The Black Box in Stoic Axiology

Abstract

: The ‘ black box ’ in Stoic axiology refers to the mysterious connection betweentheinputofStoicdeliberation(reasonsgeneratedbythevalueofindiffer-ents)andtheoutput(appropriateactions).Inthispaper,IpeerintotheblackboxbydrawingananalogybetweenStoicandKantianaxiology.Thevalueanddis-value of indifferents is intrinsic, but conditional . An extrinsic condition on the value of a token indifferent is that one ’ s selection of that indifferent is sanctioned by context-relative ethical principles. The value of an indifferent that does not meetthisconditionis normatively silenced, suchthatit fails toconstitutea reason for action.