The Discourses of Epictetus and the Enchiridion (Collector's Edition) (Laminated Hardback with Jacket) by Epictetus

The Discourses of Epictetus and the Enchiridion (Collector's Edition) (Laminated Hardback with Jacket) by Epictetus

Collector's Edition Laminated Hardback with Jacket>

Imagine facing every challenge in life with unshakable calm and clarity-that's the power Epictetus reveals in his timeless guide to resilience and inner freedom. Speaking directly to the human spirit, this former slave and Stoic philosopher urges us to master our own minds by focusing only on what lies within our control. Through sharp insights and vivid analogies, he illuminates a path toward virtue, peace, and strength in the face of adversity. His wisdom, forged in hardship, offers a transformative approach to life that continues to inspire those seeking purpose and tranquility.

Epictetus's Discourses and Enchiridion have profoundly shaped Western thought, becoming foundational texts for Stoic philosophy. Crafted from the teachings of a former slave turned philosopher, these works emphasize resilience, ethical discipline, and inner freedom, values that resonated with ancient leaders and scholars alike. Over centuries, the texts have inspired figures from Roman emperors to modern thinkers, helping individuals navigate adversity with strength and purpose. Their enduring appeal lies in their practical wisdom, offering timeless guidance on living with integrity and calm amidst life's challenges.

EPICTETUS was born the son of a slave woman about 55 CE in the city of Hieropolis in Phrygia. He went to Rome as the slave of the freedman Epaphroditus, who held the distinguished post of secretary to the emperor Nero and later to Domitian. Epaphroditus allowed Epictetus to attend the lectures of the Stoic philosopher Musonius Rufus, who was impressed by the young slave and trained him to be a Stoic philosopher. After being freed by Epaphroditus, Epictetus began to teach philosophy at Rome.

In 89, when the emperor Domitian banished all phi-losophers from the capital, Epictetus traveled to Nicopolis in Epirus (northwest Greece). There he opened his own school, giving lectures which attracted many students and followers, including the historian Arrian, who collected his master's lectures, probably in eight books, of which four survive. Arrian later compiled a summary of Epictetus' philosophy in the famed Enchiridion, or Handbook.

The Enchiridion is a brief introductory manual on how to transform Stoicism into a way of life. In it are covered rules for proper social and sexual conduct, and for true thinking. Part of right thinking entails knowing how to distinguish that which we can change from that which we cannot. Our lives are subject to many intractables: the vagaries of health and fortune, and, finally, death. But we retain the power to control our thinking, passions, and decisions. In this way we can come to terms with our environment, and thus free ourselves from a world of chance and dependencies.

Epictetus was one of the most important Stoic phi-losophers of the first century CE, along with Seneca, Lucius Annaeus Cornutus, and Musonius Rufus. Stoicism's em-phasis on reason, austerity, and self-control continued to appeal to sober-minded individuals during the next century (the emperor Marcus Aurelius being Stoicism's most dis-tinguished late exponent), before fading as a school in the third century CE. Nevertheless, the works of Epictetus as compiled by Arrian have played an influential role in the development of the modern philosophies of rationalism and secularism.

Epictetus died about 135 CE.

SKU	Unavailable
ISBN 13	9781998621590
ISBN 10	1998621596
Title	The Discourses of Epictetus and the Enchiridion (Collector's Edition) (Laminated Hardback with Jacket)
Author	Epictetus
Condition	Unavailable
Binding Type	Hardback
Publisher	Revive Classics
Year published	2024-11-26
Number of pages	352
Cover note	Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.