Wisdom and the management of inner realms

Subject Areas : Epistemological researches

habib allah  noorani ¹ (azad university)
Mohammad  Akvan ² (Islamic Philosophy and Theology Department, Literature & Humanity faculty, Tehran, Iran)

Received: 2022-04-28 Accepted : 2022-10-30 Published : 2024-04-27

Keywords: emotions, Epictetus, Rational Judgments, Desires,

Abstract :

Epictetus divides the affairs of the world into two categories: the external world, which was organized by Zeus, and human being has no freedom or responsibility in this area. The inner world: which is completely under the control of human responsibility. Epictetus considers the inner world in three areas: rational judgments or beliefs, feelings and emotions, desires and avoidances. According to Epictetus, rational judgments are the most important of the inner realms and determine the other realms. Epictetus gives many examples and conversations to prove that rational judgments are the cause of feelings and emotions and desires. Therefore, feelings and emotions as well as desires are the result of the functioning of the reason. If the function of the reason is correct, it results in good feelings and logical desires, and if the function of the reason is imperfect, it leads to negative emotions and unreasonable desires.The Stoics, unlike Plato and Aristotle, do not believe in non-cognitive elements in the human mind and consider the human mind as a rational whole. They refer all feelings and emotions to rational beliefs. "Epictetus also considers the human mind to be rational.

References:

Brennan. Tad. (2005) the Stoic Life Emotions, Duties, and Fate. Oxford University Press
Bobzine Susanne. (1998) .Determinism and Freedom in Stoic Philosophy, Oxford University Press
Epictetus. (1904) the Discourses of Epictetus. Translated by Georg Long. New York, D. Appleton and Company Press
Epictetus. (1865) The Work of Epictetus. Translated by Thomas Wentworth Higginson. Boston Press
Epictetus (2014) Discourses, Fragment, Handbook. Translated by Robin Hard. Oxford University Press
Long, A. A. (2006). From Epicurus to Epictetus: Studies in Hellenistic and Roman Philosophy. Oxford University Press
Long, A. A. (2002). Epictetus: A Stoic and Socratic Guide to Life , Oxford University Press
Plato. (1997). Complete works, edited by john Cooper. Hackett Publishing Company
Stephens. William (2007) Stoic Ethics, Epictetus and Happiness as Freedom. NEW YORK. Continuum International Publishing Group.