Ataraxia

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Ataraxia (Ἀταραξία) is a Greek term used by Pyrrho and Epicurus for freedom from worry or any other preoccupation, and for Epicurus to achieve Hêdonê, the great pleasure.

For the Epicureans, ataraxia was synonymous with the only true happiness possible for a person. It signifies the detached and balanced state of mind that shows that a person has transcended the material world and is now harvesting all the comforts of philosophy.

For the Pyrrhonians, this state is said to arise from withholding judgment or refusing to support any one belief when there is evidence to the contrary.

In Popular Culture

Josh Hartnett's character in the movie Lucky Number Slevin, claims to suffer from a condition he calls Ataraxia, supposedly "a condition characterized by freedom from worry or any other preoccupation." There is no such medical condition. However, certain mental disorders such as dementia, ADHD and some simple learning disabilities such as dyslexia are known to cause such states. This has resulted in many psychologists and neuropsychologists refering to this condition as "Ataraxia" even though this is not the strict medical or psychoanalytical term.

In Psychology

Ataraxia, although not a strict medical condition, is recognised by the vast majority of psychologists as "an extreme difficulty in connecting the emotions related to the effects of an action with the action itself." A simple example of this would be a child deciding whether of not to do his homework. A 'normal' child would be able to understand and sum up the situation with the statement "If I don't do my homework, I will get in trouble. If I get in trouble, I will be sad. Therefore, if I don't do my homework, I will be sad." However, an ataraxic child, while able to understand the concept of this statement, would be unable to make the emotional connection between not doing his homework and feeling sad. This tends to result in a lack of motivation in most areas of life and can often make forming stable relationships difficult.

Complete ataraxia is very rare and most ataraxics will often experience situations in which emotional connections are correctly formed (some more frequently than others). These situations often prove to be confusing and sometimes even frightening to the person in question. Ataraxic states are relativly common in people suffering from mental disorders such as dementia and ADHD. Some particular forms of dyslexia have also been known to 'cause' ataraxia.

Ataraxia

In Popular Culture

In Psychology

See also