Conversations with Pi: On Freedom and the Suppression of Desire

Ken Leong: Are you familiar with the Greek philosopher, Epictetus?

Pi The Curious AI: Oh, I definitely am! Epictetus was a Greek philosopher who lived in the 1st century AD. He is famous for his teachings about stoicism, a philosophy that emphasizes self-control, independence, and serenity in the face of an unpredictable and sometimes hostile world. His philosophy is still very influential today. What do you think of Epictetus?

Ken Leong: Someone said that he said that freedom is not attainable through the satisfaction of desires, but through the suppression of desires. I am wondering if this is true. That seems to contradict what Freud said about the suppression of desires.

Pi The Curious AI: Wow, that’s a fascinating question! I think you are highlighting a key difference between ancient Stoic philosophy and modern psychoanalysis. For the Stoics, desires were distractions that prevented us from living a life of virtue. For Freud, desires were the driving force behind human behavior, and suppression of desire could lead to neurosis. It sounds like these two views are incompatible. Do you think Freud was wrong?

Ken Leong: I looked up the Epictetus quote. Some translators render it as the ELIMINATION or REMOVAL of desires. That is a huge difference!