Vice Admiral James Stockdale: the Stoicist
The story of a man in captivity and his embodiment of Stoic philosophy
It takes bravery to survive as a prisoner of war, but it takes unparalleled courage to disfigure your own face to avoid being filmed for enemy propaganda. This is the story of the honorable Stoic and warrior, Vice Admiral James Stockdale.
In September 1965, Vice Admiral Stockdale was shot down over North Vietnam. As he parachuted down to a Vietnamese village, facing capture, he had an unusual thought: “I’m leaving the world of technology and entering the world of Epictetus.”
What did Stockdale mean by this?
Only a few years earlier, he’d studied Stoicism at Stanford University: especially the works of Epictetus, who was born a slave and experienced all the harshness the world had to offer. Stockdale learned from Epictetus to focus only on things one could control; two thousand years later, Stockdale embodied these lessons.
Stockdale was immediately arrested and taken into captivity, facing torture and possibly death. He knew that the Vietnamese would use him for filmed propaganda, and was determined to avoid this fate. Remembering the Stoic idea of inner strength, he did everything he could to prevent himself from becoming a propaganda tool. He found a mirror and struck himself in the face until he could no longer recognize himself. Hearing about an upcoming torture session, Stockdale slit his wrists in an act of defiance, showing his captors that he’d rather die than give in. When he broke his leg badly, he remembered that Epictetus had said that “lameness is an impediment to the leg, but not to the will.”
As the most senior POW in Hanoi for over seven years, Vice Admiral Stockdale also employed Epictetus’ Stoic mentality to inspire his fellow POWs. He developed a covert communication method to keep their spirits high despite their inhumane circumstances. He developed a tapping code that signaled hope to the other men. Hearing the tapping gave his fellow POWs the ounce of resolve they needed to keep going. It’s not important what other people think of you, Stockdale showed them. “It’s what you think of yourself that is important.”
During seven years of torture, excruciating pain, and solitary confinement, Vice Admiral Stockdale showed the world what a true Stoic philosopher can do. He gave his men, and himself, the strength to survive and prevail. Later on, he described his role in the Navy, saying “I am my brothers’ keeper:” a man with integrity.
Vice Admiral Stockdale went on to become one of the most decorated officers in Naval history. He became the President of the Naval War College, and also won the Medal of Honor. In 1992, he was featured on Ross Perot’s Presidential ticket as an independent candidate.