Ekklisis

EKKLISIS is ‘aversion’. Also this ancient Greek word is translatable as ‘disinclination’ (inclination away from a thing). It is in many ways the opposite of <orexis> that is ‘desire’ or ‘attraction’.

Epiktetos (Epictetus) says that we must enforce <ekklisis> only into the field of our own concerns. Therefore he advises never to feel <ekklisis> in case of things controlled by others or completely uncontrolled. In line with Epiktetos, Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Augustus (Marcus Aurelius) urges us to limit our aversion only to things in our power.

Sokratiko Logo

This notion is not difficult to grasp. For instance, if we feel disinclination towards bad weather we are bound to meet many uneasy situations, in our life. This is because we cannot exert any influence on weather conditions. Clouds and rains are not under our control. Bad weather will inevitably occur as many times as Nature (or God) pleases. And we will suffer from it because of our aversion.

On the contrary, if we have an hostility towards the ingestion of mushrooms we can simply avoid to eat them. Normally, we are in control of what we decide to consume. Therefore, we will not suffer pain or disappointment because of mushrooms.

In conclusion, <ekklisis> in the case of bad weather is something we should work upon (through acceptance). Of course <ekklisis> concerning mushrooms is not a big problem. Nonetheless, on a higher stage, wisdom suggests to avoid any form of aversion.

<Ekklisis> is ‘aversion’. And this “sentiment” seems to be spontaneous. But our philosophers teach that we do not have to endure our antipathies. We can work on ourselves in order to avoid all hostilities against things out of our control.