Epictetus

Lore & Background

Epictetus was born into slavery at Hierapolis, Phrygia, around AD 50. His given name is unknown; the name Epictetus derives from the Greek word epíktētos, meaning 'gained' or 'acquired.' He spent his youth in Rome as a slave to Epaphroditus, a wealthy freedman and secretary to Nero. Early in life, he acquired a passion for philosophy and, with his master's permission, studied Stoic philosophy under Musonius Rufus. At some point, he became disabled; Celsus, quoted by Origen, wrote that his leg had been deliberately broken by his master, while Simplicius wrote that he had been disabled from childhood. He obtained his freedom sometime after Nero's death in AD 68 and began teaching philosophy in Rome. Around AD 93, when Emperor Domitian banished all philosophers from Rome, Epictetus moved to Nicopolis in Epirus, Greece, where he founded a school of philosophy. His most famous pupil, Arrian, studied under him around AD 108 and later wrote the Discourses based on notes from Epictetus's lectures. Epictetus lived a life of great simplicity with few possessions, living alone for a long time before adopting the child of a friend in his old age. He died sometime around AD 135.

Reader's Guide

Epictetus's significance lies in his practical Stoic philosophy, which emphasizes self-knowledge, logic, and the application of doctrine. He maintained that the foundation of all philosophy is self-knowledge—the conviction of our ignorance and gullibility. He taught that the first and most necessary part of philosophy concerns the application of doctrine (e.g., that people should not lie), the second concerns reasons (why people should not lie), and the third examines and establishes those reasons. No writings by Epictetus are known; his discourses were transcribed and compiled by his pupil Arrian in The Discourses (four of eight books survive) and the Enchiridion (Handbook). Arrian claimed to have written them word for word as a memorial, though some scholars doubt this. Epictetus's philosophy influenced the Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius, who cites him in his Meditations. He also appears in a second- or third-century Latin dialogue, Dialogue Between the Emperor Hadrian and Epictetus the Philosopher, which was popular in the Middle Ages. His work influenced French Enlightenment philosophers such as Voltaire, Montesquieu, Denis Diderot, and Baron d'Holbach, who read the Enchiridion as students. Blaise Pascal described Epictetus as a 'great mind' who 'among the philosophers of the world have best understood the duties' of an individual. In the sixth century, the Neoplatonist philosopher Simplicius wrote a commentary on the Enchiridion.

Did You Know?

• Epictetus was born into slavery and his name derives from the Greek word epíktētos, meaning 'gained' or 'acquired.'
• He became disabled; one source says his leg was deliberately broken by his master, while another says he was disabled from childhood.
• After his death, his oil lamp was purchased by an admirer for 3,000 drachmae, according to Lucian.
• His teachings were written down by his pupil Arrian, who claimed to have recorded them word for word.

Notable Quotes (Wikiquote)

"Greek text cited from H. Schenkl, Epicteti Dissertationes (Leipzig, 1916)." — Epictetus "Τῷ λογικῷ ζώῳ μόνον ἀφόρητόν ἐστι τὸ ἄλογον, τὸ δ᾿ εὔλογον φορητόν." — Epictetus "To the rational being only the irrational is unendurable, but the rational is endurable." — Epictetus "Variant translation: To a reasonable creature, that alone is insupportable which is unreasonable; but everything reasonable may be supported." — Epictetus