Created: 2024-02-18 12:36
This is the true athlete—the person in rigorous training against false impressions. Remain firm, you who suffer, don’t be kidnapped by your impressions! The struggle is great, the task divine—to gain mastery, freedom, happiness, and tranquility. ~ Epictetus, Discourses 2.18.27-28
Epictetus, a Stoic philosopher, uses the term “impressions” (Greek: φαντασίαι) to refer to the initial thoughts, perceptions, or appearances that come to mind when we experience or think about something. These impressions are our immediate, automatic reactions to events, situations, or information, prior to any critical judgment or rational analysis we might apply to them. For Epictetus and the Stoics, impressions are not merely passive perceptions but include the judgments or assumptions that are often unconsciously attached to those perceptions.
In the context of Stoic philosophy, impressions are crucial because they are the starting point for our emotional and behavioral responses. According to Epictetus, not all impressions should be accepted at face value; they can be false or misleading, leading to inappropriate emotions or actions if we accept them uncritically. The “rigorous training” he refers to involves scrutinizing these impressions, questioning their validity, and only assenting to those that withstand rational evaluation. This process is essential for achieving the Stoic ideals of mastery over oneself, freedom from irrational passions, happiness, and tranquility.
For example, if someone insults you, your immediate impression might be that this person has harmed you and that you should feel upset or seek revenge. Epictetus would advise examining this impression critically: Is the insult truly harmful to your character, or is it merely an expression of the other person’s opinion or state of mind? By not automatically accepting the initial impression, you can maintain your tranquility and respond (or choose not to respond) in a way that is in harmony with reason and your own well-being.
Thus, when Epictetus speaks of “impressions,” he’s talking about the raw material of our mental and emotional life, which we must learn to manage wisely through philosophical practice. This involves distinguishing between things within our control (our judgments, intentions, desires) and things outside our control (external events, the actions of others), and focusing our efforts on the former.