Background into Epictetus
Epictetus. Aside from having the word “epic”, literally embedded into his name, the stoic life philosophy of Epictetus is something which I have seen dotted around the internet on social media and beyond.
Why have the words of a slave who lived in the first century AD captured our imagination so?
Does what he says hold water, or does he present a cold, meaningless and harsh viewpoint on life?
In this blog, I will break down some of Epictetus’ key ideas and evaluate them. I will also provide some personal insight into how Epictetus’ stoic philosophy has begun to influence me in my personal life. I also owe it to Charlie Munger, as he seemed to enjoy quoting the Stoics.
- Background into Epictetus
- Background
- 10 Inspirational Epictetus Quotes
- 1. Rationality
- Criticisms
- Complacency in Epictetus’ Philosophy
- A Challenge for the New Year
Background
Epictetus, born in the 50s C.E. in Hierapolis, was a Greek slave who later gained freedom. Little is known about his early life, but he studied under the Stoic philosopher Musonius Rufus in Rome.
After being forced to leave the city due to a ban on philosophers, he established his school in Nicopolis. Epictetus, known for his teachings captured in the Discourses, continued to lecture until his death around 135.
Despite facing challenges, including a limp from possible arthritis or past abuse, he adopted a child in his later years out of benevolence. His philosophy has left a lasting impact on Stoicism.
10 Inspirational Epictetus Quotes
For more Stoic quotes complete with explanations, check out 13 Stoic Quotes here.
I have sourced these quotes from brainyquote, and QuoteFancy.
“It’s not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters.”
“Never say about anything, “I have lost it,” but only “I have given it back.” Is your child dead? It has been given back. Is your wife dead? She has been returned.”
“Death and pain are not frightening, it’s the fear of pain and death we need to fear…So be confident about death, and caution yourself against the fear of it – just the opposite, in other words, of what we are doing now. Now we shrink from death, whereas our views about death hardly concern us, we hardly give them a thought, and are completely apathetic. Socrates used to call such fears ‘hobgoblins’, and rightly so; just as masks scare and frighten children since they haven’t seen them before, we react to events in much the same way and for much the same reason. What is a child? Ignorance and inexperience. But with respect to what it knows, a child is every bit our equal. What is death? A scary mask. Take it off – see, it doesn’t bite. “
“Unhappy man, who are the slave even of a girl… Why then do you still call yourself free?”
“With regard to whatever objects give you delight, are useful, or are deeply loved, remember to tell yourself of what general nature they are, beginning from the most insignificant things. If, for example, you are fond of a specific ceramic cup, remind yourself that it is only ceramic cups in general of which you are fond. Then, if it breaks, you will not be disturbed. If you kiss your child, or your wife, say that you only kiss things which are human, and thus you will not be disturbed if either of them dies.”
“Any person capable of angering you becomes your master;
he can anger you only when you permit yourself to be disturbed by him.”“Remember, it is not enough to be hit or insulted to be harmed, you must believe that you are being harmed. If someone succeeds in provoking you, realise that your mind is complicit in the provocation.”
“Nothing great is created suddenly, any more than a bunch of grapes or a fig. If you tell me that you desire a fig. I answer you that there must be time. Let it first blossom, then bear fruit, then ripen.”
“Imagine for yourself a character, a model personality, whose example you determine to follow, in private as well as in public.”
“Do not seek to bring things to pass in accordance with your wishes, but wish for them as they are, and you will find them.”
1. Rationality
Epictetus’s core philosophy centres around human rationality.
Being “rational” means humans can thoughtfully assess their impressions of the world. Unlike animals, humans not only react to their surroundings but also scrutinise their impressions to determine their accuracy.
This ability or faculty, known as “assent,” is influenced by our awareness of logical consistency or contradiction with existing beliefs.
This means that as we look into the world, our knowledge and epistemological base are constructed around other beliefs.
Epictetus emphasises that our aversion to deception and our refusal to accept what we clearly see as false are fundamental aspects of being human.
Criticisms
Epictetus is positive about this ability to think rationally, and he believes that we are supremely rational compared to most animals. I think perhaps that there is a slight issue in his assumption that humans are so obviously rational in their actions.
If we were so rational, then why would we need any experience to inform our judgements?
Surely we would be able to just come to the most rational decision more or less every time, and also we would come up with the same decision every time?
Medea was Rational to Kill her Children?
He does somewhat address this, however, as he acknowledges that even the most seamlessly callous action can be rational to the perpetrator. For instance, Medea killing her children was somehow in her self-interest.
How?
