Epictetus, Discourses, book 0, Arrian to Lucius Gellius, with wishes for his happiness. Discourses of Epictetus. The Codex Bodleianus of the Discourses of Epictetus.
Note the large stain on the manuscript which has made this passage (Book 1. 18. 8-11) partially illegible. The Discourses of Epictetus (Greek: Ἐπικτήτου διατριβαί) are a series of extracts of the teachings of the Stoic philosopher Epictetus written down by Arrian c. 108 AD. There were originally eight books, but only four now remain in their entirety, along with a few fragments of the others. In a preface attached to the Discourses, Arrian explains how he came to write them: I neither wrote these Discourses of Epictetus in the way in which a man might write such things; nor did I make them public myself, inasmuch as I declare that I did not even write them.
The Discourses are unlikely to be word-for-word transcriptions and are probably written-up versions of Arrian's lecture notes. Manuscript editions[edit] The Discourses were first printed (in Greek) by Vettore Trincavelli, at Venice in 1535.[10] English translations[edit] Notes[edit] The Enchiridion by Epictetus. Commentary: A few comments have been posted about The Enchiridion.
Download: A 40k text-only version is available for download. The EnchiridionBy Epictetus Written 135 A.C.E. Translated by Elizabeth Carter 1. Some things are in our control and others not. Things in our control are opinion, pursuit, desire, aversion, and, in a word, whatever are our own actions. Enchiridion of Epictetus. The Enchiridion or Manual of Epictetus (Ancient Greek: Ἐγχειρίδιον Ἐπικτήτου, Enkheirídion Epiktḗtou) is a short manual of Stoic ethical advice compiled by Arrian, a 2nd-century disciple of the Greek philosopher Epictetus.
Although the content is similar to the Discourses of Epictetus, it is not a summary of the Discourses but rather a compilation of practical precepts. Eschewing metaphysics, Arrian focused his attention on Epictetus's work applying philosophy in daily life. The primary theme is that one should accept what happens: What upsets people is not things themselves but their judgments about the things. For example, "death is nothing dreadful (or else it would have appeared dreadful to Socrates) However, "some things are up to us and some are not up to us"[1] and we must act accordingly, taking responsibility for planning and enacting what we can with virtue without becoming upset or disheartened by obstacles and reverses beyond our control. English translations[edit] Epictetus. Philosophy, Epictetus taught, is a way of life and not just a theoretical discipline.
To Epictetus, all external events are determined by fate, and are thus beyond our control; we should accept whatever happens calmly and dispassionately. However, individuals are responsible for their own actions, which they can examine and control through rigorous self-discipline. Life[edit] Epictetus was born c. 55 AD,[2] presumably at Hierapolis, Phrygia.[3] The name his parents gave him is unknown; the word epíktetos (ἐπίκτητος) in Greek simply means "acquired. " He spent his youth as a slave in Rome to Epaphroditos, a wealthy freedman and secretary to Nero.[4] Roman-era ruins at Nicopolis Epictetus obtained his freedom sometime after Nero's death in 68 AD,[9] and began to teach philosophy in Rome. Thought[edit] No writings of Epictetus himself are really known.
Practise then from the start to say to every harsh impression, "You are an impression, and not at all the thing you appear to be. "