Review: “The Epictetus Club” Trayler‚ Jeff (2004). The Epictetus Club. Papillion Press‚ OH November 11‚ 09. Based on real events‚ this novel is set in the old Ohio Penitentiary. The metaphors of the institution are realistic. The inmate characters and the names of staff have been changed in this novel. The story begins by tagging a group of inmates who meet weekly under the tutelage of a lifer named Zeno in a group called the Epictetus Club. The inmates try to learn something from the teaching
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has the ability to experience. It can either come from indulging desires or come from mental and or spiritual happiness in which two great philosophers have studied and mastered in great depth. Although Epicurus and Epictetus both had very strong opinions to this argument‚ Epictetus showed that it is necessary to have a knowledgeable understanding of what is giving you that satisfaction. With his idea we see that it is important to see the big picture in order to be happy rather than Epicurus’ simple
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The numerous maxims of Epictetus are emphasizing virtues. that lead to happiness. Listed below is a sample. 1. “No one is master of another’s moral character‚ and in this alone lies good and evil. No one‚ therefore‚ can secure the good for me‚ or involve me in evil‚ but I alone have authority over myself in these matters. (Discourses 4.12.7–8‚ trans. Dobbin) 2. God is beneficial. Good is also beneficial. It should seem‚ then‚ that where the essence of God is‚ there too is the essence of good. What
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VADM Stockdale’s “Courage Under Fire” explains his passion for the philosophy of Epictetus and its application to his time as a prisoner of war. The handbook‚ The Enchiridion‚ written by Epictetus and given to him by a philosophy professor detailed stoicism‚ which comes to form through aiming at serenity‚ letting go of what cannot be controlled‚ and taking ownership of all that can be controlled. One cannot One must treat his station of life with indifference‚ willfully acting and making judgements
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Epictetus associated with the branch of Ethics. In stoic ethics‚ moral development is based on virtues and vices. They believed that true good was influenced by “virtues and virtuous activities” (Seddon 7) and “evil” (Seddon 7) was prompted from vices. Epictetus firmly believed that to keep an ethical life a person must understand the framework of a human being’s nature and still be able to preserve a person’s moral position in life. To keeping a virtuous life a person must be educated in three
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altered and adjusted according to the beliefs of different people. God has been molded to fit the beliefs of Christianity‚ Islam and redefined in Judaism. To some‚ God does not exist and to others‚ God is heaven and earth. To stoic philosophers like Epictetus‚ god is a playwright who assigns a role for each and every living thing‚ instilling himself as the rationality to all things like a conscience. To Christian‚ Judaism‚ and Islamic followers‚ God is an almighty divine being who is capable of both miracles
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supernatural as a means of coming to truth”. Epictetus believes that one may be responsible for their judgment‚ impulses‚ desires‚ aversions‚ and general mental faculties while one may not have as much control over their body‚ possessions‚ and reputations (Human Foundations 251). We are rational beings living in a rational universe. One possesses the quality to make decisions with his or her mind rather than having these decisions made for them by a higher power. Epictetus states that individuals are responsible
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In The Handbook‚ Epictetus writes‚ “let us never lay the blame on others‚ but on ourselves—that is‚ on our own judgements” (The Handbook‚ 114). Epictetus is explaining that when one is “disturbed or distressed” (The Handbook‚ 114) about an event‚ she can only blame herself; for‚ those feelings are caused by her response to the event and not the event itself. Moreover‚ while one cannot control the external forces around her‚ one can still control how she thinks and responds to the situation (Tyler
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because of our judgment about those things. In the Handbook of Epictetus‚ he claims that “what upsets people is not things themselves but their judgments about the things” (Epictetus). Our judgment affects many things like our emotions‚ opinions‚ and decisions we make. For example‚ in a situation where one person assists another person to cheat on a test and the person who assists the cheater is caught‚ the assister can do many things. Epictetus states three things that a person becomes
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At first glance‚ I was immediately inclined to argue in epictetus’ favor‚ because it pains me to argue that Christianity is good for anybody. In the following paragraphs‚ i will contrast the God of Epictetus‚ and the God of Augustine‚ and in the end‚ my stand will be clear. Epictetus and Augustine both identify God on basic level. Epictetus says‚ "Where the essence of God is‚ there too is the essence of good. What is the essence of God?......Right Reason? Certainly
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