Anger

• Stoic philosopher Lucius Annaeus Seneca in the first century CE.
• Seneca wrote:

…anger is a temporary madness, and that even when justified, we should never act on the basis of it because, though ‘other vices affect our judgment, anger affects our sanity: others come in mild attacks and grow unnoticed, but men’s minds plunge abruptly into anger. … Its intensity is in no way regulated by its origin: for it rises to the greatest heights from the most trivial beginnings.’

• Seneca further wrote of the notion or idea of anger being a positive force when moderated:

…moderate anger is like flying pigs: there simply isn’t such a thing in the Universe.

• Stoics often wrote on motivation, in general stating:

… we are moved to action by positive emotions, such as a sense of indignation at having witnessed an injustice, or a desire to make the world a better place for everyone. Anger isn’t necessary for this action, and it usually gets in the way.

Nelson Mandela was influenced by Stoic Philosophy

• Nelson Mandela was sent to prison – for 27 years – by the Apartheid government of South Africa, and he was very, very angry. Now while not only was a grave injustice being perpetrated against him personally, but also against his people more generally.

He was heavily influenced by another Stoic philosopher: the Meditations of Marcus Aurelius. Marcus thought that if people are doing wrong, what you need to do instead is to ‘teach them then, and show them without being angry.’ Which is exactly what Mandela did so effectively. #Citation source

So, after studying the Stoics and reflecting on his situation, and that of his country… he was able to oversee one of those peaceful transitions to a better society that are unfortunately very rare in history.

Mandela realized that nurturing his anger, and insisting in thinking of his political opponents as sub-human monsters, would lead nowhere. He needed to overcome that destructive emotion, to reach out to the other side, to build trust, if not friendship. He befriended his own guard, and eventually his gamble paid off: he was able to oversee one of those peaceful transitions to a better society that are unfortunately very rare in history. #Citation source

Reflection and Application

• During this time when we are all thinking about the recent act of violence in our communities, perhaps it’s a good time to consider what we wish to teach our children about Anger, Acting on Anger and the math formula which states violence is the absence of reason. And the absence of reason is madness.

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References:

Seneca
Meditations of Marcelous Aurelious
Citation source
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