According to Epictetus, philosophy is a self-conscience of own weaknesses and inability in relation to essential things. Epictetus argues that in coming to the world, no one has any know how on nature, but knowledge is gained through learning of various things through communication that accord to art. He outlines that the use of rights and wrongs are utilized in an effort to fit in a particular concept amongst various cases. In his role as a Stoic teacher, he concentrated mostly on ethics, encouraging his students to live a philosophical life that would lead to flourishing and happiness. He argues on things that are within our reach and those that are beyond our reach. He outlines of things within our powers being naturally free and unrestricted, but those beyond our disposal being weak, restricted and dependent (Pauta, 2012). In his analysis, attributing freedom to things that are dependent on nature and taking what belongs to others would result in hindrance, lamentation, and disturbance, finding fault from both men and gods.
In his moral teaching, Epictetus outlines human beings in knowing good and evil and accepts the notion of human beings as described by Zeus. When an individual has a difficult in circumstances and challenges of action to be taken, the person should turn to God. But Epictetus describes the knowledge to good or bad being within an individual and gives a capacity of understanding the difference among them. According to him, the moral purpose is the means to happiness which demonstrate in the manner of being upright. Moral purpose is an arrangement of displays about good and bad, but for Epictetus there exist a third party known as indifferent which makes the center of his philosophy and these are outlined outside the span of moral principle. According to him, for an individual to be morally entitled, his/her actions should be in the scope of moral law and if the indifferent things as he calls them are out of moral principles, one should refrain from them.
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According to Epictetus there is need to exhibit passion attitude but not to bind and rule oneself to the external pressures like money, power and popularity becoming a slave to the same. According to him, when external pressures lead role of human being lives, the individuals will find themselves enslaved in unhappiness situation. The individuals throughout their lives will aim to possess materials that would be impossible to achieve, that are things that are not in their control (Hülya, 2015). The process leads to competition in the path to happiness and in response to the situation Epictetus described the situation as far away from freedom and destined to slavery and sadness. The persons who identify themselves with their possessions, wealth, prominence and physical manifestation are slaves, for these materials are out of moral principles and be corruptible. For Epictetus, if an individual cuffs him/herself with the materials that are out of moral principles and not under personal control, the situation leads to the end of independence and happiness.
According to Epictetus teachings, the external challenge is explained with Epictetus holding similar ideas, arguing that through external forces happiness is unachievable. Though there are chances of external impressions befalling individuals at various moments, there interpretation and judgments made about them are under individual control. Epictetus shares essential notions with Socrates, if happiness is at risk, then the conclusion should not be formed by external impressions. The soul would be troubled and injured by choices which are not confined in its moral principle. For Epictetus, one's deeds and positions should be based in virtues, and if majority words are against the virtues or common understanding of good and lead to wrong, the scope of wisdom should not be ignored even if individual life is in danger. According to Epictetus, a person should prefer virtuous deeds, as in life the issue is being balanced and righteous. Persons are rational entities and possess the power of acting on passions of their soul.
Through the article by Sandel on What’s The Right Thing To Do? The government moral principle on taxation is questioned and how society should be organized in individual treatment to each other. The Epictetus query on moral principle is observed on the bases of the individuals throughout their lives aiming to possess materials that would be impossible to achieve as well as things that are not in their control. Individuals are described as having agreed that they take advantage of others who are suffering in a display of greed (Sandel, 2015). In lack of civic virtue, the society seems to be in a practice of individuals exploiting neighbors for financial gain. The query of the requirement of morality in individual rights and legislation shows the grasp of how philosophy can aid in making progress of politics, individual convictions, and ethics. Individual external impressions at various moments are applied in the argument of greed and other vices which the state together with persons as the self-point need to discourage.
Through query for justice, Epictetus philosophy and his argument on things that are not within individual reach and how they are distributed in society create prosperity of the society and personal happiness. The principle of utilitarianism according to Sandel aims at creating the greatest amount of happiness essential to prevent unhappiness. Individuals dislike pain, and like pleasure, just like Epictetus, the philosophy of utilitarian recognizes the reality and makes it the ground of moral as well as political existence. According to the philosophy, the administration in its enactment of regulations should do whatever is possible to maximize and sustain the happiness of the society (Sandel, 2015). Bentham just like Epictetus tries to create a moral principle of happiness by defending virtues and rights with believing they would maximize human being happiness.
References
Hülya, K. (2015). Virtuous life and happiness in Epictetus, Socrates & stoicism . Retrieved from http://etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/12618754/index.pdf.
Pauta, H. E. (2012). Socrates on Self-confidence - Sócrates e an Autoconfiança - Alain de Botton [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W8ol7UAiQzQ&t=2s
Sandel, M. J. (2015). What’s the right thing to do? Justice , 3-31. Retrieved from http://iasbaba.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/Michael_Sandel-_Justice-_What_s_the_Right_Thing_to_Do.pdf.
