Passions

In Stoic philosophy, the concept of passions, known in Greek as pathos, refers to intense and irrational emotions that disturb the mind and lead individuals away from reason and virtue. Unlike the common modern understanding of passion as a strong feeling or enthusiasm, in Stoicism, pathos is seen as a negative force that disrupts the rational order of the soul. The Stoics believed that pathos arises from incorrect judgments about what is good or bad. When individuals mistakenly value external things—such as wealth, pleasure, or status—as essential for their happiness, they become vulnerable to emotions like fear, anger, grief, and desire. These emotions are considered irrational because they are based on false beliefs about what truly matters. Since the Stoics hold that only virtue is genuinely good, any emotion that stems from the pursuit or avoidance of external things is misguided and detrimental.

The Stoics categorize pathos into four main types:

• Desire (ἐπιθυμία, epithymia): The irrational longing for something perceived as good but which is actually indifferent or harmful.
• Fear (φόβος, phobos): The irrational aversion to something perceived as bad but which is, in truth, indifferent.
• Pain (λύπη, lypē): The irrational reaction to the presence of something perceived as bad.
• Pleasure (ἡδονή, hēdonē): The irrational attachment to the presence of something perceived as good.

These passions are seen as diseases of the soul, distorting one's perception and leading to actions that are contrary to reason and virtue. The Stoics argued that the goal of a wise person is to achieve tranquillity (apatheia), a state of being free from pathos. This does not mean being devoid of all emotion but rather being free from irrational and excessive emotions that disturb the mind. In apatheia, one experiences rational and moderated emotions that are in harmony with reason, such as joy in virtuous actions or caution in avoiding vice.

To overcome pathos, the Stoics recommend cultivating the correct judgments about what is truly valuable. By recognizing that virtue is the only true good and that external things are indifferent, one can maintain a tranquil and rational state of mind. This leads to happiness (eudaimonia), which is the ultimate goal of life in Stoic philosophy.