The doctrine of Eros in the Early Stoicism

Abstract

Eros as power and desire has been traditionally considered by the Stoics within the doctrine of “things indifferent” (adiaphora). At the same time, the power of Eros and the factor of gender differences play a pivotal role not only in the Stoic cosmology but in the theory of education and in the social theory as well. The political philosophy of the early Stoics is also deeply rooted in the theory of Eros. The article is devoted to explaining of the concept of Eros the god and to identifying of how the early Stoic philosophy was influenced by similar conceptions of Plato’s philosophy and the doctrine of the Cynics.