Single Idea 23325

[catalogued under 20. Action / C. Motives for Action / 4. Responsibility for Actions]

Full Idea

The notion of will in Epictetus is clearly developed to pinpoint the source of our responsibility for our actions and to identify precisely what it is that makes them our own doings.

Gist of Idea

Epictetus developed a notion of will as the source of our responsibility

Source

report of Epictetus (The Discourses [c.56]) by Michael Frede - A Free Will 3

Book Reference

Frede,Michael: 'A Free Will' [Univ of California 2011], p.46


A Reaction

So the key move is that responsibility needs a 'source', rather than being a generalisation about how our actions arise. The next step is demand an 'ultimate' source, and this leads to the idea that this new will is 'free'. This will can be good or bad.

Related Idea

Idea 23324 In the Discourses choice [prohairesis] defines our character and behaviour [Epictetus, by Frede,M]