is derived from thoughtful, rational, and deep contemplation of experiences and observations. It serves as our connector between logic and the discipline of assent, which helps us examine our impressions logically and arrive at rational judgments.

How you benefit

As we see, all branches are linked to each other and, through the virtues, connected to the disciplines. It underscores the significance of all within the Stoic philosophy. 

As we advance in our Stoic journey toward eudaimonia, every element becomes more and more vital. Thus, nurturing such an understanding of our life's philosophy and truly ingraining it in our hearts and minds is essential.

For example, a sole focus on ethics wouldn't allow us to see why cosmopolitanism is so crucial in Stoic philosophy. But with the bridge to physics, it becomes clear as a cloudless, star-studded night sky, revealing every detail perfectly. And with enough practice and openness, we can witness these details on all levels of our existence - intellectually, emotionally, and spiritually.

Then, we're truly on the right track to a flourishing life, and that's precisely the benefit!

Final thoughts

It requires every aspect of Stoicism to benefit from this beautiful philosophy to its fullest. Just as a single instrument contributes to a great symphony, each element of Stoicism plays a vital role. Like in a big orchestra, everything in nature is interconnected, and so are the parts of Stoicism. Alone, they are nothing more than nice instruments, but together, they're able to play a magnificent symphony.