My study notes for final. Brief overview of Epictetus, Augustine, and Thomas Aquinas.

3. Epictetus: persents nice life without afterlife. Stoics: the essential nature of humans is reason. The universe is governed not only by law or god, but by the law of reason. All that occurs, happens in accordance to Natural Law, God. Their two fundamentals are: 1. Whatever happens is the inevitable outcome of the logic of the universe. 2. Whatever happens, is for reason, and therefore is for the best. The stoic philosophy also says to remain uninvolved …

…good. Desires: a) physical/ substantial (air, food, water) healthily; b) animal nature - sex, reproduce; c) rational nature - to seek knowledge. 3) Free will - our will is power in us that choses. Our power to chose between good and bad based on will. Eternal Law - controls the universe. Human Law (constitution). Highest good - happiness everlasting. Anything that person does in for the sake of the ultimate end. Evil is absence of good.