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Epictetus | |
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_frontispiece.jpg) 18th-century portrait of Epictetus, including his crutch | |
| Born | c. AD 50 |
| Died | c. 135 (aged c. 85) |
| Notable work | |
| Era | Hellenistic philosophy |
| Region | Western philosophy |
| School | Stoicism |
Main interests | Ethics |
Notable ideas | Memento mori[1] |
Epictetus (/ˌɛpɪkˈtiːtəs/, EH-pick-TEE-təss;[3] ‹See Tfd›Greek: Ἐπίκτητος, Epíktētos; c. 50 – c. 135 AD) was a Greek Stoic philosopher.[4][5] He was born into slavery at Hierapolis, Phrygia (present-day Pamukkale, in western Turkey) and lived in Rome until his banishment, when he went to Nicopolis in northwestern Greece, where he spent the rest of his life.
Epictetus studied Stoic philosophy under Musonius Rufus, and after his manumission began to teach philosophy. After his banishment to Nicopolis, he founded a school there. Epictetus taught that philosophy is a way of life and not simply a theoretical discipline. To Epictetus, all external events are beyond our control; he argues that we should accept whatever happens calmly and dispassionately. However, individuals are responsible for their own actions, which they can examine and control through rigorous self-discipline. His teachings were written down and published by his pupil Arrian in his Discourses and Enchiridion.
- ^ Discourses of Epictetus, 3.24.
- ^ "Nicopolis Actia | Greece | Britannica". www.britannica.com.
- ^ Jones, Daniel; Roach, Peter, James Hartman and Jane Setter, eds. Cambridge English Pronouncing Dictionary. 17th edition. Cambridge UP, 2006.
- ^ Elizabeth Carter; Epictetus (9 July 2017). The Complete Works of Epictetus. Independently Published. ISBN 978-1521800355.
- ^ Rowan Stevens (28 February 2022). Wise Quotes – Epictetus (294 Epictetus Quotes): Greek Stoic Philosophy | Quote Collections | Epicurean. Rowan Stevens. ISBN 978-1636051833.