Epictetus' Timeless Wisdom on Living Virtuously in Today's World
This summary encompasses some of the most significant concepts from Epictetus' "Enchiridion" and illustrates how they can be implemented in the contemporary world.
Epictetus' Enchiridion discusses Stoic philosophy's rules for living a virtuous life. It emphasizes the distinction between things under our control (such as our thoughts and actions) and things beyond our control (such as external events). It suggests focusing on what we can control, striving for self-improvement, and accepting things as they are. In the face of adversity, it promotes resilience, self-awareness, and reasonable thinking. Finally, it comes down to attaining happiness and freedom by focusing on our own choices and attitudes rather than external circumstances.
The Stoic philosopher Epictetus delivers timeless advice that speaks to the complexity of current life. He provides vital insights to negotiate problems, shape character, and achieve tranquillity in his "Enchiridion," a vade mecum for ethical life.
Control Recognition
Epictetus highlights the need of focusing on what we can control and letting go of what we can't. Understanding this distinction relieves us of unnecessary concerns. We have no influence over external circumstances, but we do have control over how we respond to them.
1. Prioritizing Virtue over Appetite
Epictetus emphasizes the delicate balance between physiological desires and social grace. He equates selecting the largest share at a feast to fulfilling one's biological appetite at the price of correct social behavior. It serves as a reminder that true fulfillment comes from more than simply physical indulgence, but also from conscious, compassionate behavior in our encounters.
2. Recognize Your Limits
The concept of acknowledging and honoring personal limitations is central to Epictetus' beliefs. Assuming positions or duties that are beyond our skills not only leads to failure in those tasks, but also eliminates the possibility of success in more appropriate undertakings. It's a call to self-awareness and humility in evaluating our own abilities.
3. Mind-Guarding
Epictetus encourages us to protect the "ruling faculty" of our thoughts, analogizing it to being alert when walking to avoid injury. Just as we monitor our steps to avoid physical harm, we should be cautious in our activities to protect our mental health. This entails being careful in our decisions and behaviors, ensuring that they are consistent with our principles and values.
4. Avoiding Excessiveness
The Stoic philosopher warns against excess, drawing similarities between material things and shoe fit. Going above and above what is required or appropriate creates an insatiable want for more, similar to an overly ornamented shoe. Understanding and respecting one's own and others' limits brings contentment and prevents the pursuit of unwarranted extravagance.
5. Putting Character Before Appearance
Epictetus looks into traditional attitudes of women, highlighting the significance of respecting people for their character, behavior, and modesty rather than their superficial attributes or pleasures. It's a demand for a shift in society standards that prioritizes intrinsic values over superficial characteristics.
6. Actions Over Words
Living by philosophical concepts entails more than just talking about them; it entails putting those ideas into action. Epictetus believes in silent protest, similar to Socrates, who avoided ostentation and instead allowed his deeds speak for themselves. The emphasis is on living one's values rather than boastful words.
7. Gracefully Accepting Adversity
The Stoic philosophy emphasizes perseverance in the face of adversity with grace and humility. True power is found in silently bearing adversity and practicing patience without outward display, rather than seeking recognition for weathering obstacles.
8. Live by philosophical ideals rather than brag about them:
Encourages people to live by philosophical ideals rather than brag about them. Rather than simply speaking out, the emphasis should be on demonstrating through deeds.
9. humility in the face of adversity:
Emphasizes humility in the face of adversity without seeking recognition. The genuine test is to endure problems quietly and without exhibition.
10. Traits of a philosopher:
Describes the traits of a philosopher, such as self-criticism, desire restraint, and persistent self-observation.
Discusses the significance of humility in the pursuit of knowledge and understanding. It warns against prioritizing one's capacity to comprehend texts rather than embracing the teachings.
