Study of The Principle of Preference and The Principle of Indifference in Epicureans and Stoics Philosophy

This article studies two major principles of Islamic Philosophy, The Principle of Preference and The Principle of Indifference in the philosophy of the Epicureans and Stoics. These principles are two of the most important principles in Islamic philosophy, about which there is much debate; And their study can shed light on some important subjects in Islamic Philosophy. These two principles have various applications in these two philosophical schools and are used in moral, epistemological and physical subjects. The Stoics fully accept The Principle of Preference, and also accept The Principle of Indifference and consider it based on The Principle of Preference. In the Stoic’s view, preference of Indifferences or equals leads to uncaused movement. The Epicureans accept The Principle of Preference in the macroscopic realm of objects or events, while violating it in the microscopic realm or realm of atoms in at least one case, the atomic swerve. The Epicureans do not accept The Principle of Indifference, and in general in Epicurean’s view preference of Indifferences or equals is considered to be possible; However, in some cases it is considered improper and in some cases it is considered permissible. In their view, preference of Indifferences is the supreme example of free will and authority in human beings.