Enchiridion of Epictetus
Encyclopedia
The Enchiridion, or Handbook of Epictetus
, , often shortened to simply "The Handbook", is a short manual of Stoic
ethical advice compiled by Arrian
, who had been a pupil of Epictetus at the beginning of the 2nd century.
Although the content is derived from the Discourses of Epictetus
, it is not a summary of the Discourses, but rather it is a compilation of practical precepts. The Handbook is a guide to daily life. Unlike some of his forefathers in Greek philosophy
(i.e. Plato
and the other metaphysicians), Epictetus focuses his attention on how to practically apply oneself on a philosophical level. The primary theme in this short work is that one should expect what will happen and wish it to happen so. The other motif that appears is Epictetus' opinion on the judgment of events:
Underlying all of this, however, is the idea that "Some things are up to us and some are not up to us" and we must react and interact with those things accordingly.
For many centuries the Enchiridion was regarded as a suitable manual of practical philosophy, maintaining its authority both with Christian
s and Pagans
. In the 6th century, Simplicius
wrote a commentary upon it, and two Christian writers, Nilus
and an anonymous author wrote paraphrases of it, adapted for Christians, in the first half of the 5th century. The Enchiridion was first published in a Latin translation by Poliziano
, Rome
, 1493, and in 1496, by Beroaldus, at Bologna
. The Greek original, with the commentary of Simplicius, appeared first at Venice
, 1528.
An English translation was published as early as 1567 (see below). The book was a common school text in Scotland during the Scottish Enlightenment
. Adam Smith
had a copy of a 1670 edition in his library, acquired as a schoolboy.
(e.g. by Elizabeth Carter
, George Long) have included the Enchiridion, and it has often been included with other moral writings from the ancient world, most notably the Tablet of Cebes
. Some notable translations of the Enchiridion include:
Epictetus
Epictetus was a Greek sage and Stoic philosopher. He was born a slave at Hierapolis, Phrygia , and lived in Rome until banishment when he went to Nicopolis in northwestern Greece where he lived the rest of his life. His teachings were noted down and published by his pupil Arrian in his Discourses...
, , often shortened to simply "The Handbook", is a short manual of Stoic
STOIC
STOIC was a variant of Forth.It started out at the MIT and Harvard Biomedical Engineering Centre in Boston, and was written in the mid 1970s by Jonathan Sachs...
ethical advice compiled by Arrian
Arrian
Lucius Flavius Arrianus 'Xenophon , known in English as Arrian , and Arrian of Nicomedia, was a Roman historian, public servant, a military commander and a philosopher of the 2nd-century Roman period...
, who had been a pupil of Epictetus at the beginning of the 2nd century.
Although the content is derived from the Discourses of Epictetus
Discourses of Epictetus
The Discourses of Epictetus are a series of extracts of the teachings of the Stoic philosopher Epictetus written down by Arrian c. 108 AD. There were originally eight books, but only four now remain in their entirety, along with a few fragments of the others...
, it is not a summary of the Discourses, but rather it is a compilation of practical precepts. The Handbook is a guide to daily life. Unlike some of his forefathers in Greek philosophy
Greek philosophy
Ancient Greek philosophy arose in the 6th century BCE and continued through the Hellenistic period, at which point Ancient Greece was incorporated in the Roman Empire...
(i.e. Plato
Plato
Plato , was a Classical Greek philosopher, mathematician, student of Socrates, writer of philosophical dialogues, and founder of the Academy in Athens, the first institution of higher learning in the Western world. Along with his mentor, Socrates, and his student, Aristotle, Plato helped to lay the...
and the other metaphysicians), Epictetus focuses his attention on how to practically apply oneself on a philosophical level. The primary theme in this short work is that one should expect what will happen and wish it to happen so. The other motif that appears is Epictetus' opinion on the judgment of events:
Underlying all of this, however, is the idea that "Some things are up to us and some are not up to us" and we must react and interact with those things accordingly.
For many centuries the Enchiridion was regarded as a suitable manual of practical philosophy, maintaining its authority both with Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
s and Pagans
Paganism
Paganism is a blanket term, typically used to refer to non-Abrahamic, indigenous polytheistic religious traditions....
. In the 6th century, Simplicius
Simplicius of Cilicia
Simplicius of Cilicia, was a disciple of Ammonius Hermiae and Damascius, and was one of the last of the Neoplatonists. He was among the pagan philosophers persecuted by Justinian in the early 6th century, and was forced for a time to seek refuge in the Persian court, before being allowed back into...
wrote a commentary upon it, and two Christian writers, Nilus
Nilus of Sinai
Saint Nilus the Elder, of Sinai , was one of the many disciples and fervent defenders of St. John Chrysostom.-Life:We know him first as a layman, married, with two sons...
and an anonymous author wrote paraphrases of it, adapted for Christians, in the first half of the 5th century. The Enchiridion was first published in a Latin translation by Poliziano
Poliziano
Angelo Ambrogini, commonly known by his nickname, anglicized as Politian, Italian Poliziano, Latin Politianus was an Italian Renaissance classical scholar and poet, one of the revivers of Humanist Latin...
, Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
, 1493, and in 1496, by Beroaldus, at Bologna
Bologna
Bologna is the capital city of Emilia-Romagna, in the Po Valley of Northern Italy. The city lies between the Po River and the Apennine Mountains, more specifically, between the Reno River and the Savena River. Bologna is a lively and cosmopolitan Italian college city, with spectacular history,...
. The Greek original, with the commentary of Simplicius, appeared first at Venice
Venice
Venice is a city in northern Italy which is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture and its artworks. It is the capital of the Veneto region...
, 1528.
An English translation was published as early as 1567 (see below). The book was a common school text in Scotland during the Scottish Enlightenment
Scottish Enlightenment
The Scottish Enlightenment was the period in 18th century Scotland characterised by an outpouring of intellectual and scientific accomplishments. By 1750, Scots were among the most literate citizens of Europe, with an estimated 75% level of literacy...
. Adam Smith
Adam Smith
Adam Smith was a Scottish social philosopher and a pioneer of political economy. One of the key figures of the Scottish Enlightenment, Smith is the author of The Theory of Moral Sentiments and An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations...
had a copy of a 1670 edition in his library, acquired as a schoolboy.
English translations
There have been many English translations of the Enchiridion. Translations of the DiscoursesDiscourses of Epictetus
The Discourses of Epictetus are a series of extracts of the teachings of the Stoic philosopher Epictetus written down by Arrian c. 108 AD. There were originally eight books, but only four now remain in their entirety, along with a few fragments of the others...
(e.g. by Elizabeth Carter
Elizabeth Carter
Elizabeth Carter was an English poet, classicist, writer and translator, and a member of the Bluestocking Circle.-Biography:...
, George Long) have included the Enchiridion, and it has often been included with other moral writings from the ancient world, most notably the Tablet of Cebes
Cebes
Cebes of Thebes was a disciple of Socrates in the late 5th-century BCE. One work, known as the Pinax or Tabula, attributed to Cebes still survives, but it is believed to be a composition by an anonymous author of the 1st or 2nd century....
. Some notable translations of the Enchiridion include:
- James SandfordJames Sandford (translator)James Sandford or Sanford was an English author, known as a translator of Epictetus and Cornelius Agrippa. According to Sidney Lee in the Dictionary of National Biography, he may have been a native of Somerset, and uncle or cousin to John Sandford.- Works :In 1567 he published two translations...
, 1567, The Manual of Epictetus, Translated out of Greek into French, and now into English. - John HealeyJohn Healey (translator)John Healey was an English translator. Among scanty biographical facts, he was ill, according to a statement of his friend the printer Thomas Thorpe, in 1609, and was dead in the following year.-Works:...
, 1610, Epictetus his Manual and Cebes his Table. - John Davies, 1670, The Life and Philosophy of Epictetus, with the Emblem of Human Life by Cebes.
- Ellis Walker, 1692, Epictetus, his Enchiridion made English in a poetical paraphrase.
- George StanhopeGeorge StanhopeGeorge Stanhope was a clergyman of the Church of England, rising to be Dean of Canterbury and a Royal Chaplain...
, 1694, Epictetus his Morals, with SimpliciusSimpliciusSimplicius may refer to:* Pope Simplicius * Simplicius of Cilicia , philosopher* Simplicius, Constantius and Victorinus , Roman martyrs and saints* Simplicius, Faustinus and Beatrix , Roman martyrs and saints...
his Comment. - William Bond, 1736, The Manual of Epictetus the Philosopher.
- Thomas William RollestonT. W. RollestonThomas William Hazen Rolleston was an Irish writer, literary figure and translator, known as a poet but publishing over a wide range of literary and political topics...
, 1881, The Encheiridion of Epictetus. - Thomas Talbot, 1881, The Encheiridion of Epictetus and The Golden Verses of PythagorasThe golden verses of PythagorasThe Golden Verses of Pythagoras are a collection of moral exhortations. They comprise 71 lines written in dactyl hexameter verse and are traditionally attributed to Pythagoras....
.
External links
- The text (translated by Elizabeth CarterElizabeth CarterElizabeth Carter was an English poet, classicist, writer and translator, and a member of the Bluestocking Circle.-Biography:...
circa 1750), which is brief, can be found at http://classics.mit.edu/Epictetus/epicench.html. - Free audiobook of The Enchiridion (Elizabeth Carter translation) at Librivox.orgLibriVoxLibriVox is an online digital library of free public domain audiobooks, read by volunteers and is probably, since 2007, the world's most prolific audiobook publisher...
.