Glossary 401
desire (epithumia): irrational striving, one of the four passions in Stoicism.
Desire (orexis) is also used in a more general sense.
differentiated thing (to kata diaphoran): something which exists and can be
known all on its own, something non-relative; it is distinct (differentiated) from
other things.
disagreement (diaphonia): conflict or inconsistency between objects, theories
or hypotheses.
discern: see judge.
discover (heurisko): to reach a successful outcome in an investigation (zetesis).
disease (nosema): in Stoicism, a sickness of the soul.
disjunction, disjunctive (diazeugmenon): In Stoic logic, the term refers to
exclusive disjunction.
disposition (diathesis): In Stoicism the term has a special sense: a firm and
unchangeable condition (hexis).
disposition (pos echon): in Stoic category theory, a thing in a certain state.
disvalue (apaxia): in Stoicism, negative value; the property ofbeing disadvanta-
geous or contrary to one's health, well-being, moral progress, etc.
dogma (dogma): Owing to sceptical attacks, this term has come to be used in
a pejorative sense. In a non-polemical context, however, it is simply the content
of a belief. Also, doctrine, belief.
doubt (aporia): an argument or state of mind which prevents understanding;
also, puzzlement, impasse, problem. Hence, dubitative (aporetike).
effluence (aporrhoia): in Epicureanism, a film of atoms generated by a solid
object, which strikes the sensory apparatus and so is responsible for sense-
perception and thought.
element (stoicheion): one of the basic forms of matter, earth, air, fire, water.
equal force (isostheneia): The equal force (or persuasiveness) of opposing argu-
ments is responsible for the Pyrrhonian sceptic's suspension of belief and freedom
from dogma.
equilibrium (arrepsia): the state of being poised between two equally plausible
beliefs; epistemic neutrality; the key to Pyrrhonian peace of mind.
essence (logos): Logos usually refers to the statement of the essence, but is
sometimes used of the essence itself; rational principle.
fact, object (pragma): generally, a thing. The term is extended in Stoicism to
include lekta (things said) and states of affairs.
fate (heimarmene): Stoic term for the causal connections in nature.
feeling (peisis): in scepticism, a passive state; the closest thing to a sceptical
criterion. See also state.
freedom from disturbance (ataraxia): In Epicureanism and Scepticism, dis-
turbance (tarache) either in the body or in the soul, is the cause of unhappiness.
Freedom from it constitutes happiness, the highest human goal.
freedom from passion (apatheia): in Stoicism, absence of or freedom from
the irrational passions of the soul, viz. pleasure, pain, fear and desire.
fresh (prosphaton): in Stoicism, stimulative of irrational contraction or elation.
goal (telos): the final aim or purpose of a thing, particularly of a human life.
Greek philosophers hold that happiness (q.v.) is the goal of life.