Stoic freedom and Epicurean freedom

Abstract

To understand the proposals of both the Portico and Garden philosophies regarding freedom, and to grasp their respective approaches, differences, and limitations, it will be necessary, after proposing a historical philosophical framework, to reflect on the “what” of the concept of nature, the (practical) purpose of these philosophies, and the model of man (the wise man). By contrasting the Stoic sage with the Epicurean, we will reveal the freedom inherent in both systems, a freedom that is, ultimately, happiness. We will thus see that Stoic freedom consists in embracing the fact closely, while Epicurean freedom, on the contrary, consists in always being able, at any moment, to break with the fact. This break is not achieved through any voluntary interpretation of the event (which is a Stoic method, based on the power of the soul to make the event appear as the soul wants it to), but rather by escaping from the fact.