The Concept of Ponos in Antistenes

Abstract

The concept of ponos (“toil”) is the fundament of Antisthenes’ ethics and is strictly connected to phronesis (“intelligence” or “wisdom”). Both concepts refer to the moral action. In particular, in the ponos the following ethical elements are subsumed: the permanent exercise, the capability of enduring in a task, and, on a superior level, the spiritual energy required for reaching virtue and, consequently, happiness. This is consistent with the fact that Antisthenes’ sophia applies in a complex of functions that, in accordance with the theoretical meaning of Socratic ethical intellectualism, presuppose, on the one hand, the unity of theory and practice, on the other hand, the agreement of knowledge and will.