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Thinker · TH-0004

Epictetus

Greek Stoic teacher born a slave in Hierapolis in Phrygia, who studied under Musonius Rufus in Rome and, after Domitian expelled the philosophers, taught…

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Ἐπίκτητος

Also known as Epiktetos

c. 50 – c. 135 CE · Hierapolis, Rome, Nicopolis

Traditions: Greek & Roman

Schools: Stoicism

Greek Stoic teacher born a slave in Hierapolis in Phrygia, who studied under Musonius Rufus in Rome and, after Domitian expelled the philosophers, taught at Nicopolis in Epirus. He wrote nothing himself; his student Arrian recorded his lectures.

Key ideas

  • The distinction between what is up to us and what is not
  • We are disturbed not by events but by our judgments about them
  • Freedom as an inner condition available even to a slave
  • Training desire, action and assent

Major works

  • Discourses (recorded by Arrian, early 2nd century CE)
  • Enchiridion (Handbook, compiled by Arrian)

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