An Interpretation On Epictetus’ Ethical Thoughts

Chinese economy develops fast, then people care more and more about happiness.The flourish of materials didn’t highly improve our sense of happiness. So we shouldreflect on what is true happiness. Hellenistic times is a little bit same as nowdays, peoplefeel lonely.How to live a better life is the theme that people think. Epictetus was a RomanStoic, he insisted freedom lie in one’s mind, only in that area, can a man have realconfidence and find true hapiness. He also believed that love others is the foundation ofself-concern, we must perform our social responsibility. By the study on Epictetus’thoughts, I aims at making further reflection on happiness.Epictetus followed some ideas of earlier Stoics, for example: virtue needs to bepracticed, universe is a whole. These ideas came from the Cynics, and also from Plato andAristotle. But by further research, they were all traced back to Socrates. Epictetus believedthat all things goes in order because of rationality existed in the universe. Anyone whofollows it can have virtue. Further more, he suggested to imitate God. By doing so, ourrationality will be perfect, then we can get freedom and happiness.With respect to the way to get freedom and happiness, Epictetus has his own insights.He first divided things into two: up to us or not. Our mind can operate on the fomer totally.In essence, the former are relate to reasoning faculty. Among it, volition is connected withgood or bad. If our volition is correct, we can deal with externals properly. Impressionswere made by externals in one’s brain, when they meet the requirements of volition, there will be impulse, then actions occur. Assent is the key from impulse to an action. It is thelast step to make sure an action is proper. It will make us choose an action or not. So,Epictetus argued that there are three areas of study: volition, impulse and assent.If one follows these exercises or disciplines in his life, he will attain tranquility orpeace, he comes to concern himself. But a person shouldn’t concern his own goodnessonly, he has to show care about others. Epictetus explained the reason: everyone is a partof the world, by contributing to the public good first, one may have his private interest,this is the order of God. Conduct our social roles and duty, then self-concern is inconcordance with social love.I think Epictetus’ ethical thoughts emphasize mental security, combine self-concernwith social love, these are the excellence. But the limitations are: the attitude that takeexternals as indifferent may go to the extreme as Cynics, furthermore, perform our socialduty unconditionally seems a little bit idealized and be difficult to achieve. From Epictetus,I get these revelations: first, we have material interests and spiritual needs, we shouldintegrate them well. Second, act rationally, then body may in harmony with mind. Third,social love is the foundation of self-concern, only after we give, can we get what we want.