Stoicism was founded almost 2,500 years ago, in the 3rd century BC. by Zeno of Citium. Nowadays, the most popular stoic philosophers often mentioned and quoted are Seneca, Epictetus, and Marcus Aurelius.
In this second post of #SteemStoic, let’s have a brief look at Epictetus, whose readings are often said to be the most accessible stoic teachings.
Life
Contrarily to many of the great Greek (and Roman) philosophers who came from the upper levels of society, Epictetus was born a slave in 55 A.D. in what is now Asian Turkey. He spent his early life as a slave to the wealthy Epaphroditos, secretary to Nero, in Rome.
While still slave to Epaphroditos, he started to study philosophy, specifically Stoic philosophy under Musonius Rufus and soon started teaching philosophy after gaining his freedom in 68 A.D., shortly after the death of Nero.
He taught philosophy in Rome until emperor Domitian banished all philosophers in 93 A.D. After this he fled to Nicopolis, Greece, where he continued to teach philosophy until the end of his days in 135 A.D.
Epictetus had a lame leg, the cause of which is unclear, to which he said:
“Sickness is a hindrance to the body, but not to your ability to choose, unless that is your choice. Lameness is a hindrance to the leg, but not to your ability to choose. Say this to yourself with regard to everything that happens, then you will see such obstacles as hindrances to something else, but not to yourself.”
One of the most remarkable things about Epictetus, aside of his life as slave for the largest part of his youth, is that he never wrote any of his teachings down and we owe it to one of his later students, Arrian, who wrote down his lessons. Most of those notes are gathered in Arrian’s The Discourses.
Epictetus teachings would go on to influence many people through out history, even another great Stoic philosopher, the previously mentioned Marcus Aurelius, emperor of the Roman Empire 161-180 A.D., thanked his teacher Junius Rusticus, for introducing him to Epictetus.
Epictetus’s philosophy further also influenced 7-years Vietnam war prisoner James Stockdale, French anarchist philosopher Han Ryan, author Tom Wolfe, as well as founder of Cognitive Behavioral Theory Albert Ellis amongst others.
Philosophy
Like Marcus Aurelius would later often mention as well, Epictetus also believed that we have no influence over outside factors in life but that we have the capacity of choice, the capability to make the choice between good and not good. A choice we can make based on reason. As such, knowledge and self-knowledge should be at the core of our beliefs.
Like all Stoic philosophers Epictetus teaches that we should only pursue good in life, a process which is considered possible because we are in control of our mind and thus also our perception and capabilities to discern between good and not good.
“The chief task in life is simply this: to identify and separate matters so that I can say clearly to myself which are externals not under my control, and which have to do with the choices I actually control.
Where then do I look for good and evil? Not to uncontrollable externals, but within myself to the choices that are my own . . .”
Another important teaching of Epictetus is our own ability, and moral requirement, to live by example, to set the standard we desire to find ourself. That is one of the important choices in life we can make, in and with life.
“Never call yourself a philosopher, nor talk a great deal among the unlearned about theorems, but act conformably to them. Thus, at an entertainment, don’t talk how persons ought to eat, but eat as you ought.“
After all, our opinions and principles can make us happy or unhappy, thus we shouldn’t let ourselves be carried by merely our opinions. Only those not happy [with themselves] will find error in other.
Reading
Those interested in the teachings of Epictetus should start with the Enchiridion or with the Discourses. A combined selection of the Discourses, complete with the Enchiridion, is available for free at Project Gutenberg.
Stay tuned for the following episodes of #SteemStoic as we have an introductory look in to the two other great Stoic philosophers, Seneca and Marcus Aurelius.