El problema de la akrasia en las Disertaciones de Epicteto

Abstract

The argument against the possibility of akrasia (“I see what is best, and yet I do what is worse”, according to the classical formula of Ovidius) that we find en Epictetus (Arrianus), has frequently been neglected in modern and contemporary discussions around the problem of incontinence. This has mainly been due to the fact that Epictetus’ meditations tend to be reduced to a mere reproduction of Socratic issues under Stoic dogmas. On the contrary, it will be our goal to bring to light the remarkable theoretical richness that underlies the argument of our Stoic slave that aims at understanding in a systematic manner the behaviour of the incontinent. This will oblige us to contrast Epictetus’ model of analysis with other interpretative alternatives of the phenomenon of akrasia.