studied Plato and Aristotle, but Epictetus, the stoic from Anatolia, was the preeminent philosopher....… Epictetus (born about ad 55) influenced especially the philosophic Roman emperor Marcus...… … Seneca, a Roman statesman; of Epictetus, a former slave; and of Marcus Aurelius, a Roman emperor.

Who did stoicism influence?

It influenced Christianity, as well as a number of major philosophical figures throughout the ages (for example, Thomas More, Descartes, Spinoza), and in the early 21st century saw a revival as a practical philosophy associated with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and similar approaches.

Who did Epictetus teach?

Epictetus was born nearly 2,000 years ago in Hierapolis (present-day Pamukkale in Turkey) as a slave in a wealthy household. Epaphroditus, his owner, gave him the permission to pursue liberal studies and it is how Epictetus discovered philosophy through the Stoic Musonius Rufus who became his teacher and mentor.

Who was the most influential Stoic?

Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius, born nearly two millennia ago is perhaps the best known Stoic leader in history. He was born in a prominent family but nobody at the time would have predicted that he would one day be Emperor of the Empire.

What was Epictetus contribution to psychology?

Some two thousand years ago, Epictetus wrote what could well be a maxim today for CBT, “People are not disturbed by things, but by the view they take of them.” Although the Stoics were deterministic, believing that events are fated, Epictetus taught that we can at least control our mental attitudes toward life ...

Epictetus - His life, Stoic Philosophy, Quotes & his book Discourses | Stoic Philosophy

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What was Epictetus known for?

Epictetus (l.c. 50 - c. 130 CE) was a Stoic philosopher best known for his works The Enchiridion (the handbook) and his Discourses, both foundational works in Stoic philosophy and both thought to have been written down from his teachings by his student Arrian.

What is Epictetus understanding of desire?

ENCHIRIDION CHAPTER TWO, EPICTETUS, TRANSLATION BY ROBERT DOBBIN: [1] The faculty of desire purports to aim at securing what you want, while a version purports to shield you from what you don't. If you fail in your desire, you are unfortunate, if you experience what you would rather avoid you are unhappy.

Was Theodore Roosevelt a stoic?

Turn Obstacles Into Fuel. Theodore Roosevelt was not only President and staunch advocate for the National Park System, but he was also an adventurer who practiced Stoicism. ... 121–180), incorporates the Stoic principles he used to cope with his life as a soldier and ruler of an empire.

Was Nietzsche a stoic?

The truth is that Nietzsche himself, in his later years, became highly critical of Stoic and Epicurean philosophy. After some ambivalence in his middle years, he also rekindled his early hostility to Socrates, the Stoics' idol. Socrates, the young Nietzsche argued, represented a turning point in world history.

Who is the father of stoicism?

Stoicism takes its name from the place where its founder, Zeno of Citium (Cyprus), customarily lectured—the Stoa Poikile (Painted Colonnade). Zeno, who flourished in the early 3rd century bce, showed in his own doctrines the influence of earlier Greek attitudes, particularly those mentioned above.

How did Epictetus the Stoic view the gods?

More emphatically than any other Stoic in our record, Epictetus speaks of Zeus or God in terms that treat the world's divine principle as a person to whom one is actually present and who is equally present to oneself self as an integral aspect of one's mind.

Which emperor wrote meditations?

Marcus Aurelius wrote the Meditations, his reflections in the middle of campaigning and administration. The extent to which he intended it to be seen by others is uncertain. It shows the strong influence of Stoicism on Marcus and has been held by generations as the thoughts of a philosopher-king.

How did Epictetus gain his freedom?

Epictetus obtained his freedom sometime after the death of Nero in AD 68, and he began to teach philosophy in Rome. Around AD 93, when Emperor Domitian banished all philosophers from the city, Epictetus moved to Nicopolis in Epirus, Greece, where he founded a school of philosophy.

What were the 3 main beliefs of the Stoics?

It influenced the development of Christian morality and theology, and also modern philosophy. Stoicism can be epitomized by three essential beliefs: (1) that virtue is sufficient for happiness, (2) that other so-called goods should be regarded with indifference, and (3) that the world is providentially ordered by God.

Who founded stoicism?

Stoicism takes its name from the place where its founder, Zeno of Citium (Cyprus), customarily lectured—the Stoa Poikile (Painted Colonnade). Zeno, who flourished in the early 3rd century bce, showed in his own doctrines the influence of earlier Greek attitudes, particularly those mentioned above.

Why is stoicism wrong?

So Stoicism is inimical to freedom. It is true that we cannot control everything, but Stoicism is the wrong response. ... But Stoicism is unable to work the “magic” of emotion, as Sartre says. In his view, people initiate emotions when they are confronted with obstacles they seemingly have no rational way of overcoming.

What was Nietzsche's theory?

Nietzsche claimed the exemplary human being must craft his/her own identity through self-realization and do so without relying on anything transcending that life—such as God or a soul.

Was Nietzsche a nihilist?

Summary. Nietzsche is a self-professed nihilist, although, if we are to believe him, it took him until 1887 to admit it (he makes the admission in a Nachlass note from that year). No philosopher's nihilism is more radical than Nietzsche's and only Kierkegaard's and Sartre's are as radical.

What are the 4 virtues of Stoicism?

The Stoics elaborated a detailed taxonomy of virtue, dividing virtue into four main types: wisdom, justice, courage, and moderation.

Who studies stoicism?

5 Epic Leaders Who Studied Stoicism -- and Why You Should Too

• Ryan Holiday. Okay, if you've read Ryan's latest book, The Obstacle is the Way, you may not be surprised that he's stoked on stoicism. ...
• Tim Ferriss. Did you know Tim studies stoicism? ...
• Vice Admiral James B. Stockdale. ...
• Pete Carroll. ...
• President Theodore Roosevelt.

Who studied stoicism?

A brief synopsis on this particular school of Hellenistic philosophy: Stoicism was founded in Athens by Zeno of Citium in the early 3rd century BC, but was famously practiced by the likes of Epictetus, Cato, Seneca and Marcus Aurelius.

Who believed in stoicism?

Stoicism is a school of Hellenistic philosophy founded by Zeno of Citium in Athens in the early 3rd century BC. It is a philosophy of personal ethics informed by its system of logic and its views on the natural world.

What is Ataraxia and which philosophy do you think provides the best guide to achieving it?

Ataraxia is a key component of the Epicurean conception of the highest good. Epicureans value ataraxia highly because of how they understand pleasure. Epicureans argue that pleasure is the highest good. They break pleasure down into two categories: the physical and the mental.

What is Epicurean theory?

Epicureanism argued that pleasure was the chief good in life. Hence, Epicurus advocated living in such a way as to derive the greatest amount of pleasure possible during one's lifetime, yet doing so moderately in order to avoid the suffering incurred by overindulgence in such pleasure.

Was Epictetus married?

Epictetus never married but adopted a child out of benevolence. Although Epictetus is said to have been crippled in one leg and walked around Nicopolis with a limp, he nevertheless remained active, teaching and lecturing until his death in 135 CE.