A RECONVERSÃO DE STOCKDALE COM A INTEGRAÇÃO TEÓRICA DE EPICTETO

Abstract

This article analyzes the psychological and ethical transformation experienced by
James Stockdale, examining the reconversion process that marked his trajectory. This process is
interpreted as an integration between military training and the principles of Epictetus' Stoicism.
From his early years at the Annapolis Naval Academy, Stockdale was immersed in values of
discipline, duty, and honor. During his captivity in Hanoi, in the Vietnam War, he found in
Epictetus' Manual a philosophical guide that provided him with lucidity and dignity in the face of
extreme suffering. The study seeks to understand how the convergence between military ethics
and Stoic thought supported his resilience and moral integrity. It also aims to discuss the relevance
of this experience for doctoral research on the reintegration of former combatants into civilian
life, presenting Stoicism as an ethical and psychological tool to face post-war challenges.