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Enchiridion

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SKU:
1073
Condition:
Good - Tight binding. Clean, crisp pages with several (approximately 10) that contain markings, i.e. cirlcled section numbers.
Format:
Paperback, 56 pages
Publisher:
Dover Publications, Inc., 2004
Edition:
Reprint Edition
Although he was born into slavery and endured a permanent physical disability, Epictetus (ca. 50–ca. 130 AD) maintained that all people are free to control their lives and to live in harmony with nature. We will always be happy, he argued, if we learn to desire that things should be exactly as they are. After attaining his freedom, Epictetus spent his entire career teaching philosophy and advising a daily regimen of self-examination. His pupil Arrianus later collected and published the master's lecture notes; the Enchiridion, or Manual, is a distillation of Epictetus' teachings and an instructional manual for a tranquil life. Full of practical advice, this work offers guidelines for those seeking contentment as well as for those who have already made some progress in that direction. Epictetus received much of his education from the Roman Stoic philosopher Musonius Rufus, with whom he studied the traditional Stoic curriculum of logic, physics, and ethics. After attaining his freedom, he spent his entire career teaching philosophy and advising a daily regimen of self-examination. Epictetus' pupil Arrianus later collected and published the master's lecture notes; the Enchiridion, or Manual, is a distillation of Epictetus' teachings. It centers on the belief that the only aspect of life entirely within an individual's control is one's own mind. The external world, including the body, is mostly beyond control, and external events are neither good nor evil--only attitudes toward those events can take on a moral quality. An enemy can do bodily harm but cannot damage the soul, just as no one can prevent anyone from being virtuous--which, Epictetus explains in this remarkable guide, depends completely upon allowing the prescriptions of nature and the dictates of reason.

Although he was born into slavery and endured a permanent physical disability, Epictetus (ca. 50–ca. 130 AD) maintained that all people are free to control their lives and to live in harmony with nature. We will always be happy, he argued, if we learn to desire that things should be exactly as they are. After attaining his freedom, Epictetus spent his entire career teaching philosophy and advising a daily regimen of self-examination. His pupil Arrianus later collected and published the master's lecture notes; the Enchiridion, or Manual, is a distillation of Epictetus' teachings and an instructional manual for a tranquil life. Full of practical advice, this work offers guidelines for those seeking contentment as well as for those who have already made some progress in that direction.

Epictetus received much of his education from the Roman Stoic philosopher Musonius Rufus, with whom he studied the traditional Stoic curriculum of logic, physics, and ethics.  After attaining his freedom, he spent his entire career teaching philosophy and advising a daily regimen of self-examination.  Epictetus' pupil Arrianus later collected and published the master's lecture notes; the Enchiridion, or Manual, is a distillation of Epictetus' teachings.  It centers on the belief that the only aspect of life entirely within an individual's control is one's own mind.  The external world, including the body, is mostly beyond control, and external events are neither good nor evil--only attitudes toward those events can take on a moral quality.  An enemy can do bodily harm but cannot damage the soul, just as no one can prevent anyone from being virtuous--which, Epictetus explains in this remarkable guide, depends completely upon allowing the prescriptions of nature and the dictates of reason.

Translated by George Long

About the Author

Epictetus (c.50 - 135 AD) was a Greek Stoic philosopher. He was born a slave at Hierapolis, Phrygia and lived in Rome until his banishment, when he went to Nicopolis in northwestern Greece for the rest of his life. His teachings were written down and published by his pupil Arrian in his Discourses and Enchiridion.  Epictetus taught that philosophy is a way of life and not just a theoretical discipline. To Epictetus, all external events are beyond our control; we should accept calmly and dispassionately whatever happens. However, individuals are responsible for their own actions, which they can examine and control through rigorous self-discipline.