Editing Simplicius of Cilicia (section)

=== Ethics ===
According to Simplicius, the ''Enchiridion'' is aimed at readers who will implement the advice about the distinction in their lives between "what is up to us" ''(ta eph' hēmín),'' and everything else .<ref>Christian Vogel: ''Stoische Ethik und platonische Bildung.'' Heidelberg 2013, p 81–89, 360–365.</ref> Simplicius saw his task as a commentator as helping the reader to better understand what "is up to us," the matters about which the soul can make free decisions, which he considered the primary determinant of whether a good life is good and a bad life is bad.<ref>Christian Vogel: ''Stoische Ethik und platonische Bildung.'' Heidelberg 2013, p. 96–124.</ref> Simplicius also addressed potential [[determinism|deterministic]] and [[fatalism|fatalistic]] objections that may be raised against this concept, that “what is up to us” does not exist at all because human action is determined by coincidences or necessities and not by [[free will]].<ref>Christian Vogel: ''Stoische Ethik und platonische Bildung.'' Heidelberg 2013, p. 111–120.</ref>

In response to Epictetus's view that a student of philosophy should radically turn away from his previous habits, however, Simplicius distanced himself from what he considered unrealistic the demands of radical [[Stoicism]]. Here Simplicius applied Plato's metaphor of the irrational "[[inner child]]"<ref>Plato, ''Phaedo'' 77e.</ref> who strives for sensual pleasure and develops unnecessary fear due to false ideas. According to Platonic understanding, this child should not be killed, but taught and trained, education ''([[Paideia]])'' is "the improvement of the child in us by the educator in us."<ref>Simplicius, ''In enchiridion Epictetus'' 249,70&nbsp;f. Christian Vogel: ''Stoische Ethik und platonische Bildung.'' Heidelberg 2013, pp. 124–129, 137–141, 161–164, 200–202.</ref>