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Epictetus: Mastering Self-Discipline

Epictetus was a Greek Stoic philosopher who lived in the 1st century AD and was born a slave. He taught Stoic ethics which emphasized self-control through disciplining one's desires, actions, and assent. Stoicism aimed for individuals to achieve eudaimonia by living virtuously according to nature. Epictetus' teachings on the three disciplines were influential in spreading Stoic philosophy.

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302 views21 pages

Epictetus: Mastering Self-Discipline

Epictetus was a Greek Stoic philosopher who lived in the 1st century AD and was born a slave. He taught Stoic ethics which emphasized self-control through disciplining one's desires, actions, and assent. Stoicism aimed for individuals to achieve eudaimonia by living virtuously according to nature. Epictetus' teachings on the three disciplines were influential in spreading Stoic philosophy.

Uploaded by

athrun zala
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Epictetus

On Self-Discipline

PRESENTED BY JL CABASAN, ALFRED


MARQUEZ, AND MATTHEW MALLO
Objectives
Learn:

Who is Epictetus?

His influence in Stoicism

Stoicism and Stoic Ethics

The 3 Stoic Disciplines


Who is
Epictetus?
Born in 55 C.E in Heiropolis,
Phyrgia
Was a slave of Epaphroditus
Epiktetos = Acquired
Became a stoic teacher
INFLUENCE IN
STOICISM
THE DISCOURSES
Contains the 3 Disciplines
Written by Arrian

INFLUENCE
IN
THE ENCHIRIDION
STOICISM
Abstract of the Discourses
Founded by Zeno of Cyprus

Everything is a "Web of Cause

and Effect"

A virtuous life is free from all


STOICISM
passions

Stoicism = Unemotional
Freedom from passion by following
reason
Philosophy of personal ethics
informed by its system of logic and its
view on natural world
Good lies in the state of the soul
itself; in wisdom and self-control
STOICISM
4 CARDINAL VIRTUE OF
STOIC PHILOSOPHY
Wisom, Courage, Justice, Temperance
ACHIEVING EUDAIMONIA
Primary aim of stoic ethics

STOIC GOODNESS IN ACTS OF


VIRTUE
ETHICS
Preferred and dispreferred indifference
THINGS WITHIN OUR POWER,
STOIC THINGS BEYOND OUR POWER

ETHICS Shun undesireable things in your control


Restrain desires that are not in your control
THE PROPER USE OF
STOIC IMPRESSIONS
ETHICS Judge things the right way
LIVE IN ACCORDANCE WITH
NATURE
Pay attention to your actions and, to the
world in which your actions take effect

STOIC
ETHICS
PROBLEMS ARE
OPPORTUNITIES
These strengthen our moral character
The 3 Disciplines

Discipline of
Desire, Action,
and Assent
"When I see a man anxious, I say,
What does this man want? If he did
not want some thing which is not in
his power, how could he be
anxious?"

- Epictetus (Discourses 2.13.1, trans.


Long)
STRIVE FOR THAT WHICH IS
GOOD
It is the only thing worthy of desire

DISCIPLINE SET YOUR HOPE FOR


EXCELLENCE
OF DESIRE This is where your power lies

PURSUE NOTHING THAT IS


OUTSIDE YOUR POWER
and be indifferent to it
"First say to yourself what you

DISCIPLINE
would be; and then do what you
have to do"
OF ASSENT
- Epictetus
TO ACT AND NOT TO
ACT
Control how you approach things

DISCIPLINE
OF ACTION
DIRECTING OUR ACTS
TO FIT THE SITUATION
Remember who you are and your
role.

DISCIPLINE
OF ACTION
"We suffer not from the events in

DISCIPLINE
our lives, but from our judgement
about them!"
OF ASSENT
- Epictetus
SUNKATATHESIS
Approve, agree, or go along with

DISCIPLINE
OF ASSENT CONFRONT HARSH
IMPRESSIONS WITH
"You are but an impression, and not at all
what you seem to be"
RUN IMAGINARY SITUATIONS
Avoid adding impressions that has not
been evaluated

DISCIPLINE
OF ASSENT
END

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