The Ethical Theory of Epictetus

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The Ethical Theory of Epictetus Epictetus was born a slave and was one for a good part of his life, but his mind was free. He only considered himself a slave physically but mentally he could think or dream about whatever he wanted. The reason he thought like this was attributed to Socrates and to the original Stoic philosopher, Zeno. The Stoic belief was that their philosophy was a way of life. They also stressed that happiness is virtue. Zeno was the first person to teach the Stoic philosophy. It got its name from where they would meet to study, and this place was called Stoa Poikile. Epictetus’ philosophical theory is a near impossible life style that would be amazing to be able to control your mind to actually live it. Epictetus’ philosophical theories were that we only had control over your thoughts, opinions, desires, aversions, and movement towards things. He believed that those were the only things in the world that you had total control over, everything that is inside of us is free, and everything outside of the human body is weak, slavish, hindered and belongs to others. He believes that when you do not have your priorities straight you will end up “miserable and distressed, and you will find fault with both gods and men.”(From Plato to Derrida p.239 chapter 1) The way he believed that your priorities should be is like this; “you suppose to be yours only what is yours, and what belongs to another to belong another, no one will ever compel you, no one will ever hinder you; you will find fault with no one, reproach no one, nor act against your own will; you will have no enemies and no one will harm you, for no harm can touch you.”(From Plato to Derrida p.239 chapter 1) Epictetus’s master was torturing him by turning his leg and Epictetus told him to stop because he was going to break it. The master did not stop and broke his leg shortly after that.

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