Epictetus: A Stoic and Socratic Guide to LifeThe philosophy of Epictetus, a freed slave in the Roman Empire, has been profoundly influential on Western thought: it offers not only stimulating ideas but practical guidance in living one's life. A. A. Long, a leading scholar of later ancient philosophy, gives the definitive presentation ofthe thought of Epictetus for a broad readership. Long's fresh and vivid translations of a selection of the best of Epictetus' discourses show that his ideas are as valuable and striking today as they were amost two thousand years ago. The translations are organized thematically within the frameworkof an authoritative introduction and commentary, which offer a way into this world for those new to it, and illuminating interpretations for those who already know it. Epictetus is known as one of the great Stoic thinkers. But he took the life and conversation of Socrates as his educational model. His Socratic allegiance, scarcely examined before, is a major theme of this ground-breaking book. Long shows how Epictetus offered his students a way of life premised onthe values of personal autonomy and integrity. Never a sermonizer, Epictetus engages his students in brilliantly challenging dialogue; Long offers the first accessible study of his argumentative and rhetorical methods. This is a book for anyone interested in what we can learn from ancient philosophy about how to live our lives. |
Contents
Introduction | 1 |
1 Epictetus in his Time and Place | 7 |
2 The Discourses | 38 |
3 The Socratic Paradigm | 67 |
4 Philosophy and Pedagogy | 97 |
5 Reading Epictetus | 128 |
Divine Human Animal | 142 |
7 From Theology to Ethics | 180 |
9 Appropriate Actions and Feelings | 231 |
The Afterlife of Epictetus | 259 |
Glossary | 275 |
Stoics and Others | 277 |
| 281 | |
Index of Passages | 291 |
| 303 | |
8 Autonomy and Integrity | 207 |
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Common terms and phrases
accordance with nature aidôs animals appropriate argument Aristotle Arrian assent Aulus Gellius autonomy body capacity chapter Chrysippus Cleanthes concept concerning context contrast correct cosmic Cynic daimôn desires and aversions dialogue Dio Chrysostom Diogenes discourses discussion distinct divine Dobbin early Stoic elenctic emotional Ench Epictetus Epicureans Epicurus Eteocles ethics eudaimonia everything excellent excerpts external faculty father focus freedom God's Gorgias Greek Hadot happiness human ideal sage impressions impulse innate integrity interest interlocutor interpretation judgements live logic Manual Marcus Aurelius mental mind moral motivated Musonius Musonius Rufus one's ourselves Panaetius pantheism paradigm passage passion person philosopher Plato Posidonius preconceptions principles prohairesis protreptic question rational reason refers regard role Roman Sceptics Seneca social Socratic elenchus someone Stoic doctrine Stoic philosophers Stoic tradition Stoicism style tells theology things thought tion translation treat understanding virtue volition words Xenophon Zeno Zeus