Question

Explain how the stoic ideal of complete acceptance and emotional detachment follows from their belief in providence. If Epictetus is correct about nature and providence, is his ethical ideal the only logical/rational approach to life? Explain why or why not.

Answer 1

Epictetus believed that humans were rational beings living in a rational universe. He refers to the fundamental orderliness of all things, or the rational principle underlying the universe, as Zeus, God, or the gods. This rational principle pervades all reality, and as rational beings, our minds are fragments of Zeus’ mind. While this may sound strange to our ears, a modern interpretation says that Epictetus held that nature is mathematical, logical, or rational in the sense that it can be understood by modern science.

As for human beings, a capacity to choose is their fundamental characteristic—the essence of their nature. The principle of cause and effect operates in nature, but our decisions are free of external compulsion. Thus Epictetus would today be called a compatibilist; he believes that freedom and determinism are compatible. Most importantly he believes that our convictions, attitudes, intentions, and actions are truly our own. No doubt these convictions derived largely from his experiences as a slave, where he was compelled to do many things but free to think for himself.

The Problem of life and it’s solution

The basic problem in human life is that we suffer because we fail to distinguish between what is in our control and what is not. Things within our control include our judgments, intentions, desires, and aversions—the internal world of mind governed by our own volition. But everything else about us—our body, possessions, relationships, wealth, fame, reputation—depends on factors largely beyond our control. Cause and effect govern the external world. Confusing the internal world of our mind, over which we have control, with the external world, which we can only influence but not control, causes most suffering.

To make matters worse, we often assume that external objects and circumstances are the most valuable things in life. We mistakenly believe that happiness is found outside of ourselves. Then, when the external world disappoints, we experience grief, fear, envy, desire, and anxiety. But Epictetus rejects the view that these emotions are imposed on us. Instead, we are responsible for our emotions, feelings, thoughts, and actions, and the circumstances of our lives are simply the arena in which we exercise our volition.