On TOPOI : The Three Areas of Study as the Path to Ataraxia under Epictetus’s Prohairesis

Abstract

The paper surveys concepts, purpose, and mechanisms of ‘The Three Areas of Study’ or ‘topoi’. According to Epictetus, the topoi, as the theory which is structured under the notion of Prohairesis as well as the Stoic ethical purpose, is believed to be both means and ends which could lead humans to the state of the ‘tranquility of the mind’ or ‘ataraxia’. The three areas respectively include the 1^sttopos : ‘orexis / ekklisis’ – or the area that the subject has to pay attention to what is called desire and aversion. The 2^ndtopos : ‘horme / aphorme – or the area that the subject has to follow the motive which brings about appropriate actions and ignore the one which brings about inappropriate actions. Lastly the 3^rdtopos : ‘synkatathesis’ – or the area that the subject must accept and assert the final conclusion with reason. Nevertheless, the paper still leaves the questions on the 3^rdtopos (or the third area of study) whether it may somehow cause any contradictions or give unreasonable explanations within itself.

Keywords: topoi; Prohairesis; orexis; ekklisis; horme; aphorme; synkatathesis