What is Pathos?
Pathos (plural: pathē), in Stoicism, is the negative emotion we experience when we allow ourselves to follow false judgments and irrational thinking. Most people associate “pathos” with emotion or sympathy. In rhetoric, it means an appeal to emotion. But in Stoicism, pathos (Greek: πάθος) has a very different and much deeper meaning.
Rather than suppressing emotions entirely, the Stoics sought to understand their causes and uproot the unhealthy ones. To them, freedom and flourishing came not from avoiding feeling, but from removing the false beliefs that fuel the unhealthy emotions. By applying a pause and rational thinking, we can avoid acting out of these emotions and replace them with logic and good emotions.
Breaking Down the Word
In Greek, πάθος (pathos) stems from the root “pascho” (πάσχω), meaning “to suffer” or “to undergo.” It is something that happens to us, a passive state, rather than something we do actively. For the Stoics, pathos represented a kind of soul-sickness, a disturbance in the psyche caused by poor reasoning.
Unlike modern usage that treats emotions as natural and valid by default, Stoic pathos is not just feeling, but disordered feeling.
Key Dimensions of Pathos
- False Judgments: Pathē arise from mistaken beliefs about what is good or bad. If we believe external things (like fame, money, or insults) are inherently good or evil, we set ourselves up for disturbance.
- Unnatural Movement of the Soul: The early Stoics, like Chrysippus, described pathos as an excessive impulse that disobeys reason, a movement of the soul rooted in faulty judgments rather than clear thinking.
- Temporary and Treatable: Pathos is not permanent. The Stoics believed we could train ourselves to respond with calm and clarity through reason.
- Four Main Categories: The Stoics divided pathē into four broad types: distress (lupē), fear (phobos), desire (epithumia), and pleasure (hēdonē) when irrationally pursued.
Core Stoic Principles Connected to Pathos
- Virtue (aretē): Only virtue is good. Pathos arises when we mistakenly treat externals as goods or evils.
- Reason (logos): The cure to pathos is to apply correct reasoning and logic. Philosophy helps us examine impressions and correct faulty judgments.
- Nature (physis): Living in accordance with nature means living in accordance with reason, not being ruled by passions.
- Wisdom (sophia): The wise person has uprooted the passions and replaced them with eupatheiai; good feelings like joy (chara), caution (eulabeia), and wish (boulesis).
Modern Misunderstandings
- Not All Emotions Are Bad: Stoicism is not emotional repression. It distinguishes between unhealthy and healthy emotions.
- Pathos vs Empathy: Though they sound alike, Stoic pathos is not the same as feeling empathy. It refers to suffering based on a false belief.
- Pathos Is Not Your Identity: In modern discourse, emotions often define us. The Stoics say: You are more than your impulses.
Do you struggle with your emotions? Book a free consultation to talk to one of our Stoic coaches.
Why Pathos Is Central to Stoicism
Pathos is at the heart of what Stoicism tries to transform. By learning to spot and challenge the irrational thoughts behind emotional outbursts, we gain freedom. Seneca, Epictetus, and Marcus Aurelius all return to this idea: the wise are not cold, but clear.
“We suffer more often in imagination than in reality.”
Seneca, Moral Letter to Lucilius, Book 2, Letter 13.4
“It is not the things themselves that disturb people but their judgements about those things.”
Epictetus, Handbook, 5
Mastering pathos means mastering yourself.
How to Practice Overcoming Pathos
- Daily Journaling: Ask yourself: What did I react to today? Was my judgment accurate?
- Cognitive Reframing: Replace “This is bad” with “This is an impression. Let me see what’s really in my control.”
- Negative Visualization: Imagine losing things you care about. Can you still be calm? This prepares the mind for clarity.
- Pause and Reflect: When you feel a strong emotion, pause and say: “What belief is driving this feeling?”
FAQ
What does pathos mean in Stoicism?
In Stoicism, pathos refers to irrational and excessive emotions caused by false judgments about what is good or bad.
Is pathos the same as emotions?
No. Pathos refers specifically to unhealthy or excessive emotions. The Stoics accepted natural, rational feelings.
Can anyone overcome pathos?
Yes. The Stoics believed we can all train our minds to respond with reason instead of impulse.
Conclusion
Pathos is not the enemy. It’s a signal. A sign that we need to examine our beliefs and return to reason. Through practice, we can free ourselves from the tyranny of impulse and live more in line with our values.
Start today by watching your reactions. Catch the first spark of passion before it becomes a fire.
Want to explore more Stoic strategies? Book a free consultation with one of our Stoic Coaches or learn about more Stoic philosophy terms. You can also listen to the Via Stoica podcast on Spotify or Apple Podcasts or watch it on YouTube.
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