DOING ONE'S DUTIES ACCORDING TO THE STOICS THE CASE OF HONOUR DUE TO ONE'S PARENTS

The question of the extent of the honours due to one's parents is related to the role of circumstances on the achievement of one's duties. Is it acceptable in certain critical situations to neglect one's parents ? If most authors agree that certain limits should not be overstepped (the defense of the nation, the laws of reason), Epictetus seems to call for the unconditional obedience of children to their fathers ( Encheiridion , 30). After examining the taxonomy of duties and presenting the school's majority position on the issue, we shall see that the position defended by Epictetus is explained by the need to do one's duty regardless of considerations of reciprocity.