Concept
Ataraxia
Overview
In Ancient Greek philosophy, ataraxia (Greek: ἀταραξία, from ἀ- indicating negation or absence and ταρασσ- tarass- 'to disturb, trouble' with the abstract noun suffix -ία), generally translated as 'unperturbedness', 'imperturbability', 'equanimity', or 'tranquility', is a lucid state of robust equanimity characterized by ongoing freedom from distress and worry. In non-philosophical usage, ataraxia was the ideal mental state for soldiers entering battle. Achieving ataraxia is a common goal for Pyrrhonism, Epicureanism, and Stoicism, but the role and value of ataraxia within each philosophy varies in accordance with their philosophical theories. The mental disturbances that prevent one from achieving ataraxia also vary among the philosophies, and each philosophy has a different understanding as to how to achieve ataraxia.
Overview adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0; see the article history for authors).
Possible passages
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It is called an atom, by reason not of its smallness but of its indivisibility; in it no vacuity, no passible affection is to be found. And that there is an atom is perfectly clear; for there are elements which have a perpetual duration, and there are animals which admit of a vacuity, and there is a unity.
Plutarch, Complete Works of Plutarch — Volume 3
States what Ataraxia is.
But a wise man is not affected by any present evil; while the grief of a fool proceeds from being affected with an imaginary evil, by which his mind is contracted and sunk, since it is not under the dominion of reason. This, then, is the first definition, which makes grief to consist in a shrinking of the mind, contrary to the dictates of reason. Thus, there are four perturbations, and but three calm rational…
Marcus Tullius Cicero, The Academic Questions, Treatise De Finibus, and Tusculan Disputations, of M.T. Cicero, With a Sketch of the Greek Philosophers Mentioned by
States what Ataraxia is.
8. There is a fault of the mind called by the Greeks Ἀμαϑια, which is _indocibility_, or _difficulty_ of being taught; the which must needs arise from a _false opinion_ that they _know already_ the truth of that is called in question: for certainly men are not otherwise so unequal in capacity as the _evidence_ is unequal between what is taught by the mathematicians, and what is commonly discoursed of in other books…
Thomas Hobbes, The English works of Thomas Hobbes of Malmesbury, Volume 04
States what Ataraxia is.
Philosophers who discussed Ataraxia
Related ideas
- Suspension of judgment
- Pyrrhonism
- Ancient Greek
- Ancient Greek philosophy
- Apatheia
- Epoché
- Eudaimonia
- Stoicism
- Epicureanism
- Dogma
- Equanimity
- Alpha privative
Place in the tradition
Part of Academic skepticism.