Stoic virtues
Subtitle: Chrysippus and the theological foundations of stoic ethics
By: Christoph Jedan.
Publisher: Continuum
Published: 2009
Place of publication: London; New York
Language: eng
Number of pages: 230
ISBN-13: 9781441112521
Subjects: Chrysippus, -- ca. 280-207 or 6 B.C; Stoics; Virtue; Virtues
Description: "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.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references and index.
Table of contents: title: Introduction; title: A religious world-view; title: Stoic corporealism; title: Stoic theology; title: Two pictures of fate; title: Virtue and the virtues; title: Definitions of virtue; title: Chrysippus : characterisation of virtue as perfect state; title: Virtue as consistent character; title: The virtues as epistmai; title: The virtues, different yet inseparable; title: The difference between the virtues; title: The inseparability of the virtues; title: A catalogue of virtues; title: Ethical virtues additional (generic) virtues; title: The openness of Chrysippus catalogue of virtues; title: Becoming virtuous; title: Vice and the attainability of virtue; title: Initiation; title: Virtue and happiness; title: Practices of virtue; title: Law and rules; title: Law; title: Rules and Kathkonta; title: Stoic practical reasoning; title: The single Kathkon and the versatility of stoic prescriptions.