Even Stoic Warriors Show Feelings

Emotions are modes of perception, they help us understand the world and engage us with others and the tasks at hand. They are part of the fabric of good character, and their training is not an optional part of military education. Yet, emotions often get a bad press in the military, or only some of them are valued. A supposedly “stoic” attitude, which focuses on toughness and maligns expressions of grief as signs of weakness, is based on a flawed and harmful understanding of Stoicism. Ancient philosophy and literature reveal a much broader and more enlightened understanding of emotions and the need to educate them. With reference to the teachings and reflections of Seneca, Epictetus, and Marcus Aurelius, it is shown that Stoicism can hardly be interpreted as a guide to suppressing emotions and severing emotional ties. 

War and military service confront soldiers with numerous stressors and painful emotions. A nuanced perception of emotions and appropriate means of expression play a decisive role in processing the whole range of moral injuries soldiers may incur. However, for these injuries to heal and for bringing soldiers back into the community, society must also be willing to listen to their stories and acknowledge their experiences.