A Greek word meaning 'impassibility' or 'passionlessness', used in ascetic theology in the E. Church.

What does apatheia mean?

: freedom or release from emotion or excitement.

What is the original term for apatheia?

Apatheia (Greek: ἀπάθεια; from a- "without" and pathos "suffering" or "passion"), in Stoicism, refers to a state of mind in which one is not disturbed by the passions. It is best translated by the word equanimity rather than indifference.

What is the difference between apatheia and ataraxia?

So, a crucial difference between ataraxia and apatheia is that ataraxia was an end goal for the Epicureans but not for the Stoics. The Stoics acknowledge this term, but prefer apatheia to describe a mindstate similar to ataraxia. In Stoicism, both ataraxia and apatheia are seen as a byproduct of virtue.

How do you get apatheia?

What follows are the 7 steps you can take to achieve this state, so you can focus on overcoming your obstacles, rather than reacting to them.

1. Step 1: Steady Your Nerves. ...
2. Step 2: Control Your Emotions. ...
3. Step 3: Practice Objectivity. ...
4. Step 4: Practice Contemptuous Expressions. ...
5. Step 5: Alter Your Perspective.

Stoicism | What are Apatheia, Ataraxia & Eudaimonia?

37 related questions found

Do Stoics have emotions?

Stoics give emotions their due. ... Stoics believe we can still act well despite feeling a "bad emotion." If you're extremely rude to your co-workers and, when asked why, you answered, "it's humid," people would look at you funny. Stoics would say that being a jerk to people because you're angry is equally nonsensical.

How do you get ataraxia?

For Epicurus, the most pleasant life is one where we abstain from unnecessary desires and achieve an inner tranquility (ataraxia) by being content with simple things, and by choosing the pleasure of philosophical conversation with friends over the pursuit of physical pleasures like food, drink, and sex.

What is Aponia and ataraxia?

In Epicurean doctrine, “aponia” is the absence of physical pain, and, of course, “ataraxia” is the absence of mental disturbance.

What is the difference between stoicism and epicureanism?

In summary, a simple heuristic to remember the difference between the Stoics and the Epicureans: The Stoics cared about virtuous behavior and living according to nature, while the Epicureans were all about avoiding pain and seeking natural and necessary pleasure.

What is a Stoic sage?

The Stoic sage was understood to be an inaccessible ideal rather than a concrete reality. The aim of Stoicism was to live a life of virtue, where "virtue consists in a will which is in agreement with Nature." As such, the sage is one who has attained such a state of being and whose life consequently becomes tranquil.

What is the difference between apathy and stoicism?

As adjectives the difference between apathetic and stoic

is that apathetic is void of feeling; not susceptible of deep emotion; passionless; indifferent while stoic is of or relating to the stoics or their ideas; see stoicism.

What is the greatest virtue of Stoics?

Prudence is the most important and most general of the Stoic virtues because it refers, as here, to the firmly-grasped knowledge of what is good, bad, and indifferent in life. In other words, understanding the most important things in life or grasping the value of things rationally.

What is the meaning of imperturbably?

: marked by extreme calm, impassivity, and steadiness : serene.

What is ataraxia disorder?

Ataxia is the term for a group of neurological diseases (diseases related to the nervous system) that affect movement and coordination. People with ataxia often have trouble with balance, coordination, swallowing, and speech.

What does Aristotle mean by Eudaimonia?

For Aristotle, eudaimonia is the highest human good, the only human good that is desirable for its own sake (as an end in itself) rather than for the sake of something else (as a means toward some other end). ...

What is the meaning of phronesis?

Phronesis (Ancient Greek: φρόνησῐς, romanized: phrónēsis), translated into English by terms such as prudence, practical virtue and practical wisdom is an ancient Greek word for a type of wisdom or intelligence relevant to practical action.

Are Epicureans hedonists?

Although Epicureanism is a form of hedonism insofar as it declares pleasure to be its sole intrinsic goal, the concept that the absence of pain and fear constitutes the greatest pleasure, and its advocacy of a simple life, make it very different from "hedonism" as colloquially understood.

What is the difference between nihilism and stoicism?

I understand nihilism is a "life is pointless, so nothing matters" approach, whereas stoicism is more or less similar to accepting things as they are rather than rejecting them.

Did the Stoics believe in God?

The Stoics often identified the universe and God with Zeus, as the ruler and upholder, and at the same time the law, of the universe. ... In one sense the Stoics believed that this is the best of all possible worlds. Only God or Nature is good, and Nature is perfectly rational.

Is ataraxia a Greek word?

This word is sometimes written as ataraxy in English, from the Greek root ataraxia, literally "impassiveness," from a-, "not," and tarassein, "to disturb or confuse." In ancient Greece, the Epicureans most famously sought the state of ataraxia, which they considered to be true happiness.

Is ataraxia a real condition?

Ataraxia is an untroubled and tranquil condition of the soul." Sextus gave this detailed account of ataraxia: We always say that as regards belief (i.e., dogma) the Pyrrhonist's goal is ataraxia, and that as regards things that are unavoidable it is having moderate pathè.

Who believed in ataraxia?

Quote 1. Along with Pyrrho, Epicurus was one of the Greek philosophers who developed the idea of ataraxia.

How did the Pyrrhonic skeptics define ataraxia?

According to the Pyrrhonists, it is one's opinions about non-evident matters (i.e., dogma) that prevent one from attaining eudaimonia. As with Epicureanism, Pyrrhonism places the attainment of ataraxia (a state of equanimity) as the way to achieve eudaimonia.

How do you use ataraxia in a sentence?

How to use ataraxia in a sentence

1. When the sage realizes this, he will cease to prefer one course of action to another, and the result will be apathy, "ataraxia." ...
2. The Sceptic in seeking ataraxia in the things of opinion, does not entirely escape from suffering from his sensations.

What is the absence of pain?

"Aponia" (Ancient Greek: ἀπονία) means the absence of pain, and was regarded by the Epicureans to be the height of bodily pleasure.