{"id":1184,"date":"2023-08-19T12:47:21","date_gmt":"2023-08-19T12:47:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ajmajor.co.uk\/?p=1184"},"modified":"2024-07-15T15:21:24","modified_gmt":"2024-07-15T15:21:24","slug":"virtue-is-the-highest-good-the-stoic-path-to-a-fulfilling-life","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ajmajor.co.uk\/index.php\/2023\/08\/19\/virtue-is-the-highest-good-the-stoic-path-to-a-fulfilling-life\/","title":{"rendered":"Virtue is the Highest Good: The Stoic Path to a Fulfilling Life"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>In Stoic philosophy, the principle that &#8216;virtue is the highest good&#8217; serves as a guiding light. It helps individuals to seek a meaningful and fulfilling life. The Stoics believed that true happiness and fulfilment could be found through its cultivation and practice. In the discussion below, we delve into the essence of this Stoic tenet. We will see how embracing it can lead to a life of purpose, integrity, and personal growth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Nature of Virtue:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>According to the Stoics, virtue encompasses the four key qualities of wisdom, courage, justice and temperance. It is the embodiment of moral excellence and represents the highest expression of human potential. From this viewpoint, it is not merely an abstract concept. It is also a practical philosophy that guides us in our actions and decisions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Pursuit of Virtue:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Stoicism teaches that the pursuit of virtue should be the central focus of our lives. It thus encourages us to prioritise its development and practice in every aspect of our daily lives. By aligning thoughts, actions and intentions with virtuous principles, we can lead a life of integrity and moral excellence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Finding Happiness in Virtue:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The belief that true happiness, or &#8216;eudaimonia&#8217;, is not dependent on external circumstances or material possessions allowed the Stoics to seek lasting happiness in the cultivation of virtue. Embodying virtuous actions and living in accordance with moral principles bring about a sense of inner tranquility, contentment, and fulfilment. This way, we can transcend even the most challenging external factors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Living in Accordance with Nature:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Stoicism teaches individuals to live in accordance with nature; this includes living in alignment with reason and virtue. Believing that humans possess the capacity for reason and rationality, they felt that it should guide our actions. We should live in harmony with the natural order of the universe and align our behaviour with it. This way, we can achieve a state of inner harmony and fulfilment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Facing Adversity with Virtue:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Stoicism places great emphasis on how individuals respond to the challenges and adversities of life. The Stoics believed that true strength and resilience lie in maintaining virtuous behaviour, even in the face of hardships. They advocated for accepting what is beyond our control and focusing on the internal qualities that <em>can<\/em> be cultivated; qualities such as courage, patience, and wisdom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">A Call to Personal Growth:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>This idea presents us with an ongoing invitation for personal growth and self-improvement. It recognises that virtue is not attained overnight but requires continual effort and practice. Encouraging us to reflect on our actions, strive for self-awareness and actively work towards developing virtuous character traits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Implications for Society:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>But the Stoic emphasis on this tenet extends beyond the individual to society as a whole. The cultivation of virtue can lead to just and harmonious communities, where individuals treat each other with fairness, compassion, and empathy. By prioritizing it, individuals contribute to the betterment of society and promote a more ethical and compassionate world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">In Summary:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The Stoics invite us to embark on a transformative journey of personal growth, integrity and purpose. By cultivating and practicing virtuous behaviour, we can achieve true happiness and fulfilment, regardless of external circumstances. Embracing virtue as the highest good empowers us to lead lives of integrity, face challenges with resilience and contribute positively to society. In doing so, we embark on a path that brings us closer to our fullest potential as human beings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you have enjoyed reading this post, you may be interested in my other related articles <a href=\"https:\/\/ajmajor.co.uk\/index.php\/category\/life-balance\/stoicism\">collected here<\/a>, or my full set of wellbeing and personal development posts <a href=\"https:\/\/ajmajor.co.uk\/index.php\/keeping-life-in-balance\/\">here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>&#8220;Virtue is not to be considered in the light of a faculty which makes us turn to other things, but as a happy disposition and a good habit of the mind.