Men are troubled not by things, but by the concepts and notions they construct about things. Death, for example, is not a dreadful thing, as Socrates perceived. But the terror stems from our perception of death as terrible. When we are hampered, upset, or grieved, let us never blame it on others, but on ourselves; that is, on our own ideals. Uninstructed people will blame others for their own poor health. Someone who is just beginning to learn will blame himself. Some people who are well-informed will not blame others or themselves.
Don't take pride in anything that isn't your own. It would be OK for a horse to be arrogant and proclaim, "I am handsome." When you feel proud and remark, "I have a handsome horse," remember that you are only proud of what is beneficial for the horse. So, what is your own? Only your attitude to how things appear. Thus, when you conduct in accordance with nature in response to how things appear, you will be proud with reason, since you will take pride in part of your own good.
Consider when your ship is anchored on a cruise; if you go on shore to fetch water, you might entertain yourself by picking up a shellish or an onion along the way. However, your thoughts and constant attention should be turned towards the ship, waiting for the captain to call on board; you must then leave all of these things instantly, or you will be tossed into the ship, bound neck and feet like a sheep. So it goes in life. It's fine if you get a wife or a child instead of an onion or a mussel. But if the captain summons you, you must dash to the ship, leaving them and not caring about any of them. However, if you are elderly, never venture too far from the ship, lest you be unable to respond in time when called.
Sickness affects the body but not your ability to choose, unless you want to be sick. Lameness affects your leg but not your ability to select. Say this to yourself in relation to anything that happens, and you will see such hurdles as impediments to something else rather than to yourself.
With each accident, consider your abilities for making effective use of it. When you view an attractive individual, you will discover that self-control is the skill you have over your desire.You will find fortitude if you are in pain. You will find patience if you hear foul language. As a result, the appearances of things will not hurry you away with them.
Never say, "I lost it," but always say, "I returned it." Is your child no longer alive? It has been returned. Is your wife no longer alive? She has been returned. Is your estate being seized? And isn't that likewise returned? "But the person who took it away is a wicked person." What difference does it make to you who the giver assigns to return it? Take care of it while he offers it to you, but don't think of it as yours in the same way that travelers think of a hotel.
If you want to do better, reject arguments such, "If I neglect my affairs, I'll have no income; if I don't correct my servant, he'll be bad." For it is better to die hungry, free of anguish and fear, than to live wealthy but unhappy; and it is better for your servant to be bad than for you to be miserable.
Begin with the simplest of tasks. Is there some oil on the floor? A little wine snatched? Think to yourself, "This is the price paid for apathy, for tranquillity, and nothing is to be had for nothing." When you summon your servant, he may or may not appear; if he does appear, he may or may not perform the task you have requested.
If you want to improve, be comfortable with being thought silly and stupid in the eyes of others. You don't want to be thought to know anything, and even if you look to be someone important to others, you should be skeptical of yourself. For it is difficult to maintain your faculties of choice in a natural state while also acquiring external objects. However, if you are cautious about one, you must inevitably overlook the other.
You are idiotic if you want your children, wife, and friends to live forever; you want to be in control of things you cannot, and you want things that belong to others to be yours. So, if you want your worker to be faultless, you are a fool; because you want vice not to be vice," but something else. However, if you want your aspirations to be fulfilled, you have influence over this. As a result, focus on what you can control. He is the master of every other individual, and he has the ability to bestow or remove everything that person chooses to have or avoid.
You may be unconquerable if you do not engage in any conflict over which you have no control. When you see someone prominent in honors, authority, or high esteem on any other account, take care not to be swept away by the sight and call him happy; for, since the essence of good lies in things within our own control, there will be no place for envy or emulation. But, for your part, you don't want to be a general, a senator, or a consul; you want to be free, and the only way to get there is to despise things over which we have no influence.
Remember that it is the principle that portrays ill language or a blow as disrespectful, not the person who uses it. When someone provokes you, rest assured that it is your own opinion that is provoking you. So, first and foremost, try not to be swept away by the appearance. For if you get time and relief, you will be able to command yourself more readily.
Allow death, exile, and all other terrifying things to pass before your eyes on a daily basis, but especially death, and you will never entertain any abject notion, nor crave anything too quickly.
