Stoic virtues Chrysippus and the religious character of stoic ethics Christoph Jedan.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Jedan, Christoph, author.

Series:

Continuum studies in ancient philosophy.

Continuum studies in ancient philosophy

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Chrysippus, approximately 280 B.C.-207 B.C. or 206 B.C.

Chrysippus.

Stoics.

Virtue.

Virtues.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (243 p.)

Place of Publication:

London New York Continuum 2009.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

"Like its ancient rivals, Stoic ethics was a form of virtue ethics, yet while the concept of virtue was clearly central to Stoic ethics, the concept of Stoic virtue has not yet been fully explored. Instead, the existing literature tends to impose on the Stoic material philosophically quite alien non-Aristotelian interpretations of virtue. According to Christoph Jedan, however, a thorough examination of the Stoic concept of virtue leads to a reassessment of our understanding of Stoic ethics. This book emphasises in particular the theological underpinning of Stoic ethics, which Jedan contends has been underestimated in current accounts of Stoic ethics. Jedan argues that the theological motifs in Stoic ethics are in fact pivotal to a complete understanding of Stoic ethics. The book focuses on Chrysippus, the most important of the early Stoic thinkers, suggesting that his contribution, and in particular its religious aspect, remained a key point of reference for later Stoics. This fascinating book makes a crucial contribution to the field of ancient ethics."--Bloomsbury Publishing

Like its ancient rivals, Stoic ethics was a form of virtue ethics, yet while the concept of virtue was clearly central to Stoic ethics, the concept of Stoic virtue has not yet been fully explored. Instead, the existing literature tends to impose on the Stoic material philosophically quite alien non-Aristotelian interpretations of virtue. According to Christoph Jedan, however, a thorough examination of the Stoic concept of virtue leads to a reassessment of our understanding of Stoic ethics. This book emphasises in particular the theological underpinning of Stoic ethics, which Jedan contends has been underestimated in current accounts of Stoic ethics. Jedan argues that the theological motifs in Stoic ethics are in fact pivotal to a complete understanding of Stoic ethics. The book focuses on Chrysippus, the most important of the early Stoic thinkers, suggesting that his contribution, and in particular its religious aspect, remained a key point of reference for later Stoics. This fascinating book makes a crucial contribution to the field of ancient ethics.

Contents:

A religious world-view

Stoic corporealism

Stoic theology

Two pictures of fate

Virtue and the virtues

Definitions of virtue

Chrysippus: characterisation of virtue as perfect state

Virtue as consistent character

The virtues as epistmai

The virtues, different yet inseparable

The difference between the virtues

The inseparability of the virtues

A catalogue of virtues

Ethical virtues additional (generic) virtues

The openness of Chrysippus catalogue of virtues

Becoming virtuous

Vice and the attainability of virtue

Initiation

Virtue and happiness

Practices of virtue

Law and rules

Law

Rules and Kathkonta

Stoic practical reasoning

The single Kathkon and the versatility of stoic prescriptions

Acknowledgements

Abbreviations

Introduction

Part I: A Religious World-View

1. Stoic Corporealism

2. Stoic Theology

3. Two Pictures of Fate

Part II: Virtue and the Virtues

4. Definitions of Virtue

5. The Virtues as Epistemai

6. The Virtues: Different Yet Inseparable

7. A Catalogue of Virtues

Part III: Becoming Virtuous

8. Vice and the Attainability of Virtue

9. Initiation

10. Virtue and Happiness

Part IV: Practices of Virtues

11. Law and Rules

12. The Single Kathekon and the Versatility of Stoic Prescriptions

Epilogue

Appendix 1

Appendix 2

Notes

Bibliography

Index of Cited Passages

General Index

Notes:

Description based upon print version of record.

Includes bibliographical references and index

ISBN:

9786612452833

9781472598028

1472598024

9781282452831

1282452835

9781441119278

1441119272

OCLC:

610204097