&#8221;<\/p>\n<cite>Marcus Aurelius<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In Stoic philosophy, the principle that &#8216;virtue is the highest good&#8217; serves as a guiding light. It helps individuals to seek a meaningful and fulfilling life. The Stoics believed that true happiness and fulfilment could be found through its cultivation and practice. In the discussion below, we delve into the essence of this Stoic tenet. &hellip; <\/p>\n<p class=\"link-more\"><a href=\"https:\/\/ajmajor.co.uk\/index.php\/2023\/08\/19\/virtue-is-the-highest-good-the-stoic-path-to-a-fulfilling-life\/\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> &#8220;Virtue is the Highest Good: The Stoic Path to a Fulfilling Life&#8221;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2229,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[37,39],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1184","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-life-balance","category-stoicism"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.3 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Virtue is the Highest Good: The Stoic Path to a Fulfilling Life - AJ Major: Web Developer, Outdoor Enthusiast, Dog Lover<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"&#039;Virtue is the highest good&#039;: The Stoics advocate that a real sense of fulfilment comes from thinking about others, not just ourselves.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/ajmajor.co.uk\/index.php\/2023\/08\/19\/virtue-is-the-highest-good-the-stoic-path-to-a-fulfilling-life\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Virtue is the Highest Good: The Stoic Path to a Fulfilling Life - AJ Major: Web Developer, Outdoor Enthusiast, Dog Lover\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"&#039;Virtue is the highest good&#039;: The Stoics advocate that a real sense of fulfilment comes from thinking about others, not just ourselves.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/ajmajor.co.uk\/index.php\/2023\/08\/19\/virtue-is-the-highest-good-the-stoic-path-to-a-fulfilling-life\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"AJ Major: Web Developer, Outdoor Enthusiast, Dog Lover\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/profile.php?id=100087890916012\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:author\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/profile.php?id=100087890916012\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2023-08-19T12:47:21+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2024-07-15T15:21:24+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/ajmajor.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/img_5891-e1721055091892.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1350\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1350\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"ajmajor866@gmail.com\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"ajmajor866@gmail.com\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Estimated reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"3 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ajmajor.co.uk\\\/index.php\\\/2023\\\/08\\\/19\\\/virtue-is-the-highest-good-the-stoic-path-to-a-fulfilling-life\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ajmajor.co.uk\\\/index.php\\\/2023\\\/08\\\/19\\\/virtue-is-the-highest-good-the-stoic-path-to-a-fulfilling-life\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"ajmajor866@gmail.com\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ajmajor.co.uk\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/fa176e3204a5ce51588c35b745e59bad\"},\"headline\":\"Virtue is the Highest Good: The Stoic Path to a Fulfilling Life\",\"datePublished\":\"2023-08-19T12:47:21+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2024-07-15T15:21:24+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ajmajor.co.uk\\\/index.php\\\/2023\\\/08\\\/19\\\/virtue-is-the-highest-good-the-stoic-path-to-a-fulfilling-life\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":642,\"commentCount\":0,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ajmajor.co.uk\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/fa176e3204a5ce51588c35b745e59bad\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ajmajor.co.uk\\\/index.php\\\/2023\\\/08\\\/19\\\/virtue-is-the-highest-good-the-stoic-path-to-a-fulfilling-life\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ajmajor.co.uk\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2024\\\/07\\\/img_5891-e1721055091892.jpg\",\"articleSection\":[\"Life balance\",\"Stoicism\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/ajmajor.co.uk\\\/index.php\\\/2023\\\/08\\\/19\\\/virtue-is-the-highest-good-the-stoic-path-to-a-fulfilling-life\\\/#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ajmajor.co.uk\\\/index.php\\\/2023\\\/08\\\/19\\\/virtue-is-the-highest-good-the-stoic-path-to-a-fulfilling-life\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ajmajor.co.uk\\\/index.php\\\/2023\\\/08\\\/19\\\/virtue-is-the-highest-good-the-stoic-path-to-a-fulfilling-life\\\/\",\"name\":\"Virtue is the Highest Good: The Stoic Path to a Fulfilling Life - AJ Major: Web Developer, Outdoor Enthusiast, Dog Lover\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ajmajor.co.uk\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ajmajor.co.uk\\\/index.php\\\/2023\\\/08\\\/19\\\/virtue-is-the-highest-good-the-stoic-path-to-a-fulfilling-life\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ajmajor.co.uk\\\/index.php\\\/2023\\\/08\\\/19\\\/virtue-is-the-highest-good-the-stoic-path-to-a-fulfilling-life\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ajmajor.co.uk\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2024\\\/07\\\/img_5891-e1721055091892.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2023-08-19T12:47:21+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2024-07-15T15:21:24+00:00\",\"description\":\"'Virtue is the highest good': The Stoics advocate that a real sense of fulfilment comes from thinking about others, not just ourselves.