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Stoicism, Enkrasia, and Happiness

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Stoicism, Enkrasia, and Happiness Stoicism, Enkrasia, and Happiness by John L. Bowman A THESIS Submitted to Oregon State University in partial fulfillm ent of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Inter disciplinary Studies Presented April 14, 2010 Commencement June 2010 AN ABSTRACT OF THE THESIS OF John L. Bowman for the degree of Master of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies in Philosophy, Philosophy, and History presented on April 14, 2010 Title: Stoicism, Enkrasia, and Happiness Abstract approved: ____________________________________________________________________ William L. Uzgalis Cicero wrote in Tusculan Disputations that we are born with the seeds of virtue which, if allowed to ripen, would lead us to a happy life (Cicero 227). However, as things are, we find ourselves in a world of “iniquity among a medley of wrong beliefs” that inhibits the ripening process (Cicero 227). The Stoics believed many of these iniquities and wrongful beliefs are the principal sources of unhappiness. In America today, some of these sources of unhappiness are manifest in the pursuits of wealth, prestige, power, and sensual pleasure, as well as the fear of unknown things, such as death. This thesis offers a solution to achieve greater happiness for those desiring to control their own destinies through reason, self‐reliance, and will‐power. This solution is to adopt and practice Stoic philosophy. This thesis first describes the ancient philosophy of Stoicism whose principle objective is to bring human felicity. Stoicism’s fundamental themes could be that the world is as we make it, we should live in accordance with nature, and we can achieve happiness through virtue. The Stoics also believed that we are born with the ability to act enkratically, which enables us to practice Stoic salubrious beliefs. Through reason and other factors, such as intuition, imagination, effort, the ability to learn, experience, skill, and habit, this thesis argues that we can do what we will. With Stoic philosophy and enkrasia, this thesis concludes that many people can enhance their level of happiness. ©Copyright by John L. Bowman April 14, 2010 All Rights Reserved Master of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies thesis of John L. Bowman presented on April 14, 2010 APPROVED: ___________________________________________________________________ Major Professor, representing Philosophy ___________________________________________________________________ Director of Interdisciplinary Studies Program ___________________________________________________________________ Dean of the Graduate School I understand that my thesis will become part of the permanent collection of Oregon State University libraries. My signature below authorizes release of my thesis to any reader upon request. ___________________________________________________________________ John L. Bowman, Author ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to acknowledge and extend my greatest appreciation to the professors at Oregon State University who helped me write this thesis. Working with them, learning from them, and getting to know them has been a great pleasure. Thank you Professor William Uzgalis, Professor Gary Ferngren, Professor Flo Leibowitz, and Professor Lani Roberts. I am particularly grateful for my major professor William Uzgalis’ advice, efforts, tolerance, and endurance on my behalf. TABLE OF CONTENTS Page CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................ 1 1.1 What are the problems? ............................................................................................................................ 3 1.2 Why do these problems matter? ........................................................................................................... 3 1.3 What are the solutions? ............................................................................................................................ 4 1.4 Assumptions .................................................................................................................................................. 5 1.5 Disclaimer ....................................................................................................................................................... 7 1.6 Terms defined ............................................................................................................................................... 9 1.6.1 Happiness ........................................................................................................................ 9 1.6.2 Virtue ............................................................................................................................ 11 1.6.3 Enkrasia ......................................................................................................................... 12 CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW ....................................................................................... 14 2.1 Literature on Stoic ethics ....................................................................................................................... 14 2.1.1 Original Stoic literature ................................................................................................. 15 2.1.2 Secondary literature on Stoicism .................................................................................. 18 2.2 Metaphysical literature ........................................................................................................................... 21 2.2.1 Enkrasia ......................................................................................................................... 22 2.2.2 Limits to reason ............................................................................................................. 23 2.3 Reference sources ..................................................................................................................................... 24 CHAPTER THREE: STOICISM ............................................................................................................. 26 3.1 Stoicism and Stoic Philosophy ............................................................................................................. 26 3.1.1 History of Stoicism ........................................................................................................ 26 3.1.2 Stoic philosophy ............................................................................................................ 50 CHAPTER FOUR: ENKRASIA ............................................................................................................ 104 4.1 Enkrasia ...................................................................................................................................................... 104 4.1.1 Folk psychology theory of the mind ............................................................................................ 106 4.2 Stoicism and the skeptics on enkrasia ........................................................................................... 108 4.2.1 The Stoics on enkrasia ................................................................................................. 109 TABLE OF CONTENTS (Continued) 4.2.2 The skeptics on enkrasia ............................................................................................. 114 4.2.3 Conclusion: we can act enkratically ............................................................................ 117 4.2.4 Lydia’s Love Life .......................................................................................................... 118 4.3 Stoicism and the skeptics on reason ............................................................................................... 122 4.3.1 The Stoics on reason ................................................................................................... 122 4.3.2 The skeptics on the limits to reason ........................................................................... 124 4.3.3 Conclusion: reason is insufficient to cause enkratic action ........................................ 134 CHAPTER FIVE: DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION ................................................................... 139 5.1 The toolbox ............................................................................................................................................... 139 5.1.1 Intuition .................................................................................................................................................. 140 5.1.2 Imagination ................................................................................................................. 142 5.1.3 Persistence .................................................................................................................. 143 5.1.4 Ability to learn, experience, and skill .......................................................................... 144 5.1.5 Habit ............................................................................................................................ 144 5.1.6 Reason ......................................................................................................................... 145 5.2 Reason and the toolbox can cause enkratic action ................................................................... 147 5.3 Lydia’s Love Life reprise ...................................................................................................................... 148 5.5 Conclusion: Stoicism
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