Is Stoicism and Hedonism Compatible?

Stoics believe that the only things you can control absolutely are your own thoughts & volition. Everything else is outside of your complete control and can be taken from you by fate. This includes your life, your health or even your limbs.

While a stoic would prefer not to lose a limb, a stoic needs nothing external to be happy. As a stoic you seek to live a virtuous life. This is completely within your control & if you can accomplish this, you will be happy.

What is Volition?

Volition or will is the cognitive process by which an individual decides on and commits to a particular course of action. It is defined as purposive striving and is one of the primary human psychological functions. Others include affection (affect or feeling), motivation (goals and expectations), and cognition (thinking). Volitional processes can be applied consciously or they can be automatized as habits over time.

"Most modern conceptions of volition address it as a process of conscious action control which becomes automatized (e.g. see Heckhausen and Kuhl; Gollwitzer; Boekaerts and Corno)." — Wikipedia

Is Stoicism and Hedonism Compatible?

Stoicism is all about living according to nature, knowing about dichotomy of control and having a serene, consistent life which comes as a result of a correct desires and wants. Hedonism, is about chasing good feelings and having the good life now.

A major cornerstone to Stoicism is to enjoy the good things but not cling to them. Furthermore, the ideal is to avert enlightened hedonism and rather focus on appreciating what one already has. A focus on "things" would take away from the goal of inner joy and stoic tranquility.

Also, the idea that a stoic shows no emotion is false. A stoic would want to banish all negative emotion in order to be filled with a constant cheerfulness and deep joy.

Hedonism, anarchism and stoicism are compatible. You depend on your self and your pleasure and not on any external system—like some other human being or social system. You control your self and your satisfaction; you are independent.

Hedonism is the idea that pleasure is the highest form of good, or even the only form of good. Hedonists usually focus on maximizing their personal pleasure, or if discussing societal values, bringing the most pleasure to the most people.

Stoicism is the idea that emotions lead to poor judgment and poor decisions. Stoics focus on keeping their emotions under control, not displaying emotion, and not allowing their emotions to influence their decisions.

I see no reason why someone couldn't subscribe to both philosophies, although I haven't met anyone (as far as I know) who was both. So to directly answer your question, yes, it is possible.

— — —

Various notes taken from Quora