Stoics and Epicureans on Ethical Theories

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Table of Contents

Introduction
Stoics’ view
Epicureans’ view
Conclusion
Works Cited

Introduction

Philosophers assert that all human beings tend to pursue some good in all their endeavors. This is referred to as the search of some happiness. Disagreements on this issue relate to what happiness is perceived to be. Epicureans and Stoics have vast differences on their views on ethical theories. (Pojman, pg 112)

They depict two schools of thought on the degree that senses can illustrate what the world is like. This is quite imperative to ethical theories because they need to know whether pleasure and pain are reliable indicators of goodness and badness. This paper looks at the Epicurean and Stoic views on this issue. (Pojman, pg 23)

Stoics’ view

The emphasis put by both Epicureans and Stoics on senses is largely different. For Epicureans, senses represent the distinguishing factor, according to which the differentiation between all the things is based on the presence of some sense or the lack thereof. In that regard, even death should not be feared, as death “has no sense-experience, and what has no sense-experience is nothing… “(Reeve and Miller 362).

The differentiation between good and bad, according to Epicureans, is based on three feelings which are pleasure, pain, and distress. The sensual feeling, in that matter is pain, the absence of which is “the limit of magnitude of pleasures,” and the opposite is correct too, where as long as it [pleasurable feeling] is present, “there is neither a feeling of pain nor a feeling of distress, nor both together” (Reeve and Miller 362). Epicureans, ion that matter link the sensual feeling of pleasure and pain, with ethics and ethical living. This to Stoics means that having perfect harmony with reason or nature means to be free of distress and anxiety. The overall absence of distress means to be happy. While Epicureans highly emphasize on moderation, Stoics emphasize on perseverance, logical reasoning, and self discipline as essential components of happiness. (Brennan 98).

Although the quotes in “The Principal Doctrines” are basically linking senses with happiness, they can be used to differentiate good and bad as well. The good and bad, in that matter are based on whether an action is “just” or “unjust”. Neither of the actions is good or bad in themselves, rather than the feelings they produce. Even injustice is judged by the feeling it produces, where fear and suspicion that “one will not escape” are feelings which are not pleasurable and thus, they do not lead to happiness.

As illustrated earlier, all people strive to have happiness in their lives. This means that it is achieved by continuous alignment to an individual’s reason of existence. This to Stoics mean continued proper living in relation to nature. In order for people to align themselves with nature, they have to understand what is expected of them by nature. (Pojman, pg 23)

This means that all living things’ prime concern should be full understanding what nature expects them to do. The beliefs of the Stoics are teleological in nature. Stoics feel that everything in the world can only be valued in relation to nature. This is equated to having a law that is universal in nature. (Brennan, pg 26)

It can be seen that for Epicureans sense serve as means to explain the universe in terms of happiness and living happy. For Stoics, on the other hand, senses are different from logic and reason, all of which form the soul. In that regard, the soul is formed from eight parts, according to the Stoics, the five senses, the spermatic principles in us, the vocal part and the reasoning part” (Reeve and Miller 369). Thus, it can be stated that senses is also used to understand the universe, mainly to differentiate what is real and what is not. Senses only “announce” objects, while the reason understands them. Thus, senses are only carriers or mediums of information or knowledge, such as the sound of air or sight of an object, while it the reasoning is the one distinguishing and accepting such information.

While Epicureans differentiate the understanding of the world, according to the feelings things produce, Stoics believe that “everything happens by fate”, which is “a continuous string of causes of things which exist or a rational principle according to which the cosmos is managed” (Reeve and Miller 368). Thus, the sense will transmit an object or an action into the reasoning and the reasoning will accept its reality, or reject, which will not change its nature. It can be assumed that there is no free will, and it is all a matter of acceptance. This group of philosophers feels that whatever state one is in or goes through he needs to be calm and not complain or boast about the situation. To most Stoic philosophers, pain should be endured without any form of complaining. The emphasis is put on rising above every form of pleasure or pain. This to Stoic philosophers makes individuals think clearly not to be influenced by feelings and emotions. In this case, individuals who use this philosophy tend to be unbiased in decision making. (Pojman 11)

Stoic ethics assert that good is based on the soul. This is in virtues like self control and wisdom. This is where all actions need to be based on reason and not feelings. Decisions and actions should never be based on pleasure, distress, hate, appetite, or fear. This philosophy emphasizes on the use of logic in making decisions in diverse situations. This philosophy has four major virtues. They include temperance, bravery, fairness, and courage. (Brennan, pg 78)