If you have a sincere desire to attain to philosophy, prepare to be ridiculed at, mocked at by the masses, to hear them remark, "He has returned to us a philosopher all at once," and "From whence this supercilious look?" Now, for your part, don't be arrogant; rather, stick to the things that seem best to you as one chosen by God for this position. Remember that if you stick to the same idea, those who initially mocked you will come to admire you. If you are defeated by them, you will be mocked twice.
If you ever switch your attention to externals in order to please somebody, rest assured that you have damaged your life plan. So be content with being a philosopher in everything; and if you want to be thought so by anyone, appear so to yourself, and it will suffice you.
Don't let such considerations bother you. "I will live in dishonor, and be nobody anywhere." For, if dishonor is an evil, you cannot be involved in any evil through the means of another, any more than you can be involved in anything base. Is it your business, then, to gain power or gain admission to an entertainment? Not at all. After all, how is this a dishonor? And how is it true that you will be nobody everywhere, when you should be somebody only in those things over which you have control, and where you can have the most impact? "But my friends will be unassisted." -- What exactly do you mean by "unassisted"?
Nature's will can be learned from things that humans don't separate from one another. For example, if our neighbor's boy smashes a cup or something similar, we are currently prepared to remark, "These things will happen." Be assured, then, that when your own cup is broken, you should be afflicted in the same way that another's cup was broken. Apply this to bigger and better things. Is another person's child or wife deceased? There is no one who would not say, "This is a human accident," but if one's own child dies, it is now, "Alas, how wretched I am!"However, it is important to recall how we are affected when we hear the same thing about others.
Consider what comes before and after every endeavor before embarking on it. Otherwise, you will begin with spirit, but not having considered the implications, you will embarrassingly desist when some of them arrive. "I would conquer at the Olympic games." But examine what comes before and after, and then, if it is in your best interests, engage in the affair. You must follow regulations, follow a diet, abstain from delicacies; exercise your body, whether you want to or not, at a set time, in heat and cold; and you must not drink cold water or wine. In a nutshell, you must submit to your master as you would a physician.
Relationships are generally used to measure duties. Is there anyone who has a father? If this is the case, it implies that the children should look after him, submit to him in everything, and quietly listen to his reproaches and corrections. But he's a terrible father. So, do you have a natural right to a good father? Yes, but only to a father. Is it fair to punish a brother? Keep your own position in mind for him. Consider not what he does, but what you must do to retain your own faculties of choice in a natural state. Others will not harm you until you allow them to. You will be harmed when you believe you are hurt.
If you are impressed by the appearance of any promised pleasure, avoid being rushed away by it; instead, let the affair wait at your leisure, and procure yourself some delay. Then consider both points of time: the one in which you will enjoy the pleasure and the one in which you will repent and reproach yourself after you have experienced it; then consider how you will be delighted and commend yourself if you abstain. And, while it may appear to you to be a seasonable delight, keep in mind that its luring, agreeable, and appealing force may not subdue you; but consider how much better it is to be aware of having won such a huge triumph.
When you do something out of a clear judgment that it should be done, never shun being seen to do it, even if the world makes a mistake about it; for, if you don't behave right, shun the action itself; but, if you do, why are you scared of those who mistakenly condemn you?
It warns against taking on a role or obligation that is above one's abilities. By doing so, one not only fails in the new role, but also abandons a role in which they could have excelled.
This section compares taking care not to hurt your mind's ruling faculty to walking with caution to avoid injury. It emphasizes the importance of guarding the mind in all actions for safety and well-being.
Epictetus compares the fitting of possessions to people wearing shoes that fit their feet. He warns against excess, saying that exceeding the appropriate proportion leads to boundless cravings and superfluous decoration.
Discusses the cultural perspective of women and the necessity of respecting them for their behavior and character rather than only for pleasure.
