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Why did the ancient Stoics believe that people should live in agreement with nature?
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Stoicism
Marcus Tullius Cicero, detail of a marble bust; in the Capitoline Museums, Rome.
The ancient Stoics believed that living in agreement with nature was the basis of human happiness and the key to virtue. They saw the world as governed by a divine reason, or logos, which maintained a perfect cosmic order. By aligning their lives with this natural order, individuals could achieve wisdom and virtue, which were considered the only true goods. This alignment meant acting according to reason rather than being swayed by passions or external circumstances, as these were seen as indifferent to true well-being. By living in accordance with nature, humans could avoid self-harm and contribute to the rational order of the universe.12345