A.A. Long's Epictetus: A Stoic and Socratic Guide to Life (Oxford 2002) is the most important work on Epictetus in many decades. Things in our control are opinion, pursuit, desire, aversion, and, in a word, whatever are our own actions. When emperor Domitian famously banished all philosophers in […] * But the philosophy of Epictetus was altogether of the practical sort, and quite unlike those cloudy regions of Proclus and Plotinus in which Thomas Taylor loved to wander. , Princeton 2004). This is intimately connected to Epictetus' seemingly distinctive theological stance, an issue which has been the subject of much scholarship and considerable misunderstanding for over a century. In reply to Plotinus by Jill. Jill 5 February 2012. Algra argues persuasively that in substance Epictetus remains consistent with the theology of earlier Stoics and that doctrinally he does not veer into a more personal conception of god, as has often been thought. She acknowledges the value of achieving a theoretical and practical balance between the possibility of changing the world (or indeed of understanding it from an abstract and impersonal standpoint) and the need for each person to achieve happiness in his or her own terms (pp. It was not uncommon for masters to arrange that their slaves be freed after their death, and so when his master died, it appears that Epictetus finally gained his freedom. One of the greatest of all Stoic philosophers was Epictetus (55-135 AD), a man who, despite being subjected to slavery, was one of the greatest and penetrating minds of his time. 1.11) of young elite men, even teenagers, deliberating about their future path through life. 149-152). The philosopher Epictetus began as a slave at Nero's court and became a professional teacher of philosophy in Greece. Erler underlines the relationship of Epictetus with the Socrates of Plato's dialogues, above all the, , from which he takes a metaphor (the "child within") expressing the proper Stoic attitude to the fear of death, in my view correctly focussing on this dialogue as of distinctive importance to Stoicism. for ourselves how (how on earth, one is tempted to say) Epictetus managed to relate his own peculiarly passive and defeatist Stoicism (nonetheless triumphalist, of course, however hollowly so) to the (in fact) quite different moral outlook of Chrysippus and the other founders (pp. Schofield's essay on the topic is an extended exploration of. This logos (Greek for `word’ or `speech' but containing a much greater range of meaning including `to convey thought') was an eternal force which moved through all things and all people, which created and guided the operation of the universe and which had always existed. Philosophy of Epictetus - Paperback. 63-4). To be a philosopher (and so to care properly for young people) involves more than just being wise, according to Epictetus. In these two brief but highly influential works, Epictetus demonstrates that philosophy is more than a theoretical discipline; it is a way of life based on logic, reason, and self-reflection. Epictetus, Greek philosopher associated with the Stoics, remembered for the religious tone of his teachings, which commended him to numerous early Christian thinkers. Many of the distinctive themes of Epictetus' version of Stoicism are covered in one way or another, though this collection could not claim to be a comprehensive treatment of his thought. Just discovered your very interesting series and wondered since I am doing a PhD in Late Antique Paganism when you expected to start touching on Plotinus and his followers. It points towards further work on Epictetus, an ancient philosopher of particular importance in the development of philosophy in the modern period; but even more poignantly this essays stands as testimony to the magnitude of the loss we have all suffered through the premature death of its author in the summer of 2007. Cooper also addresses the issue of where the study of logic fits into Epictetus' system (largely, he thinks, as a tool to defend doctrines learned in earlier stages of training). His study of Epictetus takes seriously the apparent fact that the audience for these discourses consisted (though not as exclusively as he claims -- see, for example, 1.11) of young elite men, even teenagers, deliberating about their future path through life. Descartes had no true theory but used skepticism to establish his philosophy, Epictetus was … Epictetus' rhetorical manner is at one point dismissed as "his usual ingratiation" (p. 13); Cooper refers to conclusions which Epictetus expresses "over and over again, even, " and wishes for a better record of Epictetus' teaching than we in fact have, one which would have enabled us to see, Cooper also addresses the issue of where the study of logic fits into Epictetus' system (largely, he thinks, as a tool to defend doctrines learned in earlier stages of training). Department of Philosophy
