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Reality, Resistance & Respect

Reality, Resistance & RespectStoicism

Dr. Clea F. Rees

ReesC17@cardiff.ac.uk

Canolfan Addysg Gydol Oes Centre for Lifelong LearningPrifysgol Caerdydd Cardiff University

Yr Hydref/Autumn 2014

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Reality, Resistance & RespectOutline

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Stoicism

Some questions for virtue ethicistsA question for FootWhat are the virtues/vices?

Stockdale: The World of EpictetusIndividual morality & social institutions

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recall:I Foot:

I virtue as a disposition/powerI generally benefits you + othersI etc. etc.

I Tolstoy’s character Pahom:I lacks virtue of temperanceI has vice of greed

I Hugo’s Les Misérables:I might suggest that one’s ability to be virtuous

depends, at least in part, on one’s society’sinstitutions, environmental influences,opportunities, education etc. etc.

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Reality, Resistance & RespectStoicism

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StoicismFoot’s ‘cardinal’ virtues

Recall, Foot’s ‘cardinal’ virtues:

I temperance

I courage

I justice

I wisdom

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Reality, Resistance & RespectStoicism

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StoicismStoicism: an alternative form of virtue ethics

I The Stoics are also virtue ethicists.But their conception of the

virtues/vices differs. . .I Emphases:

I harmony with the natural/divineorder

I distinctively human good (cf.Aristotle)

I rational judgement (cf. Aristotle)I emotional self-sufficiencyI lack of dependence on external

things

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StoicismTemperate Epictetus

We can compare Epictetus’ conception with Foot’s. . .

Foot

temperance is a virtue

Epictetus

temperance is a virtue

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StoicismEpictetus: courage as confidence?

Foot

courage is a virtue

Epictetus

courage is a virtue

but a really virtuous person wouldn’t have or needcourage in Foot’s sense

I courage ≈ confidence? (Discourses, trans. Long)I courage w.r.t. what is inevitable, not in our control

e.g. deathI 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?

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StoicismJustice for Epictetus?

Foot

justice is a virtue

Epictetus

justice is a virtue

but not entirely clear whyI person can only be harmed by own ideas about

thingsbut doesn’t justice assume a person can be harmed by

another person?I what will ‘justice’ amount to here?

I living well involves being justI an unjust person harms herself rather than others

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StoicismThe wisdom of Epictetus

Foot

wisdom is a virtue

Epictetus

wisdom is a virtue

but wise person will probably not think quite whatFoot would expect!re. 2 parts of wisdom:1. knowing the means to good ends

I development of virtuous habitsI detachment from externals

i.e. lack of dependence on things external to the will2. knowing the value of things

I only what is unconditionally good is truly goodI only what concerns a person’s own will can be

goodi.e. only virtue can be good

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StoicismThe non-cardinal virtues

Comparison of non-cardinal virtues:I disagreement about other virtues, tooI what would Epictetus say about

I compassion?I charity?I hope?I etc.?

I what would Aristotle/Foot say aboutI indifference to sickness, deprivation

& death?I attitude to one’s lot in life?I attitude to thieves, tyrants &

adulterers?

Source: Image of Saturn, seven of its moons and itsinner rings, with Earth in the background. NASA.Taken by Cassini (spacecraft), 19 July, 2013.

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StoicismA question of detachment

Source: Giordano, La Mort de Sénèque

I ‘all about attitude’?I detachment etc. (cf. Foot’s emphasis

on attachment)I good not to let the little things get

to you, but is this a bit extreme??I entirely up to you whether you are

miserableI entirely up to you whether you are

virtuous

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StoicismA question of detachment

I Epictetus’s view may look good underconditions of extreme hardship whereyou’ve little chance of changingexternalse.g. Epictetus’s own lifee.g. in the situation described by

Stockdalebut also looks like a Stoic misses out on

much grounded in human relationshipsI maybe good to be detached from

things, but what of people??Source: Katherine Lucas, The Owl and The Pussy Cat

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Reality, Resistance & RespectSome questions for virtue ethicists

A question for Foot

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Some questions for virtue ethicistsA question for Foot

Source: Andersen,, 1884 (FCIT, 2014)

I so suppose I am depressed,grieving etc. and don’t feel likehelping out the orphans thisweek, how do I know doingso/making the effort is the rightthing to do?

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Reality, Resistance & RespectSome questions for virtue ethicists

What are the virtues/vices?

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What are the virtues/vices?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?I are the virtues the same for everyone?I are the virtues the same regardless of circumstances/culture?

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Reality, Resistance & RespectSome questions for virtue ethicists

What are the virtues/vices?

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What are the virtues/vices?Two questions

Is Stoicism useful in Cardiff in 2014?

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Reality, Resistance & RespectSome questions for virtue ethicists

What are the virtues/vices?

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What are the virtues/vices?Completeness & consistency

Can we get a complete and consistent setof virtues?

or Will there be conflicts?e.g. loyalty/friendship vs. justicee.g. compassion vs. honesty

etc.

Source: Phillip Martin, 2005/2013(www.phillipmartin.com)

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Reality, Resistance & RespectSome questions for virtue ethicists

What are the virtues/vices?

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What are the virtues/vices?A possible suggestion

But, maybe some virtues are core/fundamental? (‘cardinal’?)I Which virtues might be basic/beneficial in almost all cases?

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Reality, Resistance & RespectSome questions for virtue ethicists

What are the virtues/vices?

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What are the virtues/vices?Another suggestion

Maybe, character traits/habits (virtues) are stronger than rules:I under stressorI when the going gets really tough?

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Reality, Resistance & RespectStockdale: The World of Epictetus

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Stockdale: The World of Epictetus

I individual’s ability to be virtuous depends on moraleducation/society/community (cf. Epictetus)

butI individual’s virtue can then enable her to resist social pressure

etc. later on

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Reality, Resistance & RespectStockdale: The World of Epictetus

Individual morality & social institutions

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Stockdale: The World of EpictetusIndividual morality & social institutions

suggestion: an individual’s ability to be moral depends, atleast in part, on moral education, social factors,community etc.

but, also: an individual’s morality can enable her to res-ist aspects of her society, changing social pres-sures, other communities, her own communityetc. etc.