Final answer:
Children were not seen as indifferent by Stoics but rather as a part of one's social obligations, and the attachment to them should not override virtue. Socrates believed harm to character was worse than death because it affects the soul, and opposing views might value physical life differently or view character harm in another light.
Step-by-step explanation:
To determine whether children are considered an indifferent thing for the Stoics, we must consider their principles closely. The Stoics believed in rationality and self-control, valuing virtues such as courage, justice, temperance, and wisdom. They recognized the need to fulfill social obligations, which could include the raising of children, but cautioned against emotional excesses. It's not that children were seen as indifferent per se, but rather that a Stoic's attachment to anything, including children, should not override their rational self-control or virtue.
When it comes to harm to one's character being more significant than death, this idea correlates with the Stoic belief that virtue is the highest good and that moral integrity is more important than physical existence. Socrates might argue that damage to one's character is irreparable and affects the soul, which to him could be more severe than death, which only affects the body. If someone believed Socrates was mistaken, it might be based on a different valuation of the physical life or an alternative view of what constitutes harm to one's character.