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Epictetus

Stoicism · Intermediate

The fuller companion to the Enchiridion, showing Stoic practice as a demanding pedagogy rather than a set of slogans.

Epictetus · first circulated c. 108 CE

Main ideas

Epictetus’ classroom teaching preserved by Arrian in argumentative detail.
Freedom located in assent, judgement and disciplined desire.
Philosophy treated as training tested by insult, illness, loss and office.

Important themes

AgencyTrainingJudgement

Reading context

Notes taken by his pupil Arrian while Epictetus taught in Nicopolis, closer to a transcript than a treatise. The tone is conversational and often sharp, because he is arguing with students in the room.

How to approach it

Sample rather than march through. Book 1 chapters 1 and 2, and Book 2 chapter 18, give the flavour. Read the Enchiridion first as a summary.