Discourses of Epictetus #1: 1.1-1.2
About the event
The Discourses of Epictetus are among the most influential of all Stoic texts to have survived antiquity. Based on the notes of his most famous student, the Roman historian and statesman Arrian, they record conversations that took place in or around his school at Nicopolis on the western shores of Greece — probably in the open air —capturing the powerful impact he had on those who heard him speak.
The central message was that our happiness depends not on our circumstances but on our judgements of them, and that we all have the capacity to change those judgements. His observations of the human psyche — specifically the relationship between our thoughts and emotions — were a major influence on modern cognitive approaches to therapy.
We’ll begin with Discourses 1.1-1.2 which lay a foundation for both understanding Epictetus and Stoicism more broadly. In these texts, we’ll explore the question of what lies within our control and what lies outside of it, as well as the implications that follow from the answer.
Join us for a close reading and open discussion. No prior knowledge of Epictetus, Stoicism, or philosphy in general is required. Participants are encouraged to read the text in advance and come prepared with a passage, a question, or a point of resistance.
Here's a copy of the text: https://ia601606.us.archive.org/5/items/9780140449464/9780140449464.pdf
