The Daily Stoic

Epictetus - The Enchiridion Pt. 1

Jul 31, 2022

In this discussion, Epictetus, an influential Ancient Greek Stoic philosopher, shares his profound insights from The Enchiridion. He emphasizes the crucial distinction between what we can control and what we cannot, offering a path to inner freedom. Listeners learn about the importance of managing desires and aversions for resilience. He also touches on the necessity of acceptance, advocating for the power of controlling our reactions to life's challenges. His teachings serve as a timeless guide for navigating personal responsibilities and mental well-being.

16:53

Episode guests

Epictetus

Highlights

AI Chapters

Episode notes

Aversion and Desire

01:26

The Importance of Life

01:15

Intro

3min

The Stoic Path to Inner Freedom

8min

Navigating Life's Responsibilities and Priorities

2min

The Power of Acceptance and Control

6min

Expressions of Gratitude and Ad-Free Listening Options

3min

The Enchiridion is one of the essential texts of Stoic philosophy, and one of the most important ancient documents that we have access to. It is a concentrated collection of Epictetus’s wisest teachings and contains all the fundamentals of his philosophy. It is a guiding text and required reading for students of Stoic philosophy.

📕Get a copy of Discourses and Selected Writings by Epictetus at the Painted Porch Bookshop

Epictetus was born nearly 2,000 years ago in Hierapolis (present-day Pamukkale in Turkey) as a slave in a wealthy household. Epaphroditus, his owner, gave him the permission to pursue liberal studies and it is how Epictetus discovered philosophy through the Stoic Musonius Rufus who became his teacher and mentor. Later, Epictetus obtained his freedom shortly after emperor Nero’s death and started teaching philosophy in Rome for nearly 25 years. This lasted until emperor Domitian famously banished all philosophers in Rome. Epictetus fled to Nicopolis in Greece where he founded a philosophy school and taught there until his death.

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