Well, she was deserted by Jason, and her place in society was under threat. As a woman, did she have any chance of improving her situation by remarrying? She had little way out.
Irrationality?
I’m still tempted to disagree with Medea’s actions being rational and think that there is certainly an emotional component. Epictetus underestimates our abilities to be rational. Many of the decisions that we make are emotional, or gut instincts.
Hume in his Treatise of Human Nature, quite convincingly established that everything that we believe about causation is not owing to some abstract reasoning. It is more like an intuition rather than a logical inference.
2. Acceptance
Epictetus and the stoics generally have this idea of acceptance. This stands as a key feature of their philosophy.
If we think about Epictetus himself, as a slave, he had limited ability to move beyond a certain level. As his possibilities were limited, acceptance of his status and facts would have made life easier to bear.
Is it good for us to “accept” things as they are? Shouldn’t we try to be exceptional?
Jordan Peterson argues that there is a sizable price to pay to be exceptional, but some people are meant to go down that path. Acceptance surely breeds complacency and that can lead to people not achieving their potential.
Complacency in Epictetus’ Philosophy
Does stoicism lead to complacency? I would argue that it doesn’t. Stoicism is about accepting things that we cannot do anything about.
For instance, death is an inescapable reality that all of us will have to embrace. Does this mean we shouldn’t make an effort to keep fit and healthy and try to live a long life?
No. Fearing death is not something we should do: “…be confident about death, and caution yourself against the fear of it”.
Similarly, if we see things in the world that we can do something about, then it the stoic can move to action. As Epictetus states, ” First say to yourself what you would be; and then do what you have to do. Make the best use of what is in your power, and take the rest as it happens.”
Notice that Epictetus believes that we all have differences in terms of what is in our power, but he does not dissuade us from taking action. In fact, in the name of justice, stoics are compelled to take action.
Learn more about how I will integrate some of the stoic mindset into my life in 2024.
3. Overriding Emotions
Stoicism involves mastery over emotions. Being a slave to passions is detrimental to the stoic. For Epictetus, mastery of the emotions seems to be important as it avoids harm coming to you. This idea of gaining complete mastery over the emotions can sound to some a bit unnatural.
Epictetus brings up the instance where a man is upset by his friend leaving. He argues that this emotional response is something that is his fault, that he should have considered it to be out of his control and that he does not own his friend.
I have known friends in my own life who have “left”, and to not regard this with sorrow is difficult. But Epictetus would say that my sorrow is rooted in my weak view of myself and my ownership over my friendship.
Some critics may even say that stoicism encourages an unhealthy repression of emotions, but in reality, stoicism argues for a reframing.
A Resilent Human
Critics may misinterpret stoicism as promoting emotional suppression, but the essence lies in transforming our emotional responses. Rather than denying feelings, stoicism encourages us to reframe them, to view departures not as losses but as opportunities for personal growth and new connections.
Building this mental resilience, as Epictetus suggests, requires time and effort. Meditation becomes a tool not for escaping reality but for honing the skill of maintaining equanimity amid life’s changes. It’s a practice that cultivates the mental strength needed to reframe situations, helping us navigate the ebb and flow of relationships with a profound sense of self-control.
In essence, adopting a stoic mindset is a journey – a transformative process that challenges our ingrained perspectives and moulds our emotional responses into a source of strength rather than vulnerability. Epictetus’ teachings remind us that true freedom lies not in controlling external events, but in mastering our internal reactions. For how not to handle a situation check out this video:
Read all about my “reframing” in my blog post:
Conclusion
Epictetus’ stoic philosophy offers a timeless guide to navigating life’s challenges. While his ideas may seem stringent, they provide a framework for building mental resilience and transforming emotional responses.
As we step into the new year, the challenge to engage with Stoic wisdom invites readers to embark on a transformative journey toward mastering their internal reactions and embracing true freedom.
If you’re interested in a great book addressing Stoic ideas, definitely read Ryan Holiday’s Daily Stoic for a detailed breakdown of many of the famous quotations of Stoic philosophers,
Bibliography
- Graver, Margaret, “Epictetus“, The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Summer 2021 Edition), Edward N. Zalta (ed.)
- Kirman A, Livet P, Teschl M. Rationality and emotions. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci. 2010 Jan 27;365(1538):215-9. doi: 10.1098/rstb.2009.0194. PMID: 20026459; PMCID: PMC2827459.
- Maldon, J. Stoicism and Emotion: Don. Philosophy Break. December 15, 2023.
- Erick,. (2023). Mind Over Mood: The Stoic Art of Reframing. stoic.coffee. December 15, 2023.
