Adiaphoron

ADIAPHORON is ‘indifferent thing’. It is a thing/action making no philosophical difference. Such a thing/action is inadequate in qualifying as ‘ethical’ or ‘unethical’ one’s lifestyle. This could happen because a thing/action is unimportant. Or because it is not in our control (it does not depend on our will). Since they are irrelevant or out of our disposal, <adiaphora> are philosophically not mandatory nor forbidden.

As an example, we believe it is mandatory to carry out civic duties. Also we forbid the losing of temper. Instead caressing pets is an <adiaphoron>. In fact, spending some time stroking animals does fall within our will. But this action is philosophically insignificant. <Adiaphoron> is an indifferent thing also when it is something we can do zero about. For instance, the birth of a pair of twins. This is an event which happens without the mother exerting a choice. All natural events belong to this category. Hurricanes, earthquakes, heatwaves, deaths from old age, congenital diseases.

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For us, personal characteristics and attitudes are not 100% natural. Rather they are tests to prove one’s ability in controlling oneself or changing bad habits. Therefore a justification like “sorry but I’m born this way” is unacceptable. For example, a violent individual has the duty to train himself never to lose temper again. And the training itself is an element of a philosophical lifestyle.

We come to life in thousands different ways. Then, it is up to us to choose what we want to be. This concept does not contrast natural things (a Stoic imperative). In fact, we see violence, rage, rancor, jealousy, skittishness, cowardice and other similar mindsets as unnatural. We see these traits as alterations and deviations from our true nature. A ‘true nature’ which always contains something divine and sacred (we belong to the universal <logos>).