The Joyful Stoic: On the Species of Joy and their Objects

Abstract

This paper examines the role of joy and its three species, enjoyment , cheerfulness and good spirits , in Stoic ethics. Getting a complete picture of joy requires dealing with its various manifestations in detail. Since these species of joy are defined in terms of their intentional objects, examining them will also shed fresh light on the disputed question of how frequently the Stoic sage experiences joy: Seneca claims that the joy of the sage is constant, while Arius Didymus thinks that some sages experience no joy at all. I argue that Seneca’s view is closer to the truth, but that the sage’s joy will be constantly available, not constantly active. Attention to the differing causes of joy will help to illuminate why this is the case. My analysis will also contribute to the debate, initiated by Cooper, on whether emotional life of the sage is recognizably human.