Particularize Books In Pursuance Of Discourses, Fragments, Handbook

ISBN:	0199595186 (ISBN13: 9780199595181)
Edition Language:	English

Discourses, Fragments, Handbook Paperback | Pages: 355 pages

Narrative Supposing Books Discourses, Fragments, Handbook

'About things that are within our power and those that are not.' Epictetus' Discourses have been the most widely read and influential of all writings of Stoic philosophy, from antiquity onwards. They set out the core ethical principles of Stoicism in a form designed to help people put them into practice and to use them as a basis for leading a good human life. Epictetus was a teacher, and a freed slave, whose discourses have a vivid informality, animated by anecdotes and dialogue. Forceful, direct, and challenging, their central message is that the basis of happiness is up to us, and that we all have the capacity, through sustained reflection and hard work, of achieving this goal. They still speak eloquently to modern readers seeking meaning in their own lives.

This is the only complete modern translation of the Discourses, together with the Handbook or manual of key themes, and surviving fragments. Robin Hard's accurate and accessible translation is accompanied by Christopher Gill's full introduction and comprehensive notes.

Specify Appertaining To Books Discourses, Fragments, Handbook

Title	:	Discourses, Fragments, Handbook
Author	:	Epictetus
Book Format	:	Paperback
Book Edition	:	Oxford World's Classics
Pages	:	Pages: 355 pages
Published	:	March 1st 2014 by Oxford University Press (first published January 1st 1758)
Categories	:	Philosophy. Nonfiction

Rating Appertaining To Books Discourses, Fragments, Handbook

Ratings: 4.49 From 543 Users | 33 Reviews

Assessment Appertaining To Books Discourses, Fragments, Handbook

Read the Enchiridion only. Carter translation freely available at the MIT Classics website: http://classics.mit.edu/Epictetus/epi...

But to begin with, keep well away of what is stronger than you. If a pretty girl is set against a young man who is just making a start on philosophy, that is no fair contest. Epictetus forms one part of the triad of classic stoic authors, along with Seneca and Marcus Aurelius.Born a slave, sent into exile, never rich nor powerful, he certainly had more need of the stoic philosophy than Aurelius, an emperor, or Seneca, a senator. His course of life was closer to that of Socrates. Like Platos

Mildly redundant but nonetheless worthwhile. Full of practical and applicable wisdom.

The main point of the Discourses can be summed up in a couple sentences: If it is under your control, change it. If it's not under your control, don't worry about it. There's more--a lot more--of course, but nearly everything comes back to that. Epictetus keeps referring to the Reason, which is the essential central aspect of humanity, the one thing that makes you you. Therefore, that is what is under an individual's control and what they should work on, and everything else should be endured.

How much longer will you delay before you think yourself worthy of what is best, and transgress in nothing the distinctions that reason imposes? Youve acquired knowledge of the philosophical principles that you ought to accept, and have accepted them. What kind of teacher, then, are you still waiting for, that you should delay any effort to reform yourself until he appears? Youre no longer a youth; youre a full-grown man. If youre now negligent and idle, and are constantly making one delay after

Repetitive, just like most stoic works are. But very helpful anyways and most of it is quite easy to understand. Some passages are actually quite funny. The structure is good: First the ideas are repeatedly and thoroughly presented in the Discourses and then the Handbook summarizes them. Can recommend even for people who just start out reading on the topic.

But to begin with, keep well away of what is stronger than you. If a pretty girl is set against a young man who is just making a start on philosophy, that is no fair contest. Epictetus forms one part of the triad of classic stoic authors, along with Seneca and Marcus Aurelius.Born a slave, sent into exile, never rich nor powerful, he certainly had more need of the stoic philosophy than Aurelius, an emperor, or Seneca, a senator. His course of life was closer to that of Socrates. Like Platos