Epictetus
A Lawful Universe

Stoicism was a philosophy that started with
the basic insight of both Plato and Aristotle
that we live in a lawful universe. The order
discovered in nature gives witness to a
divine intelligence at work both in the
cosmos and in human beings.
Zeno (336-264 B.C.E.)
Reality is Good

The good news in this rigid determination
was that the laws of nature presupposed a
Lawgiver and Zeno believed this lawgiver
was a “beneficent Providence.”

Our real value as
human beings is
not in our
individuality, but
in our being a part
of this great
system of nature.

One of the most
famous Stoic
sayings is “Live
according to
nature.”

Whatever freedom
humans can aspire
to has much less to
do with whether we
are born slave or
free, healthy or
unhealthy, but
whether or not we
are free from slavery
to our emotions.
Ethics

Stoic ethics
culminates, then, in
loving our neighbors
as ourselves, and in
realizing that all
people, even slaves
and enemies, are our
neighbors in a certain
sense.
The Role of a Teacher

The role of the Stoic teacher, according to
Epictetus, was to encourage his students to
learn, first of all, the true nature of things,
which is invariable, inalienable and valid
for all human beings without exception.

Epictetus
repeatedly states:
"we are our
attitude."
Quotes

“I must die. Must I then die lamenting? I
must be put in chains. Must I then also
lament? I must go into exile. Does any man
then hinder me from going with smiles and
cheerfulness and contentment?”
Quotes

“Do not seek to bring things to pass in
accordance with your wishes, but wish for
them as they are, and you will find them.”
Quotes

“If evil be spoken of you and it be true,
correct yourself, if it be a lie, laugh at it.”
Summary

Life is like a
drama and your
job is not to
complain about
your role, but to
play it well.
The Role of Philosophy

Philosophy was not to be studied just for the
sake of speculation, but only for the sake of
learning to discern what is best and then
learning to follow through on what we
decide in our actions. That way our actions
will harmonize with our thoughts, which are
in their turn aligned with the Logos, the
reason, of the universe.