Examples Of Indifferents In Epictetus
After reading the philosophical text of Epictetus, a Roman, Stoic exponent, I was able to view my situation differently. He stresses morality as a means to reach eudaimonia or happiness. This eudaimonia is attainable only through correct judgment of goods and bads, disregarding "indifferents" as inconsequential. From the beginning of the night, I felt like I was doing well by presenting myself in what I thought to be the proper way, but that is an indifferent. In order to preserve our prohairesis, we must understand the things that are in our power, thus accepting everything else as “indifferents.” All things that seem important like money and health and concerts are “indifferents,” preferred “indifferents,” but “indifferents” nonetheless.
The only thing that actually is in our power is the “authority (we have) over ourselves” (Seddon 3). With this we can judge goods and evils. I knew in this instance that lying to my mother by omission was wrong, and I might have been able to attend the full concert if I had been honest, because although the concert was an indifferent, my own morals were not. We have power over our minds but not over what those thoughts and actions result in.
The only thing that actually is in our power is the “authority (we have) over ourselves” (Seddon 3). With this we can judge goods and evils. I knew in this instance that lying to my mother by omission was wrong, and I might have been able to attend the full concert if I had been honest, because although the concert was an indifferent, my own morals were not. We have power over our minds but not over what those thoughts and actions result in.