This First Century Greek philosopher is notable for the power of his ethical thought and for effective methods of teaching.
When Life Hurts, Stop Clinging to It | The Philosophy of Epictetus Epictetus was a Greek Stoic philosopher.
He was born into slavery at Hierapolis, Phrygia, and lived in Rome until his banishment when he went to Nicopolis in northwestern Greece for the rest of his life. His teachings were written down and published by his pupil Arrian in his Discourses and Enchiridion.
Stoicism for Inner Peace (book): https://einzelganger.co/innerpeace
Our very sense of well-being is at gunpoint when we cling to the fickle, unreliable outside world. Around two thousand years ago, Stoic philosopher Epictetus observed that people are burdened and dragged down because they tend to care about too many things.
Our very sense of well-being is in danger when we cling to the fickle, unreliable outside world. Around two thousand years ago, Stoic philosopher Epictetus observed that people are burdened and dragged down because they tend to care about too many things. His cure, however, is not to stop caring altogether but to care about the right things and stop clinging to anything that doesn’t matter. What matters and doesn’t matter according to Epictetus is bound to the reality of our place as reasonable beings in an ever-changing environment.
This reality Epictetus makes clear in the underlying tenet of his work: ‘the dichotomy of control.’ Some things are in our control, others not. If we manage to concern ourselves with the things in our control, we are in a position of strength. But if we neglect these things, and focus on what’s not in our control, we are in a position of weakness. Especially when we cling to what’s not up to us, we set ourselves up for a life of suffering. But what are those things that we cling to? And why is it better to let go of them? This video explores the philosophy of Epictetus, what we, according to him, should focus on to be happy and content, and what we should let go of, and how we do this.