Upload
vuongnguyet
View
217
Download
3
Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
b
Reality, Resistance & Respect
Reality, Resistance & RespectStoicism
Dr. Clea F. Rees
Canolfan Addysg Gydol Oes Centre for Lifelong LearningPrifysgol Caerdydd Cardiff University
Yr Hydref/Autumn 2014
b
Reality, Resistance & RespectOutline
Virtue
Vice
Moral
Imm
oral
Ethical
Unethica
lPe
rmissi
bleImpermissible
Outline
Connections
Stoicism
Some questions for virtue ethicistsA question for FootWhat are the virtues/vices?
Stockdale: The World of EpictetusIndividual morality & social institutions
Images: Gifmania, Bote de Medicina; Lock (Lock’s Press 1986) b
Reality, Resistance & RespectConnections
Virtue
Vice
Moral
Imm
oral
Ethical
Unethica
lPe
rmissi
bleImpermissible
Connections
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.
Images: Paski, Harry; Food Standards Agency, The Eatwell Plate; danhortonszar.com b
Reality, Resistance & RespectStoicism
Virtue
Vice
Moral
Imm
oral
Ethical
Unethica
lPe
rmissi
bleImpermissible
StoicismFoot’s ‘cardinal’ virtues
Recall, Foot’s ‘cardinal’ virtues:
I temperance
I courage
I justice
I wisdom
b
Reality, Resistance & RespectStoicism
Virtue
Vice
Moral
Imm
oral
Ethical
Unethica
lPe
rmissi
bleImpermissible
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
Image: Food Standards Agency, The Eatwell Plate b
Reality, Resistance & RespectStoicism
Virtue
Vice
Moral
Imm
oral
Ethical
Unethica
lPe
rmissi
bleImpermissible
StoicismTemperate Epictetus
We can compare Epictetus’ conception with Foot’s. . .
Foot
temperance is a virtue
Epictetus
temperance is a virtue
Image: Paski, Harry b
Reality, Resistance & RespectStoicism
Virtue
Vice
Moral
Imm
oral
Ethical
Unethica
lPe
rmissi
bleImpermissible
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?
Image: danhortonszar.com b
Reality, Resistance & RespectStoicism
Virtue
Vice
Moral
Imm
oral
Ethical
Unethica
lPe
rmissi
bleImpermissible
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
Image: danhortonszar.com b
Reality, Resistance & RespectStoicism
Virtue
Vice
Moral
Imm
oral
Ethical
Unethica
lPe
rmissi
bleImpermissible
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
b
Reality, Resistance & RespectStoicism
Virtue
Vice
Moral
Imm
oral
Ethical
Unethica
lPe
rmissi
bleImpermissible
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.
b
Reality, Resistance & RespectStoicism
Virtue
Vice
Moral
Imm
oral
Ethical
Unethica
lPe
rmissi
bleImpermissible
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
b
Reality, Resistance & RespectStoicism
Virtue
Vice
Moral
Imm
oral
Ethical
Unethica
lPe
rmissi
bleImpermissible
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
b
Reality, Resistance & RespectSome questions for virtue ethicists
A question for Foot
Virtue
Vice
Moral
Imm
oral
Ethical
Unethica
lPe
rmissi
bleImpermissible
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?
b
Reality, Resistance & RespectSome questions for virtue ethicists
What are the virtues/vices?
Virtue
Vice
Moral
Imm
oral
Ethical
Unethica
lPe
rmissi
bleImpermissible
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?
b
Reality, Resistance & RespectSome questions for virtue ethicists
What are the virtues/vices?
Virtue
Vice
Moral
Imm
oral
Ethical
Unethica
lPe
rmissi
bleImpermissible
What are the virtues/vices?Two questions
Is Stoicism useful in Cardiff in 2014?
b
Reality, Resistance & RespectSome questions for virtue ethicists
What are the virtues/vices?
Virtue
Vice
Moral
Imm
oral
Ethical
Unethica
lPe
rmissi
bleImpermissible
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)
b
Reality, Resistance & RespectSome questions for virtue ethicists
What are the virtues/vices?
Virtue
Vice
Moral
Imm
oral
Ethical
Unethica
lPe
rmissi
bleImpermissible
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?
b
Reality, Resistance & RespectSome questions for virtue ethicists
What are the virtues/vices?
Virtue
Vice
Moral
Imm
oral
Ethical
Unethica
lPe
rmissi
bleImpermissible
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?
b
Reality, Resistance & RespectStockdale: The World of Epictetus
Virtue
Vice
Moral
Imm
oral
Ethical
Unethica
lPe
rmissi
bleImpermissible
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
b
Reality, Resistance & RespectStockdale: The World of Epictetus
Individual morality & social institutions
Virtue
Vice
Moral
Imm
oral
Ethical
Unethica
lPe
rmissi
bleImpermissible
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.