Table Of Content

ANCIENT PHILOSOPHIES “Outstanding … Sellars has risen splendidly to the challenge of pro- viding a new generation of students with an introduction to Stoicism. S I recommend the book without hesitation. It is clearly written, well t o organized, and beautifully produced.” i Robin Waterfield, Heythrop Journal c i s “An excellent introduction to the central themes of Stoicism.” m R. W. Sharples, Philosophical Books “It’s easy to recommend this book as the best introduction to the subject.” Christopher Brooke, The Philosophers’ Magazine J “A lucid, informative and thoughtful introduction to Stoicism.” o Christopher Gill, University of Exeter h n S Stoicism was one of the most influential schools of philosophy in antiquity e and its influence has persisted to the present day. Originating in Athens ll a around 300 BCE, Stoicism flourished for some five hundred years and r s has remained a constant presence throughout the history of Western philosophy. This book provides a comprehensive introduction to this great philosophical school. As well as outlining the central philosophical ideas of Stoicism, it introduces readers to the different ancient authors and sources that they will encounter when exploring Stoicism. The book begins by introducing the ancient Stoics and their works. It then considers how the Stoics themselves conceived philosophy and how they formulated their own philosophical system. The core chapters examine Stoic philosophical doctrines in depth, taking each division of Stoic theory in turn: logic, physics and ethics. The final chapter provides a fascinating account of the Stoic legacy from later antiquity to the present. The book includes a glossary, chronology and guide to further reading, which, together with its accessible yet authoritative approach, make it an ideal introduction for students and general readers. John Sellars is Senior Lecturer in Philosophy at the University of the West of England and a member of Wolfson College, Oxford. Ancient Philosophies series Stoicism Front cover: Peter Paul Rubens, The Death of Seneca, c. 1615 © Museo del Prado, Madrid. R o u t John Sellars le d g www.routledge.com e Stoicism Ancient Philosophies Th is series provides fresh and engaging new introductions to the major schools of philosophy of antiquity. Designed for students of p hilosophy and classics, the books off er clear and rigorous presenta- tion of core ideas and lay the foundation for a thorough understand- ing of their subjects. Primary texts are handled in translation and the readers are provided with useful glossaries, chronologies and guides to the primary source material. Published Th e Ancient Commentators Neoplatonism on Plato and Aristotle Pauliina Remes Miira Tuominen Plato Ancient Scepticism Andrew S. Mason Harald Th orsrud Presocratics Cynics James Warren William Desmond Stoicism Epicureanism John Sellars Tim O’Keefe Forthcoming Classical Islamic Philosophy Indian Buddhist Philosophy Deborah Black Amber Carpenter Confucianism Paul R. Goldin Stoicism John Sellars First published 2006 by Acumen Published 2014 by Routledge 2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, O xon OX14 4RN 711 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10017, USA Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business © John Sellars, 2006 Th is book is copyright under the Berne Convention. No reproduction without permission. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publishers. Notices Practitioners and researchers must always rely on their own experience and knowledge in evaluating and using any information, methods, compounds, or experiments described herein. In using such information or methods they should be mindful of their own safety and the safety of others, including parties for whom they have a professional responsibility. To the fullest extent of the law, neither the Publisher nor the authors, contributors, or editors, assume any liability for any injury and/or damage to persons or property as a matter of products liability, negligence or otherwise, or from any use or operation of any methods, products, instructions, or ideas contained in the material herein. isbn: 978-1-84465-052-1 (hardcover) isbn: 978-1-84465-053-8 (paperback) British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library. Designed and typeset in Minion. Dedicated to the memory of Gloria Walker, a true Stoic Page Intentionally Left Blank Contents Preface ix Sources and abbreviations xiii Chronology xvii 1 Introduction 1 2 Th e Stoic system 31 3 Stoic logic 55 4 Stoic physics 81 5 Stoic ethics 107 6 Th e Stoic legacy 135 Glossary of names 159 Glossary of terms 163 Guide to further reading 167 References 187 Index of passages 191 Index 195 vii Page Intentionally Left Blank Preface Stoicism was one of the most infl uential schools of philosophy in antiquity and its infl uence has persisted to the present day. Origi- nating in Athens around 300 bce, it proved especially popular in the Roman world, while more recently it has infl uenced thinkers as diverse as Montaigne, Kant, Nietzsche and Deleuze. Stoicism off ers a distinctive and challenging view of both the world as a whole and the individual human being. It conceives the world materialistically and deterministically as a unifi ed whole, of which we are all parts. It presents the human being as a thoroughly rational animal, for whom violent emotions are actually the product of errors in reasoning. In the popular imagination it is now mainly associated with the ideas of emotionless calm and heroic endurance in the face of adversity. As we shall see, like so many popular images this one is based on an element of truth combined with an unhappy distortion. Th e aim of this volume is to off er an introduction to Stoic philosophy for readers new to Stoicism and it does not assume any knowledge of either ancient philosophy or philosophy in general. It should be of use to students of philosophy, students of classics and other interested general readers. As well as outlining the central philosophical ideas of Stoicism, one of its aims is to introduce the reader to the diff erent ancient authors and sources that they will encounter when exploring Stoicism. Th e range of sources that are ix