Epictetus

Agora

Epictetus

c. 50–135

A first way ina deliberate simplification – the portrait says more

Some things are in our power, like our judgments and wishes, and some are not – focus only on the first, and you will be free.

Placement

Hellenistic, Roman & Late Antique · West Asia & North Africa · Ethics, Existence & Self

Former slave: distinguish between what is within your power and what is not.

Key ideas

Dichotomy of control
Inner freedom

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Influence

Influenced by 3

Socrates

influenced by
Epictetus held up Socrates as the model of a life guided by reason, urging pupils to live as one who wishes to be a Socrates (Encheiridion 51). Epictetus, Encheiridion 51; Discourses I.9, IV.1; A. A. Long, Epictetus: A Stoic and Socratic Guide to Life (2002)
Evidence: also in InPhO · InPhO
Socrates › 470–399 BCE
Diogenes of Sinope

influenced by
Epictetus held up Diogenes as a model of freedom and of the true Cynic, a messenger sent by Zeus, in his discourse on the Cynic calling (Discourses III.22). Arrian, Discourses of Epictetus III.22, IV.1; SEP “Epictetus”
Evidence: also in InPhO · InPhO
Diogenes of Sinope › c. 412–323 BCE
Chrysippus

influenced by
Epictetus treated Chrysippus as the authoritative Stoic teacher but insisted that progress lies in living by his doctrine, not in expounding his books (Discourses I.4, I.17). Arrian, Discourses of Epictetus I.4, I.17; SEP “Epictetus”
Evidence: also in InPhO · InPhO
Chrysippus › c. 279–206 BCE

Influenced 3

Marcus Aurelius

influenced
Marcus Aurelius thanked Junius Rusticus for giving him Epictetus’ discourses and took up his distinction between what is and is not up to us (Meditations I.7). Marcus Aurelius, Meditations I.7, IV.41; P. Hadot, La citadelle intérieure (1992); SEP “Marcus Aurelius”
Evidence: also in InPhO · InPhO
Marcus Aurelius › 121–180
Blaise Pascal

influenced ✓
In the Conversation with M. de Sacy (1655) Pascal praised Epictetus for knowing human duty and greatness, but held that, ignoring human weakness, he led to pride. B. Pascal, Entretien avec M. de Sacy sur Épictète et Montaigne (1655); SEP “Blaise Pascal”
Evidence: also in Wikidata · Wikidata
Blaise Pascal › 1623–1662
Shaftesbury

influenced
In his private notebooks, the Askêmata (1698–1704), Shaftesbury trained himself by the Stoic exercises Epictetus describes, citing him constantly. Shaftesbury, Askêmata, ed. B. Rand as Philosophical Regimen (1900); Standard Edition II.6, ed. W. Benda et al. (2011); SEP “Lord Shaftesbury”
Evidence: AI draft
Shaftesbury › 1671–1713

Works

c. 125Enchiridion (Handbook)
Compiled by his pupil Arrian from his teaching: some things are in our control and others not.

Position

At the heart of Epictetus’ teaching is a single distinction: some things are up to us – our judgements, desires and choices – and others are not, such as our body, property, reputation and the actions of others. People are disturbed not by things but by their judgements about things. Freedom and peace of mind come from attending only to what is in our power and accepting everything else as part of the natural order. His pupil Arrian recorded his lectures in the Discourses and the short Handbook. Marcus Aurelius drew directly on him, and modern cognitive behavioural therapy names him as a forerunner.

Life & context

Epictetus was born a slave in Hierapolis in Phrygia and lived in Rome as the property of Epaphroditus, a freedman in Nero’s service; there he studied with the Stoic Musonius Rufus. After gaining his freedom he taught in Rome until Domitian expelled the philosophers around 93 CE, then founded a school in Nicopolis in western Greece. He wrote nothing himself.