A BALANÇA MORAL EM EPICTETO

Abstract

This research aimed to formulate a possible answer to the following question: what is the criterion that, in Epictetus' view, should be used to carry out correct moral evaluations? Reflections on morality occupy a fundamental place in the lessons of the philosopher from Nicopolis, however, although a good part of his prescriptions imply the application of a criterion in the formation of moral opinions, it is not possible to find in these lessons a systematic presentation of this criterion. For this reason, the practical exercises that seem to form the axis of Epictetus' philosophy, as well as the examples and images that permeate his thought, were the main source in which we sought to identify the specific characteristics of the moral criterion, through analysis , in dialogue with the interpretations of some commentators. Some of the exercises investigated in more depth were the withdrawal from external stimuli to internally recognize the innate notions that refer to moral concepts and are designated as prenotions, and the practice of distinguishing between what is and is not under our charge. With regard to images and analogies, the most relevant examination for the research was on the implications of the scale metaphor and the analogy between moral evaluations and medical diagnoses. Thus, the reflections elaborated during the research made it possible to recognize the following general characteristics as belonging to the moral criterion: i) the moral criterion corresponds to an assertion resulting from the articulation of pre-notions; ii) the same criterion must be replicable in similar contexts; iii) the way in which moral criteria is used is improved through habit.