Ataraxia
Ataraxia is a settled, undisturbed state of mind — the ancient Greek goal of not being agitated by anything.
Full definition of Ataraxia →:: COMPARE ::
AtaraxiavsApatheia
The short answer
Ataraxia concerns disturbance — the mind not being churned. Apatheia concerns the passions specifically — not being carried by irrational impulse. Stoics reached both, though by way of virtue rather than as goals in themselves; Pyrrhonists chiefly the first. Two Greek words English collapses into 'calm', losing the difference between a mind that is not churned and one that is no longer ruled by impulse.
Side by side
| Aspect | Ataraxia | Apatheia |
|---|---|---|
| Absence of | Disturbance | Destructive passion |
| Reached by | Suspending judgement | Correcting judgement |
| Chiefly | Skeptic | Stoic |
| Pursuable directly | No | Only via virtue |
What each one means
Apatheia
Apatheia is the Stoic condition of no longer being ruled by destructive passions — not the condition of feeling nothing.
Full definition of Apatheia →