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1tungsten_peerts
Y'all, I haven't gotten far enough in to give any kind of opinion, impressions, anything. But gotta keep the group activity up, so ...
:^)
:^)
3tungsten_peerts
First impressions:
Epictetus' format is a kind of loose, rambling Q&A with himself, which is ... odd, to say the least. He comes across as slightly dotty.
As the editor points out, the material is close in spirit to Christian ethics.
I could suggest some very pat phrases that his gist boils down to, but ... I'm sure there is more to Epictetus than "control what you can and leave the rest alone," or "don't sweat the small stuff."
Epictetus' format is a kind of loose, rambling Q&A with himself, which is ... odd, to say the least. He comes across as slightly dotty.
As the editor points out, the material is close in spirit to Christian ethics.
I could suggest some very pat phrases that his gist boils down to, but ... I'm sure there is more to Epictetus than "control what you can and leave the rest alone," or "don't sweat the small stuff."
4Poquette
But Epictetus was not a Christian, was he? Or do we know?
BTW, are you reading the Discourses?
BTW, are you reading the Discourses?
5tungsten_peerts
>4 Poquette: He wasn't a Christian but there could have been ... influence? I'm not sure I'm remembering the Introduction (which was rather dull) correctly -- let me check --
Ah, Professor Oldfather writes "That Epictetus was influenced by the writings of the New Testament has often been suggested." But apparently Bonhoffer settled everyone against it (NOT Dietrich B, as Dietrich was born in 1906 and Oldfather says Bonhoffer settled this issue in 1911).
So there are similarities in the teaching. And Pascal lauded Epictetus.
I'm currently reading Bks 1 and 2 of the Discourses.
Also -- I was sort of mistaken re: the "Q&A with himself" comment above ... these talks were taken down verbatim by Arrian, and it appears there ARE conversations with other in-the-flesh parties in there.
This doesn't stop Epictetus from occasionally addressing someone who ISN'T there (like, say, the Emperor Domitian), but it's not as all-pervasive as I had thought.
Ah, Professor Oldfather writes "That Epictetus was influenced by the writings of the New Testament has often been suggested." But apparently Bonhoffer settled everyone against it (NOT Dietrich B, as Dietrich was born in 1906 and Oldfather says Bonhoffer settled this issue in 1911).
So there are similarities in the teaching. And Pascal lauded Epictetus.
I'm currently reading Bks 1 and 2 of the Discourses.
Also -- I was sort of mistaken re: the "Q&A with himself" comment above ... these talks were taken down verbatim by Arrian, and it appears there ARE conversations with other in-the-flesh parties in there.
This doesn't stop Epictetus from occasionally addressing someone who ISN'T there (like, say, the Emperor Domitian), but it's not as all-pervasive as I had thought.
7tungsten_peerts
Sorry I haven't updated lately. I'm winding up my astronomy class this week, so things have been ... busy.
8Poquette
And with Thanksgiving coming up this is a slow time. I need to commit to a book and start a thread in aid of the group as well. I'll work on this.
9scaifea
I should probably start a thread for mine, too, but I haven't cracked it open, even, in ages. Maybe soonish I'll get back to it more regularly and then feel like I'm justified in starting a thread...
10tungsten_peerts
I was just looking at the Loebs available on powells.com. Now I'm obsessed with "Fragments of Old Comedy"
;^)
;^)
11scaifea
>10 tungsten_peerts: *grins*
12tungsten_peerts
I'm into volume 2 now ...
Last week I was working a conference, and friends who saw me sitting there reading began cheerily referring to Epictetus as "Epiglottis."
Last week I was working a conference, and friends who saw me sitting there reading began cheerily referring to Epictetus as "Epiglottis."
13scaifea
>12 tungsten_peerts: *snork!*
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