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ajmajor.co.uk\\\/index.php\\\/2023\\\/08\\\/19\\\/virtue-is-the-highest-good-the-stoic-path-to-a-fulfilling-life\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/ajmajor.co.uk\\\/index.php\\\/2023\\\/08\\\/19\\\/virtue-is-the-highest-good-the-stoic-path-to-a-fulfilling-life\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ajmajor.co.uk\\\/index.php\\\/2023\\\/08\\\/19\\\/virtue-is-the-highest-good-the-stoic-path-to-a-fulfilling-life\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ajmajor.co.uk\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2024\\\/07\\\/img_5891-e1721055091892.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ajmajor.co.uk\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2024\\\/07\\\/img_5891-e1721055091892.jpg\",\"width\":1350,\"height\":1350},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ajmajor.co.uk\\\/index.php\\\/2023\\\/08\\\/19\\\/virtue-is-the-highest-good-the-stoic-path-to-a-fulfilling-life\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ajmajor.co.uk\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Virtue is the Highest Good: The Stoic Path to a Fulfilling Life\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ajmajor.co.uk\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ajmajor.co.uk\\\/\",\"name\":\"AJ Major: Web Developer, Outdoor Enthusiast, Dog Lover\",\"description\":\"Sharing experiences  of life and work.\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ajmajor.co.uk\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/fa176e3204a5ce51588c35b745e59bad\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ajmajor.co.uk\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\"},{\"@type\":[\"Person\",\"Organization\"],\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ajmajor.co.uk\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/fa176e3204a5ce51588c35b745e59bad\",\"name\":\"ajmajor866@gmail.com\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/27c5616b038cde09771db2142630ddfc3e24bfc57849b9067dc0905391dfc0d8?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/27c5616b038cde09771db2142630ddfc3e24bfc57849b9067dc0905391dfc0d8?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/27c5616b038cde09771db2142630ddfc3e24bfc57849b9067dc0905391dfc0d8?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"ajmajor866@gmail.com\"},\"logo\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/27c5616b038cde09771db2142630ddfc3e24bfc57849b9067dc0905391dfc0d8?s=96&d=mm&r=g\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/ajmajor.co.uk\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.facebook.com\\\/profile.php?id=100087890916012\",\"https:\\\/\\\/linkedin.com\\\/in\\\/andrew-major-6109a847\"],\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ajmajor.co.uk\\\/index.php\\\/author\\\/ajmajor866gmail-com\\\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Virtue is the Highest Good: The Stoic Path to a Fulfilling Life - AJ Major: Web Developer, Outdoor Enthusiast, Dog Lover","description":"'Virtue is the highest good': The Stoics advocate that a real sense of fulfilment comes from thinking about others, not just ourselves.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/ajmajor.co.uk\/index.php\/2023\/08\/19\/virtue-is-the-highest-good-the-stoic-path-to-a-fulfilling-life\/","og_locale":"en_GB","og_type":"article","og_title":"Virtue is the Highest Good: The Stoic Path to a Fulfilling Life - AJ Major: Web Developer, Outdoor Enthusiast, Dog Lover","og_description":"'Virtue is the highest good': The Stoics advocate that a real sense of fulfilment comes from thinking about others, not just ourselves.","og_url":"https:\/\/ajmajor.co.uk\/index.php\/2023\/08\/19\/virtue-is-the-highest-good-the-stoic-path-to-a-fulfilling-life\/","og_site_name":"AJ Major: Web Developer, Outdoor Enthusiast, Dog Lover","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/profile.php?id=100087890916012","article_author":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/profile.php?id=100087890916012","article_published_time":"2023-08-19T12:47:21+00:00","article_modified_time":"2024-07-15T15:21:24+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1350,"height":1350,"url":"https:\/\/ajmajor.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/img_5891-e1721055091892.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"ajmajor866@gmail.com","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"ajmajor866@gmail.com","Estimated reading time":"3 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/ajmajor.co.uk\/index.php\/2023\/08\/19\/virtue-is-the-highest-good-the-stoic-path-to-a-fulfilling-life\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/ajmajor.co.uk\/index.php\/2023\/08\/19\/virtue-is-the-highest-good-the-stoic-path-to-a-fulfilling-life\/"},"author":{"name":"ajmajor866@gmail.com","@id":"https:\/\/ajmajor.co.uk\/#\/schema\/person\/fa176e3204a5ce51588c35b745e59bad"},"headline":"Virtue is the Highest Good: The Stoic Path to a Fulfilling Life","datePublished":"2023-08-19T12:47:21+00:00","dateModified":"2024-07-15T15:21:24+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/ajmajor.co.uk\/index.php\/2023\/08\/19\/virtue-is-the-highest-good-the-stoic-path-to-a-fulfilling-life\/"},"wordCount":642,"commentCount":0,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/ajmajor.co.uk\/#\/schema\/person\/fa176e3204a5ce51588c35b745e59bad"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/ajmajor.co.uk\/index.php\/2023\/08\/19\/virtue-is-the-highest-good-the-stoic-path-to-a-fulfilling-life\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/ajmajor.