It underlines that spending too much time on physical problems indicates a lack of intellectual commitment. The emphasis should be on developing understanding rather than engaging in excessive physical activities.
Advises dealing with criticism by acknowledging that people act on their perceptions and understanding, even if they differ from one's own. It fosters a gentle reaction to revilement by taking the other person's point of view into account.
Discusses the concept of understanding actions by selecting the appropriate perspective or "handle." For example, if a brother commits an unjust deed, instead than focusing on the injustice, examine the familial tie and upbringing.
The erroneous rationale behind linking personal worth to assets or talents is criticized, showing the futility in such comparisons.
Caution is advised when making decisions without thorough understanding. It emphasizes the significance of understanding the motivations underlying acts in order to prevent jumping to conclusions.
Encourages the immediate application of philosophical truths in daily life. It highlights the need of self-reform and acting on one's ideals without delay.
The importance of moral principles in philosophy is emphasized, and the propensity to rely primarily on abstract reasoning rather than practical ethics is criticized.
Quotes from various authors that reflect the Stoic attitude on fate, acceptance, and following the path directed by higher principles.
Upon all occasions we ought to have these maxims ready at hand:
"Conduct me, Jove, and you, 0 Destiny,
Wherever your decrees have fixed my station."
Cleanthes
"I follow cheerfully; and, did I not,
Wicked and wretched, I must follow still
Whoever yields properly to Fate, is deemed
Wise among men, and knows the laws of heaven."
Euripides, Frag. 965
And this third:
"0 Crito, if it thus pleases the gods, thus let it be. Anytus and Melitus may kill me indeed, but hurt me they cannot."
Plato's Crito and Apology
Finally, Epictetus' "Enchiridion" is a timeless guide to leading a life of virtue, reason, and self-control. These teachings, which emphasize self-awareness, humility, and ethical behavior, are as relevant now as they were centuries ago. Incorporating these Stoic concepts into our daily lives can take us along a path of fulfillment, resilience, and a greater awareness of our own humanity.
These expressions effectively reflect the idea that some guiding principles should always be available to us:
"Whatever happens due to fate or destiny, I will accept it willingly." This entails accepting and embracing whatever life throws at us, even if it is challenging.
"I'll accept it if the gods decide this is my fate." Others may physically damage me, but they cannot harm my inner self or values." This refers to preserving inner strength and integrity in the face of adversity.
The "Enchiridion" teachings of Epictetus emphasize the value of self-awareness, humility, and ethical action. Following these principles can lead to a more fulfilling existence with greater resilience and self-awareness.
Source: The Enchiridion By Epictetus: Link
Coursera : Ancient Philosophy: Aristotle and His Successors by University of Pennsylvania
If you're interested in Ancient Philosophy, take a look at this course on Coursera:
Ancient Philosophy: Aristotle and His Successors
by University of Pennsylvania
Taught by:
Professor Susan Sauvé Meyer
Department of Philosophy
About This Course
What exactly is philosophy? What distinguishes it from science, religion, and other forms of human discourse? This course explores the beginnings of philosophy in the Western tradition to Ancient Greek thinkers. We begin with the Presocratic natural philosophers, who lived in Ionia in the sixth century BCE and are widely regarded as the earliest scientists. Thales, Anaximander, and Anaximines proposed radical theories regarding the ultimate elements of existence, whereas Heraclitus maintained on an underlying order to the shifting universe. Later Greek theorists (such as Anaxagoras and the atomist Democritus) attempted to respond to Parmenides of Elea's robust rejection to all of these suggestions. Socrates insisted on the relevance of the fundamental ethical question—"How shall I live?"—in fifth-century Athens, and his pupil, Plato, and Plato's disciple, Aristotle, built intricate philosophical systems to explain the nature of reality, knowledge, and human happiness. Epicureans and Stoics extended and altered Aristotle's previous legacy after his death in the Hellenistic period. We shall investigate the major doctrines of each of these thinkers. Part I will look at Plato and his forefathers. Part II will look at Aristotle and his followers.
