A Stoic Criticism of Modern Value Attribution

Abstract

This essay is a philosophical inquiry to investigate the modern problem of instrumental reason. Instrumental reason affects modern ethics. It persuades the individual to only attribute value to those matters that are important in ordinary life, leading to an individualization of society. When the emphasis of what should be seen as important lies within ordinary life, we are tempted to overlook those matters that transcend individual life and it does not contribute to our moral character. This second problem is a problem that was already recognized by the Stoics in Roman societies. The Stoics provided a framework and guideline to cope with the problematical implications of instrumental reason. In other words, Stoic ethics may provide an answer to instrumental reason. In this thesis, I will investigate if these Stoic teachings can still be useful in modern western society, specifically to offer aid against the problem of instrumental reason.