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Discourses, Books 3–4. Fragments. The Encheiridion

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This edition features Epictetus's Discourses (Books 3–4), fragments, and the Encheiridion, a concise handbook of Stoic teachings. The work conveys practical philosophy for living righteously, emphasising acceptance of fate, the importance of the will, and aligning oneself with nature and divine reason. Recorded by his student Arrian, these texts offer insight into the life and thought of a former slave turned revered Stoic teacher.
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Ideal for readers interested in classical philosophy, Stoicism, and ethical living. Suitable for scholars and students seeking original Stoic texts as well as general readers exploring practical ancient wisdom.

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Unlike his predecessors, Epictetus (c. 50 120 CE), who grew up as a slave, taught Stoicism not for the select few but for the many. A student, the historian Arrian, recorded Epictetus s lectures and, in the Encheiridion, a handbook, summarized his thought.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

Epictetus was a crippled Greek slave of Phrygia during Nero's reign (54–68 CE) who heard lectures by the Stoic Musonius before he was freed. Expelled with other philosophers by the emperor Domitian in 89 or 92, he settled permanently in Nicopolis in Epirus. There, in a school which he called a 'healing place for sick souls', he taught a practical philosophy. Details of his teachings were recorded by Arrian, a student of his, and survive in four books of Discourses and a smaller Encheiridion, a handbook that gives briefly the chief doctrines of the Discourses. He apparently lived into the reign of Hadrian (117–138 CE).

Epictetus was a teacher of Stoic ethics, broad and firm in method, sublime in thought, and now humorous, now sad or severe in spirit. How should one live righteously? Our god-given will is our paramount possession, and we must not covet others’. We must not resist fortune. Man is part of a system; humans are reasoning beings (in feeble bodies) and must conform to god's mind and the will of nature. Epictetus presents us with a pungent picture of the perfect (Stoic) man.

The Loeb Classical Library edition of Epictetus is in two volumes.

Series: Loeb Classical Library

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780674992405

Publisher: Harvard University Press

Format: Hardback

Date Published: 01 January 1928

Country: United States

Imprint: LOEB

Illustration: Index

Contributors:

  • Translated by W. A. Oldfather

Audience: Tertiary education, Professional and scholarly

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 30.0mm

Width: 108.0mm

Height: 162.0mm

Weight: 408g

Pages: 576

About the Author

William Abbott Oldfather (1880–1945), one of America’s most important classicists, was a professor at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

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