A state of mind where one is free from harmful or destructive passions.
It is not the absence of all emotions, only those that make our lives worse.
It literally means no-passions (a-pathy).
Apathy is an important goal of Stoic ethics.
The Stoics believe that the sage, the perfect Stoic, will achieve this state in a way that is permanent.
The normal Stoic in-training won't achieve total apathy, but strives to limit the amount of passions they do experience through careful application of Stoicism.
Greek: Apatheia
ἀπάθεια.
Book: Essential Stoic Concepts
Subtitle: A Stoic glossary
Author: Stoa
Chapter: Apathy
Location: Chapter 1, Section 2
Content:
A state of mind where one is free from harmful or destructive passions.
It is not the absence of all emotions, only those that make our lives worse.
It literally means no-passions (a-pathy).
Apathy is an important goal of Stoic ethics.
The Stoics believe that the sage, the perfect Stoic, will achieve this state in a way that is permanent.
The normal Stoic in-training won't achieve total apathy, but strives to limit the amount of passions they do experience through careful application of Stoicism.
Greek: Apatheia
ἀπάθεια.