Stoic moral philosophy highly emphasizes on knowledge of virtues and vices. This is where vice is the sole bad and virtue is the sole good. To Stoics, the overall law of mankind is to have virtuous actions. According to Stoics, pain and pleasure cannot be used to ascertain goodness and badness of an action. The goodness and badness can only be checked in relation to the alignment of nature. (Pojman, pg 77)

Epicureans’ view

Epicurean view is highly based on natural philosophy. These views are highly not based on thoughts but rather on observation. Epicureans consider the sensations of pain and pleasure to be the cause of all badness and goodness. Pleasure in this case can be divided into three types. That is kinetic pleasure, katastemic, physical and mental pleasure. Kinetic pleasure is derived from doing something that brings fulfillment such as winning an argument that is intellectual in nature. (Pojman, pg 13)

Katastemic pleasure relates to a state where one is happy hence deriving pleasure. This can also include quiet contentment in one’s situation. One’s present physical state determines physical pain or pleasure. Mental pleasure can emanate from stimulating activities like listening to motivational talks. This also means that bad and good feelings can only be differentiated considering the pain or pleasure they cause. (Pojman, pg 29)

In most cases when people choose pain rather than pleasure, it is because of the ultimate or more pleasure that the pain will give. Further research shows that Epicureans consider pleasure to be a situation where there is no emotional or physical pain. This is where pain is considered to be the greatest evil that people need to avoid throughout their lives. According to Epicureans, pleasure plays an imperative role in making one happy. In this case, pleasure is fully achieved when one is happy. They also consider pleasure to be quite essential in everyday life. (Pojman, pg 55)

Pleasure is not usually considered by Epicureans as an obsession for all delights that are sensual in nature. There is also the emphasis on moderation and a balanced understanding of the things. When moderation is maintained, then one becomes free from pain and anxiety hence achievement of pleasure. According to Epicureans, the dread of afterlife and gods deters people from maximum pleasure in life. (Pojman, pg 44)

There is the overall worldview by Epicureans that all occurrences and happenings are due to chance. Epicurean worldview is highly based on the aspect of things lacking purpose and being random. There is advocacy for ethical theory and achieving ultimate good. (Pojman, pg 101)

The Epicurean view of a blessed person is one who has pleasure. For instance, a person with body pain is disturbed even in the mind. Another person with a healthy body has pleasure because of the absence of pain. This is considered to be good. (Pojman, pg 102)

According to Epicureans, pleasure should be sought above everything else while pain needs to be avoided completely. This means that people need to pursue a life that is free of any form of disturbance. This group of philosophers feels that pleasure is the ultimate moral- good or virtue. They assert that any action that makes a person feel good should be pursued. Those actions that bring mental or physical pain should not be pursued in life. This group of philosophers asserts that every activity in the world is based on aspects of pain and pleasure. (Pojman, pg 82)

This is where pain is avoided while pleasure is ultimately sought. This means that Epicureans ascertain or judge the goodness or badness of an action. It is evident that sensations of pain and pleasure are deemed to mean bad and good respectively. This means that pain should be totally avoided and anything that results in pleasure should be embraced. This notion is highly disputed by the Stoics who feel that nature plays a great role in determining good and bad but not just, feelings. According to Epicureans pain and pleasure are very reliable indicators of goodness and badness. Stoic philosophers also consider too much pleasure to be bad as it can result in pain. (Pojman, pg 13)

Conclusion

Stoics and Epicureans illustrate two schools of thought that show the extent to which senses depict the world. Both philosophies assert that human beings are always seeking happiness. Happiness to Stoics means aligning oneself with nature. This is also doing what is reasonable and logical. To Epicureans, happiness means pleasure. According to Epicureans, pleasure should be sought above everything else while pain needs to be avoided completely. They emphasize that pleasure and pains illustrate the good and terrible.

Stoics argue that pain and pleasure cannot be used to illustrate good and bad. They assert that too much pleasure can also be bad. They consider virtues and vices to be the best indicators of good and bad actions. According to Stoics, pain and pleasure cannot be used to ascertain goodness and badness of an action. The goodness and badness can only be checked in relation to the alignment of nature.

Works Cited

Brennan, Tad. The Stoic Life, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2005. Print.

Pojman, Louis. Classics of Philosophy, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2002. Print.

Reeve, C. D. C., and Patrick L. Miller. Introductory Readings in Ancient Greek and Roman Philosophy. Indianapolis, IN: Hackett Pub. Co., 2006. Print.

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