Shock (Stoic Context)

The unexpected suddenness of a negative event that catches the soul off guard, initially impairing rational judgment.

In the Stoic context, shock refers to the moment of unexpected confrontation with an evil that temporarily disrupts the normal functioning of the hegemonikon. The Stoics examine how this initial shock can be reduced or eliminated through Praemeditatio Malorum—not by avoiding the pain itself, but by removing the element of surprise that amplifies taraxis.