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/img_5891-e1721055091892.jpg","articleSection":["Life balance","Stoicism"],"inLanguage":"en-GB","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/ajmajor.co.uk\/index.php\/2023\/08\/19\/virtue-is-the-highest-good-the-stoic-path-to-a-fulfilling-life\/#respond"]}]},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/ajmajor.co.uk\/index.php\/2023\/08\/19\/virtue-is-the-highest-good-the-stoic-path-to-a-fulfilling-life\/","url":"https:\/\/ajmajor.co.uk\/index.php\/2023\/08\/19\/virtue-is-the-highest-good-the-stoic-path-to-a-fulfilling-life\/","name":"Virtue is the Highest Good: The Stoic Path to a Fulfilling Life - AJ Major: Web Developer, Outdoor Enthusiast, Dog Lover","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/ajmajor.co.uk\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/ajmajor.co.uk\/index.php\/2023\/08\/19\/virtue-is-the-highest-good-the-stoic-path-to-a-fulfilling-life\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/ajmajor.co.uk\/index.php\/2023\/08\/19\/virtue-is-the-highest-good-the-stoic-path-to-a-fulfilling-life\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/ajmajor.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/img_5891-e1721055091892.jpg","datePublished":"2023-08-19T12:47:21+00:00","dateModified":"2024-07-15T15:21:24+00:00","description":"'Virtue is the highest good': The Stoics advocate that a real sense of fulfilment comes from thinking about others, not just ourselves.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/ajmajor.co.uk\/index.php\/2023\/08\/19\/virtue-is-the-highest-good-the-stoic-path-to-a-fulfilling-life\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-GB","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/ajmajor.co.uk\/index.php\/2023\/08\/19\/virtue-is-the-highest-good-the-stoic-path-to-a-fulfilling-life\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-GB","@id":"https:\/\/ajmajor.co.uk\/index.php\/2023\/08\/19\/virtue-is-the-highest-good-the-stoic-path-to-a-fulfilling-life\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/ajmajor.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/img_5891-e1721055091892.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/ajmajor.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/img_5891-e1721055091892.jpg","width":1350,"height":1350},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/ajmajor.co.uk\/index.php\/2023\/08\/19\/virtue-is-the-highest-good-the-stoic-path-to-a-fulfilling-life\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/ajmajor.co.uk\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Virtue is the Highest Good: The Stoic Path to a Fulfilling Life"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/ajmajor.co.uk\/#website","url":"https:\/\/ajmajor.co.uk\/","name":"AJ Major: Web Developer, Outdoor Enthusiast, Dog Lover","description":"Sharing experiences  of life and work.","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/ajmajor.co.uk\/#\/schema\/person\/fa176e3204a5ce51588c35b745e59bad"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/ajmajor.co.uk\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-GB"},{"@type":["Person","Organization"],"@id":"https:\/\/ajmajor.co.uk\/#\/schema\/person\/fa176e3204a5ce51588c35b745e59bad","name":"ajmajor866@gmail.com","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-GB","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/27c5616b038cde09771db2142630ddfc3e24bfc57849b9067dc0905391dfc0d8?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/27c5616b038cde09771db2142630ddfc3e24bfc57849b9067dc0905391dfc0d8?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/27c5616b038cde09771db2142630ddfc3e24bfc57849b9067dc0905391dfc0d8?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"ajmajor866@gmail.com"},"logo":{"@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/27c5616b038cde09771db2142630ddfc3e24bfc57849b9067dc0905391dfc0d8?s=96&d=mm&r=g"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/ajmajor.co.uk","https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/profile.php?id=100087890916012","https:\/\/linkedin.com\/in\/andrew-major-6109a847"],"url":"https:\/\/ajmajor.co.uk\/index.php\/author\/ajmajor866gmail-com\/"}]}},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/ajmajor.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/img_5891-e1721055091892.jpg","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":1186,"url":"https:\/\/ajmajor.co.uk\/index.php\/2023\/09\/18\/acceptance-of-what-is-beyond-our-control\/","url_meta":{"origin":1184,"position":0},"title":"Acceptance of What is Beyond Our Control: The Stoic Path to Inner Peace","author":"ajmajor866@gmail.com","date":"September 18, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"The tenet of \"Acceptance of What is Beyond Our Control\" forms a fundamental principle in Stoic philosophy. It teaches us to focus our energy and attention on the things we can control. Accepting with equanimity the aspects of life that lie beyond our influence, we avoid unnecessary friction. This post\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Life balance&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Life balance","link":"https:\/\/ajmajor.co.uk\/index.php\/category\/life-balance\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ajmajor.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Control.jpg.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ajmajor.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Control.jpg.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ajmajor.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Control.jpg.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ajmajor.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Control.jpg.png?