Oikeíōsis e medo em Epicteto

Abstract

The treatment of the passions, especially the fear of death, is a recurring theme in Epictetus’ Discourses and Handbook. However, emphasizing the concepts and practices related to this treatment without considering the perspective of oikeiosis may lead the Stoic to adopt an attitude of contempt for their own life and the lives of others. To avoid this issue and to present a more balanced view of Epictetus’ philosophy on death, this work will begin by exploring the Stoic understanding of the passions, examining how they arise and the harm they cause to those who pursue philosophy. In the second part, we will examine Epictetus’ approach to treating passions in general, and fear in particular. We will see, however, that if this treatment focuses solely on the aspect of human rationality, it may lead the Stoic to disregard life. Finally, we will understand how oikeiosis offers a response to this problem by grounding both self-care and care for others.