Philosophy:Ataraxia

Short description: Concept in Stoic philosophy

In Ancient Greek philosophy, (Greek: ἀταραξία, from "", negation and "disturbance, trouble")—generally translated as "unperturbedness", "imperturbability", "equanimity", or "tranquility"— is a lucid state of robust equanimity characterized by ongoing freedom from distress and worry. In non-philosophical usage, was the ideal mental state for soldiers entering battle. Achieving is a common goal for Pyrrhonism, Epicureanism, and Stoicism, but the role and value of within each philosophy varies in accordance with their philosophical theories. The mental disturbances that prevent one from achieving also vary among the philosophies, and each philosophy has a different understanding as to how to achieve .

In Pyrrhonism, is the intended result of (i.e., suspension of judgment) regarding all matters of dogma (i.e., non-evident belief), which represents the central aim of Pyrrhonist practice, that is necessary to bring about .

is a key component of the Epicurean conception of pleasure (), which they consider highest good. Epicureans break pleasure down into two categories: the physical and the mental. They consider mental, not physical, pleasures to be the greatest sort of pleasure because physical pleasures exist only in the present; while mental pleasures exist in the past, the present, and the future. Epicureans further separate pleasure into what they call pleasure, those that come about through action or change, and pleasures, those that come about through an absence of distress. Those who achieved freedom from physical disturbance were said to be in a state of , while those who achieved freedom from mental disturbances were said to be in a state of . , as both a mental and pleasure, is key to a person's happiness.

In Stoicism, unlike Pyrrhonism or Epicureanism, , or tranquillity of the mind, is not the ultimate goal of life. Instead, the goal is a life of virtue according to nature, which is intended to bring about , the absence of unhealthy passions. However, since Stoics in a state of do not care about matters outside of themselves and are not susceptible to emotion, they would be unable to be disturbed by anything at all, meaning that they were also in a stage of mental tranquillity and thus in a state of .