He was born in Cyprus about 336 B.C., but all of his philosophical activity took place in Athens. Chapter 1, page 1, of the Enchiridion of Epictetus, from the 1683 edition in Greek and Latin by Abrahamus Berkelius (Abraham van Berkel). We have the ability to make meaningful choices and we are responsible for our actions. focus mainly on ethical issues. While Epictetus clearly taught the full range of subjects in Stoic philosophy, including logic, physics (which included theology), and ethics, the Diss. Although roughly specified, virtue is implanted within their different ideologies. She emphasizes the situation of agents (like most of us) whose position in the world and basic relationships are "unchosen" features of life -- even pointing out that Marcus Aurelius as emperor could be relatively (and sadly) powerless in changing the essential features of the world he lived in and ruled (p. 150). She emphasizes the situation of agents (like most of us) whose position in the world and basic relationships are "unchosen" features of life -- even pointing out that Marcus Aurelius as emperor could be relatively (and sadly) powerless in changing the essential features of the world he lived in and ruled (p. 150). John Cooper opens the volume with an assessment of the theory and practice of moral education in Epictetus, a theme which he has also explored in connection with Seneca and Marcus Aurelius in two recent papers (both included in Knowledge, Nature, and the Good, Princeton 2004). More. Keeping with Stoic tradition, Epictetus’ philosophy is practical and actionable, as opposed to mere theoretical inquiry. What stands out most, I think, is the way in which a former slave, freed as he was from his physical chains, sought to teach others that true freedom ultimately belongs to the rational mind, and that to have control over oneself is to be unconquerable. 63-4). Dragona-Monachou reviews Stoic ideas of freedom, by and large embracing the work of Susanne Bobzien (Determinism and Freedom in Stoic Philosophy, Oxford 1988) and with particular attention to Epictetus' Discourse 4.1. Above all else, the philosophy of Epictetus was a practical one that sought to help people live a good and meaningful life. Perhaps the best way into the ethical world of the Ench . Epictetus, however, chastises his students, because they seem to know what a good life consists of, and yet are bent on pursuing other things (like money, fame, etc.). Paolo Crivelli also takes up this issue and extends it to a general treatment of the role of logic in Epictetus; a lucid and helpful discussion, it does not in substance take us much beyond Jonathan Barnes' Logic and the Imperial Stoa (Leiden 1997). Thanks Jill. Epictetus argued that human reason is something that makes us akin to the Gods, who are rational. There are records that show that he was owned by a powerful former slave called Epaphroditos, who served in the administration of Nero, and who, despite his lowly social status, would have been a man of considerable influence and power. The worst evil is false opinion of what is right and wrong. Epaphroditos was by all accounts a kind master and even supported Epictetus in his studies. 4. Through the works of Epicurus, Epictetus, and Aquinas, it is evident that their philosophies inherit a great deal of virtue. 50-130) is a represent-ative, began as a recognizable move ment around 300 B,C. He situates this in the context of the question of how the traditional Stoic philosophical divisions (logic, physics and ethics) relate to Epictetus' three, . In his works, the Discourses and the Enchiridion , he emphasized that there are things that we can control—that which is in our power— and those we cannot—that which is not in our power. These essays are the outcome of a conference held in 2001 (at Larnaca, Cyprus, the modern city on the site of ancient Citium, the home town of Stoicism's founding father, Zeno), and hence they do not uniformly reflect Long's work, although most authors have made some effort to update their essays with references to his book. … is to examine the three fields of study discussed in the first two chapters of the work. Philosophy of Epictetus, Taschenbuch bei hugendubel.de. Epictetus’ focus was on the responsibility of the individual to live the best life possible. The Philosophy of Epictetus. Epictetus believed that philosophy depended on self-knowledge. Epictetus on Freedom: Parallels between Epictetus and Wittgenstein (Myrto Dragona-Monachou), 9. 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