2018105135 Ömer Faruk TEZER 9/4/2021

1. Give a brief account of the philosophical views of the Stoics, with particular reference to
their moral theories.

Stoicism is a kind of ethics which is based on virtue, virtue is a mean to

achieve happiness(eudemonia), however virtue in itself contains some basic
abstract ideas like reason and nature, three of them actually are same things
and living with those ideas direct us living a eudemonistic life. For instance,
living according to rule of nature, namely; living with agreement prevents us
from facing any obstacle. Reason or logismos(calculation) also makes us
living with principle, it protects that we love, by living with principle we can
secure ourselves otherwise, by living according to feelings, we cannot
become safe because feelings are not guided but reason have some criteria,
that is why we trust reason. Feelings contain passions which are dangerous
to our life, living with full of feeling resembles to running always in which
the odd of fall is higher than walking (applying to reason).

According to Stoics, everything is god, so they embrace pantheism, Because

everything is god, we are also like a god but there exists some issues about
free will, Even though everything is god, now that everything is pre-
determined, we still have free will to attain virtue, it is like a cylinder rolling
down from a mountain , it rolls due to shape of cylinder and the effect of
gravity so it means that while we decide our own fate (ımarmeni??), some
variables(external factors) may impact or push us continue on the
determined way. We also exercise our will by doing simple things like
exercising according to knowledge but not allusion and by knowing thyself
(What I like or not and when should I be active).
2. Interpret the main views that are developed during the Hellenistic Period in
Epicureanism and Skepticism, in the context of Ancient Greek Philosophy.

Epicureans embraces the idea of pleasure rather than Stoics; virtue is a

mean or a step to attain pleasure. However, like Plato said: Every action
aims at some good, someone should use logos(calculation) to reach pleasure
so use it as an instrument however those pleasure sometimes can be trivial
things like starching your hand so there exists difference between high
pleasures and others. Highest pleasures(spiritual) are one that should be
attained. Contrary to common thought, in which pleasure is depicted as
throwing a party, it is more about abstract things like fixing a character or
maintaining equality because always throwing a party destroys you, so they
are in search of more permanent pleasures.

For Epicureans, all ideas are the result of perception so they take sense as
truth and leave empirical word and they do not try to change facts, so in the
same way they embrace an approach in which God does not interfere with
the life of human, so they take the God as role model for eternal pleasure
because it cannot be disturbed, namely has tranquility(ataraxia). Even
though God is the one being fearful, someone should be afraid of death
because we will never meet death and also in search of pleasure good is
within nature so it can be easily attainable and pains are easily suffered
because it comes from desires.

Skeptics doubt whether any knowledge is possible or reachable, even if we

examine the meaning of word linguistically, we may not reach certain
conclusion because words are transitory and even everything is transitory, as
Heraclitus said everything is influx of change, you cannot wash yourselves
twice in the same river. As Skeptics think that we can not secure knowledge
we ought to cancel our judgment about anything. So, we just should keep
our ataraxia by accepting that we do not know so they are always moving
with logic even when they are expressing that they do not know but they
have accept the basic practical reasons to continue living like necessities,
when they are sleepy, they have to sleep, so they should not be against the
law of nature at the same time should follow the customs and norms because
they are not aware of what is better or not. So, while rejecting the certainty
they also enjoy the freedom of not making mistake.