Epictetus’s Stoic Ethics: Volition and the Use of Impressions

Epictetus (c. 50‑c. 135 CE) is remembered as a Greek exponent of Stoic ethics, noted for the consistency and power of his moral thought and for effective teaching methods (S7E1). His chief concerns are integrity, self‑management, and personal freedom, which he conveys by urging students to examine two central ideas: the capacity he calls “volition” (prohairesis) and the correct use of impressions (chrěsis tō n phantasiṣn) (S7E2, S7E3). These themes underline the Stoic emphasis on inner control and rational judgment.