prohairesis
Faculty of choosing
Prohairesis is a Stoic philosophical term for the faculty of moral choice—the capacity to choose how we respond to circumstances beyond our control.
While we cannot control external events, prohairesis is entirely ours: His prohairesis remained uncorrupted despite imprisonment.
The concept distinguishes what depends on us (judgments, impulses, desires) from what doesn't (health, reputation, death).
Central to Epictetus, who considered it the only thing truly free.
Act of selecting
- willFaculty of deliberate choice
- volitionCapacity for choice
- intentionPlanned purpose for acting
- deliberationCareful weighing of choices
resolve · commitment · purpose · decision · determination · premeditation · motivation · self-determination
Ethical nature of someone
- excellenceOutstanding quality or merit
- areteSharp glacial ridge
- righteousnessMoral correctness or virtue
- integrityMoral soundness and consistency
wisdom · justice · temperance · courage · prudence · fortitude · duty · honor
Uncomplaining acceptance of difficulty
- assentFormal expression of approval
- impressionsEffects on the mind
- Marcus AureliusStoic emperor of Rome
- logosBrand identification symbols
moral purpose · rational choice · inner citadel · discipline · externals
Independent management of affairs
- sovereigntySupreme independent authority
- independenceFreedom from external control
- freedomAbsence of constraint
- libertyAbsence of unjust constraint
self-rule · self-direction · self-sufficiency · self-reliance · individuality · selfhood · inner freedom · self-determination
Keen perception and judgment
- reasoningDrawing logical conclusions
- deliberationCareful weighing of choices
- evaluationDetermining worth or quality
- assessmentFormal evaluation of worth
analysis · practical reason · discrimination · reflection · consideration · weighing · inference · critical thinking
choice
Act of selecting
deliberation · resolve · commitment · purpose · decision · determination · premeditation · motivation · self-determination · free will
moral character
Ethical nature of someone
- excellenceOutstanding quality or merit
- areteSharp glacial ridge
- righteousnessMoral correctness or virtue
integrity · wisdom · justice · temperance · courage · prudence · fortitude · duty · honor · goodness
stoicism
Uncomplaining acceptance of difficulty
- assentFormal expression of approval
- impressionsEffects on the mind
- Marcus AureliusStoic emperor of Rome
logos · moral purpose · rational choice · inner citadel · discipline · externals
self-governance
Independent management of affairs
- sovereigntySupreme independent authority
- independenceFreedom from external control
- freedomAbsence of constraint
liberty · self-rule · self-direction · self-sufficiency · self-reliance · individuality · selfhood · inner freedom · self-determination
discernment
Keen perception and judgment
- reasoningDrawing logical conclusions
- deliberationCareful weighing of choices
- evaluationDetermining worth or quality
assessment · analysis · practical reason · discrimination · reflection · consideration · weighing · inference · critical thinking · moral reasoning
- ancient philosophyPlato, Aristotle, Socrates, Platonism, Epicureanism
- StoicismStoicism, Marcus Aurelius, Seneca, ataraxia, assent
prohairesisweakness of will
Failing to follow conviction
passion · impulse · appetite · pathos · incontinence
prohairesisfate
Predetermined course of events
fortune · circumstance · externals · chance · luck
prohairesiscoercion
Pressured compliance through threats
compulsion · slavery · subjugation · manipulation · determinism