The Dichotomy of Control: Recognizing What We Have Power Over
In the Handbook, the Stoic philosopher Epictetus begins by outlining his view of what is and isn't within our control. According to Epictetus, the things we can control, or the things within our power, include our judgements, impulses, and desires. Conversely, almost everything else, including our own bodies, material possessions, reputation, and worldly success, is ultimately beyond our control. This distinction is known as the 'Dichotomy of Control'.
"Some things are within our power, while others are not. Within our power are opinion, motivation, desire, aversion, and, in a word, whatever is of our own doing; not within our power are our body, our property, reputation, office, and, in a word, whatever is not of our own doing." — Epictetus
This concept is not simply a division between the internal and the external. Epictetus does not claim that we have control over everything within us or all our thoughts. Instead, he asserts that we have control only over a specific set of mental actions—our judgments and the consequences that arise from them. In simpler terms, we have control over how we think about the events that occur in our lives.
"Men are disturbed not by things, but by the view which they take of them." — Epictetus
Our judgments are crucial because they shape our desires and impulses, which in turn influence how we lead our lives. Through reflection and training, we can overcome the habit of making unthinking judgments. By mastering our judgments, we can ultimately gain control over our lives.
Epictetus maintains that external things are not inherently good. If we mistakenly believe that external factors determine our happiness, we set ourselves up for disappointment. Our happiness becomes vulnerable to forces outside our control, as we cannot control external circumstances.
"We cannot choose our external circumstances, but we can always choose how we respond to them." — Epictetus
Importantly, Epictetus is not suggesting that we should ignore the outside world since we cannot control it. Instead, he advises that we develop the right attitude toward it. While we cannot control outcomes, we do have control over our actions. Antipater, another Stoic philosopher, used the analogy of an expert archer who occasionally misses the mark due to external factors like wind. This, however, should not deter us from trying our best.
We can strive to act to the best of our abilities, but we can never entirely control the outcome. If we tie our happiness to achieving specific outcomes, we risk frequent disappointment. Conversely, if we make our goal simply doing the best we can, nothing can impede our happiness. Therefore, we should focus our attention on the things within our control and remain vigilant to avoid falling into mistaken judgements.