Stoicism: A Different Picture of Virtue Dr. Clea F. Rees ReesC17@cardiff.ac.uk Centre for Lifelong Learning Cardiff University Spring 2012
Outline Outline Connexions The Stoic Catechism Some questions for virtue ethicists A question for Foot Stockdale: The World of Epictetus Individual morality & social institutions
Connexions Connexions recall: Foot: virtue as a disposition/power generally benefits you + others etc. etc. Tolstoy s character Pahom: lacks virtue of temperance has vice of greed Hugo s Les Misérables: might suggest that one s ability to be virtuous depends, at least in part, on one s society s institutions, environmental influences, opportunities, education etc. etc.
The Stoic Catechism Foot s cardinal virtues Recall, Foot s cardinal virtues: temperance courage justice wisdom
Virtue ble ss i Per mi Et h ible iss Im per m al hic l ica The Stoic Catechism Un et V i ce Stoicism: an alternative form of virtue ethics I The Stoics are also virtue ethicists. But their conception of the virtues/vices differs... I Emphases: I I I I I harmony with the natural/divine order distinctively human good (cf. Aristotle) rational judgement (cf. Aristotle) emotional self-sufficiency lack of dependence on external things b
The Stoic Catechism Temperate Epictetus We can compare Epictetus conception with Foot s... Foot temperance is a virtue Epictetus temperance is a virtue
The Stoic Catechism Epictetus: courage as confidence? Foot courage is a virtue Epictetus courage is a virtue but a really virtuous person wouldn t have or need courage in Foot s sense courage confidence? (Discourses, trans. Long) courage w.r.t. what is inevitable, not in our control e.g. death caution w.r.t. own will, what is in our control e.g. fear of death (Discourses 2.1) but one might need Foot s courage to learn virtue?
The Stoic Catechism Justice for Epictetus? Foot justice is a virtue Epictetus justice is a virtue but not entirely clear why person can only be harmed by own ideas about things but doesn t justice assume a person can be harmed by another person? what will justice amount to here? living well involves being just an unjust person harms herself rather than others
The Stoic Catechism The wisdom of Epictetus Foot wisdom is a virtue Epictetus wisdom is a virtue but wise person will probably not think quite what Foot would expect! re. 2 parts of wisdom: 1. knowing the means to good ends development of virtuous habits detachment from externals i.e. lack of dependence on things external to the will 2. knowing the value of things only what is unconditionally good is truly good only what concerns a person s own will can be good i.e. only virtue can be good
The Stoic Catechism The non-cardinal virtues Comparison of non-cardinal virtues: disagreement about other virtues, too what would Epictetus say about compassion? charity? hope? etc.? what would Aristotle/Foot say about indifference to sickness, deprivation & death? attitude to one s lot in life? attitude to thieves, tyrants & adulterers?
The Stoic Catechism A question of detachment all about attitude? detachment etc. (cf. Foot s emphasis on attachment) good not to let the little things get to you, but is this a bit extreme?? entirely up to you whether you are miserable entirely up to you whether you are virtuous
The Stoic Catechism A question of detachment Epictetus s view may look good under conditions of extreme hardship where you ve little chance of changing externals e.g. Epictetus s own life e.g. in the situation described by Stockdale but also looks like a Stoic misses out on much grounded in human relationships maybe good to be detached from things, but what of people??
Virtue ble ss i Per mi Et h ible iss A question for Foot Im per m al hic l ica Some questions for virtue ethicists Un et V i ce Some questions for virtue ethicists A question for Foot I so suppose I am depressed, grieving etc. and don t feel like helping out the orphans this week, how do I know doing so/making the effort is the right thing to do? b
Some questions for virtue ethicists Two questions 1. Should one focus on becoming/being a virtuous person? (rather than doing the right action) Assuming that the answer is affirmative... 2. What are the virtues? are the virtues the same for everyone? are the virtues the same regardless of circumstances/culture?
Some questions for virtue ethicists Two questions Is Stoicism useful in Cardiff in 2012?
Some questions for virtue ethicists Completeness & consistency Can we get a complete and consistent set of virtues? or Will there be conflicts? e.g. loyalty/friendship vs. justice e.g. compassion vs. honesty etc.
Some questions for virtue ethicists A possible suggestion But, maybe some virtues are core/fundamental? ( cardinal?) Which virtues might be basic/beneficial in almost all cases?
Some questions for virtue ethicists Another suggestion Maybe, character traits/habits (virtues) are stronger than rules: under stress or when the going gets really tough?
Stockdale: The World of Epictetus Stockdale: The World of Epictetus but individual s ability to be virtuous depends on moral education/society/community (cf. Epictetus) individual s virtue can then enable her to resist social pressure etc. later on
Stockdale: The World of Epictetus Individual morality & social institutions Stockdale: The World of Epictetus Individual morality & social institutions suggestion: but, also: an individual s ability to be moral depends, at least in part, on moral education, social factors, community etc. an individual s morality can enable her to resist aspects of her society, changing social pressures, other communities, her own community etc. etc.