Desire, Aversion, and Stoic Self-Control

A fundamental tenet of the Stoic philosophy, as espoused by Epictetus and others, is that self-control is the key to living well. Specifically, we live well by controlling our desires and aversions. The Stoic limits his desires to that which it is within his power to obtain, and limits his aversions to that which it is within his power to avoid.

This video will explore this topic by considering the following questions. What is desire? What is aversion? Why should we learn to control these? What is the consequence if we fail to do so? How can we transform our ingrained habits of finding some things desirable and other things aversive? Are some things simply too dreadful and fear-provoking for us to overcome our aversion toward them? Are some things simply too attractive and pleasurable for us to overcome our desire for them?

Furthermore, we will see that Epictetus does not treat desire and aversion in precisely the same way. He seems more optimistic about our ability to control our aversions than about our ability to control our desires. Why is this? What differentiates the nature of desire from the nature of aversion?

In answering these questions, the focus of this video will be on a single paragraph from Epictetus’s work – this paragraph is found in section II of the Enchiridion.

This video is a supplemental lecture that expands upon material covered in the video entitled “Stoic Indifference, Harm, and Confronting Death.” You can find a link to that video in the description section below.

0:00 – Introduction
2:07 – The “Demands” of Desire and Aversion
6:37 – Desire and Disappointment, Aversion and Wretchedness
12:11 – An Asymmetry between Desire and Aversion

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For the final video in this series on Epictetus and Stoicism, which discusses the points raised in the conclusion of this video, see “Stoic Practice and Living Well”: Coming soon!

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Below are previous lectures on Epictetus and Stoicism:

[benjaminmontenegro]

Thank you so much for this video, helps me study desire and aversion further

[The_Schizoid_Man]

I'm currently on my own journey to eudimonia. For awhile now I've been battling with my desire for romance and sex. Ever since my first break up, I've felt like I've lost the only thing I've ever wanted. Now I'm just sick and tired of my desire. I would prefer to channel it into a preference and not have to worry and be sad I'm single. Still working on it, but your channel I just found seems very promising. So I appreciate you.