On Benefits - Epictetus

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Résumé :
On Benefits contains series of moral essays and dialogues composed by the Roman Stoic philosopher Seneca. The work explores such philosophical themes as providence, steadfastness, the happy life, anger, leisure, tranquility, the brevity of life, gift-giving, forgiveness, and treatises on natural phenomena. Lucius Annaeus Seneca was a Roman Stoic philosopher, statesman, dramatist, and in one work humorist, of the Silver Age of Latin literature. He was a tutor and later advisor to emperor Nero. While he was forced to commit suicide for alleged complicity in the Pisonian conspiracy to assassinate Nero, some sources state that he may have been innocent.

Biographie:
Epictetus (c. 55 - 135 AD) was a Greek Stoic philosopher. He was born a slave at Hierapolis, Phrygia (present day Pamukkale, Turkey) and spent his youth as a slave in Rome to Epaphroditos, a wealthy freedman and secretary to Nero. Early in life, Epictetus acquired a passion for philosophy and, with the permission of his wealthy owner, he studied Stoic philosophy under Musonius Rufus, which allowed him to rise in respectability as he grew more educated. Somehow, he became crippled. Origen stated that his leg was deliberately broken by his master. Simplicius stated that he had been lame from childhood. Epictetus obtained his freedom sometime after the death of Nero in 68 AD, and he began to teach philosophy in Rome. About 93 AD Emperor Domitian banished all philosophers from the city, and Epictetus went to Nicopolis in Epirus, Greece, where he founded a philosophical school. His most famous pupil, Arrian, studied under him when a young man (c. 108 AD) and claimed to have written the famous Discourses from his lecture notes, which he argued should be considered comparable to the Socratic literature. Arrian describes Epictetus as being a powerful speaker who could induce his listener to feel just what Epictetus wanted him to feel. Many eminent figures sought conversations with Epictetus. Emperor Hadrian was friendly with him, and may have listened to him speak at his school in Nicopolis. Epictetus lived a life of great simplicity, with few possessions. He lived alone for a long time, but in his old age he adopted a friend's child who otherwise would have been left to die, and raised him with the aid of a woman. It is unclear whether Epictetus and she were married. He died sometime around 135 A.D. After his death, according to Lucian, his oil lamp was purchased by an admirer for 3,000 drachmae.

Sommaire:
Epictetus, born into slavery around 50 AD, later rose to become one of the most influential Stoic philosophers. After being freed, he studied under the Stoic Musonius Rufus in Rome, where he developed his teachings focused on personal ethics and mental resilience. His life and philosophy were deeply rooted in the belief that individuals should focus on what they can control and accept what they cannot.Exiled from Rome by Emperor Domitian's ban on philosophers, Epictetus founded his own school in Nicopolis, Greece. There, he taught practical wisdom, emphasizing self-mastery, inner freedom, and a disciplined approach to life's challenges. His teachings, although orally delivered, were recorded by his student Arrian, preserving his insights for future generations.Epictetus's influence extended well beyond his lifetime, shaping both ancient and modern thought. His ideas resonated with Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius and later inspired thinkers of the Enlightenment and beyond. Today, his works continue to be studied for their powerful guidance on resilience, virtue, and the pursuit of inner peace....