Epictetus

Epictetus is a well-known author and Stoic philosopher who was born in 55 AD in what is now modern-day Turkey. As a Greek slave, he taught philosophy and was able to purchase his freedom. He then traveled extensively throughout the Roman Empire, where he founded the Stoic school of philosophy known as the Stoic school of Chrysopolis in Hierapolis, Phrygia. Epictetus was known for writing works that blended a blend of Pyrrho's skepticism and the Stoic teachings of Zeno of Citium. His works were highly influential on early modern moralists and political thinkers, such as Thomas Jefferson and John Locke.

Epictetus is best known for his Discourses, a four-volume collection of his lectures and essays. These works were published after his death, as he himself was thought to be sterile and had no direct heirs. In his lifetime, Epictetus was recognized as one of the foremost Stoic philosophers. The central concept in his philosophy was the idea of apatheia, which can be translated as 'freedom from being affected by emotions and passions.' To Epictetus, happiness comes from recognizing that one has no control over certain external events, and one's true freedom lies in living according to one's own principles. His works are characterized by an absent reliance on the teachings of rationality and logic, as he famously said 'human happiness is best served by embracing the inevitability of change and learning how to respond calmly and philosophically to experience.'

Other works of Epictetus include the Handbook, a compilation of Stoic maxims and his Enchiridion, an abridged version of the Discourses. Both works were highly influential on the Stoic school of thought, and popularized the concept of living in line with the three Stoic virtues of wisdom, justice and courage.

Epictetus is also known for his dialogue The Golden Sayings, which provides a collection of his most interesting thoughts, many of which can still be applied to modern life. One of his most famous quotes is “it is hard to bear what we must and to patiently wait what we should,” which speaks to the idea of accepting fate and not fighting against the things that come our way.

Though Epictetus wrote a large catalog of works, he is best known for his Discourses, a four-volume collection of lectures and essays that were later compiled by his student Arrian. The Discourses are considered to be Epictetus's masterwork and although many of the arguments within it take the form of dialogue, they are really directed at the reader. Throughout the Discourses, Epictetus encourages us to practice self-control and endurance, to test our limits and challenge our preconceptions and to always strive to live according to our highest principles.

Overall, Epictetus was a major philosopher of the Stoic school, who was greatly admired for his wisdom and stoicism. His works have continued to inspire and inform modern thinkers, political theorists and moralists. Through his written works and lectures, Epictetus has encouraged us to embrace the changing nature of the world, to accept our fate, and to live a life of virtues and principles.