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2398,"url":"https:\/\/ajmajor.co.uk\/index.php\/2024\/10\/15\/guiding-lights\/","url_meta":{"origin":1184,"position":1},"title":"Guiding Lights","author":"ajmajor866@gmail.com","date":"October 15, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Virtue and justiceThe guiding lights of a lifeFollow where they lead","rel":"","context":"In &quot;the year in haiku&quot;","block_context":{"text":"the year in haiku","link":"https:\/\/ajmajor.co.uk\/index.php\/category\/the-year-in-haiku\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":98,"url":"https:\/\/ajmajor.co.uk\/index.php\/2022\/12\/12\/thirty-days-of-journalling-with-added-haiku\/","url_meta":{"origin":1184,"position":2},"title":"Thirty Days of Journalling ( With Added Haiku)","author":"ajmajor866@gmail.com","date":"December 12, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"I\u2019ve been meaning for a while now to experiment with journalling. It feels like the subject has come up repeatedly in a variety of places and the Universe is trying to tell me I should pay attention. Most recently, after re-watching Gladiator for the hundredth time, a Youtube video suggestion\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Main&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Main","link":"https:\/\/ajmajor.co.uk\/index.php\/category\/main\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Fountain pen sits on journal ready to start","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ajmajor.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/IMG_4952-scaled.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ajmajor.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/IMG_4952-scaled.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ajmajor.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/IMG_4952-scaled.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ajmajor.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/IMG_4952-scaled.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ajmajor.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/IMG_4952-scaled.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ajmajor.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/IMG_4952-scaled.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1140,"url":"https:\/\/ajmajor.co.uk\/index.php\/2023\/06\/17\/finding-your-ikigai\/","url_meta":{"origin":1184,"position":3},"title":"Finding Your Ikigai","author":"ajmajor866@gmail.com","date":"June 17, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Photo by Content Pixie on Unsplash Ikigai, a term derived from the Japanese words \"iki\" meaning life and \"gai\" meaning value or worth, represents a profound concept that encompasses the essence of finding purpose and fulfilment in one's life. Rooted in Japanese culture, ikigai serves as a guiding principle, helping\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Life balance&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Life balance","link":"https:\/\/ajmajor.co.uk\/index.php\/category\/life-balance\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ajmajor.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/ikigai2-scaled.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ajmajor.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/ikigai2-scaled.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ajmajor.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/ikigai2-scaled.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ajmajor.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/ikigai2-scaled.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ajmajor.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/ikigai2-scaled.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ajmajor.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/ikigai2-scaled.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":3160,"url":"https:\/\/ajmajor.co.uk\/index.php\/2026\/06\/08\/life-unlived\/","url_meta":{"origin":1184,"position":4},"title":"Life Unlived","author":"ajmajor866@gmail.com","date":"June 8, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"In the life unlivedTrapped in fear of the futureNot fully present","rel":"","context":"In &quot;the year in haiku&quot;","block_context":{"text":"the year in haiku","link":"https:\/\/ajmajor.co.uk\/index.php\/category\/the-year-in-haiku\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":1129,"url":"https:\/\/ajmajor.co.uk\/index.php\/2023\/06\/14\/the-flow-of-life\/","url_meta":{"origin":1184,"position":5},"title":"The Flow Of Life","author":"ajmajor866@gmail.com","date":"June 14, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Do not resist it;The flow of life will guide youWhere you need to go.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;the year in haiku&quot;","block_context":{"text":"the year in haiku","link":"https:\/\/ajmajor.co.uk\/index.php\/category\/the-year-in-haiku\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ajmajor.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1184","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ajmajor.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ajmajor.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ajmajor.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ajmajor.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1184"}],"version-history":[{"count":21,"href":"https:\/\/ajmajor.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1184\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2244,"href":"https:\/\/ajmajor.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1184\/revisions\/2244"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ajmajor.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2229"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ajmajor.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1184"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ajmajor.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1184"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ajmajor.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1184"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}