Enchiridion Epitetus Stoic Principles or Philosophy Reflection Paper

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In the Enchiridion, Epictetus offers a wealth of advice for living a life free of disappointment, grief, and worry. Paying special attention to Chapters 1-4, begin your paper by summarizing—in your own words, as clearly as you can, and citing evidence from the text—Epictetus’s most general advice for living a life free of disappointment, grief, and worry. What does Epictetus think you need to learn to distinguish? What kind of practice(s) does Epictetus recommend you engage in?

Epictetus also offers advice on multiple other more specific topics, including the topic of how to choose a career. Here see especially Chapter 29. What does Epictetus recommend you do when choosing a career? Explain his advice in your own words, again providing textual evidence for your claims.

Now imagine that you think it through carefully and choose to pursue an Olympic sport. Suppose that you have great aptitude for it and some real promise; experts agree that you may well be a contender for the gold. But it will take a great deal of hard work and sacrifice to train until the next Olympics. With this hypothetical scenario in mind, now answer the following questions.

First, in Chapter 19, Epictetus remarks that “You will never have to experience defeat if you avoid contests whose outcome is outside your control.” Do you think this means that Epictetus would chide you for pursuing your Olympic dream? After all, the outcome of an Olympic contest is outside your control. Is Epictetus advising that we never play any game we might lose? If that’s not the message, what is?

Next, consider two different scenarios. In Scenario One, you train like crazy and become an exceptionally good athlete in your chosen sport. You are heavily favored to win the gold, but during the competition you suffer an embarrassing freak accident. Not only do you sustain a career-ending injury and not finish the competition, but you are now a laughingstock around the world. How would Epictetus advise you think about this outcome? Is what happened to you bad? Should you be upset about it? Make sure to cite textual evidence in giving your answer.

Now consider Scenario Two, in which you win the gold, break the world record, and do so in a classy way that impresses everyone. You are admired around the world and receive many lucrative endorsement deals, so your financial future is secure. How would Epictetus advise you think about this outcome? Is what happened to you good? Should you be delighted by it? Again be sure to cite textual evidence in giving your answer.

Finally, offer some brief reflections on whether you think Epictetus’s advice is good advice. Why or why not? The preceptors and I are not looking for any particular answer here; all we care about is that your response is thoughtful, well-reasoned, and clearly explained.

Use MLA format.

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Explanation & Answer

Attached.

Enchiridion-Epictetus – Outline
Thesis Statement: In Enchiridion, Epictetus offers advice on how people can live a life free of
disappointment, grief and worry.
Epictetus’s most general advice for living a life free of disappointment, grief, and worry

I.

A. Distinguishing between what we can control and what we cannot control
II.

Epictetus recommendations on living a better life
A. Directing aversions towards what one can control
B. Taking out anything is not an individual’s power to control
C. Having delight in things that have little value
D. Rehearsing the plan of an action mentally before taking an action
Epictetus’s advice on career choice

III.

A. Reflecting what a career entails
B. Researching about that career
C. Consider merits and demerits of a career
D. Assess a person’s readiness to sacrifice certain things which that career demands
IV.

Epictetus advice that people will never experience contests if they avoid contests which
they cannot control their outcomes

V.

First Olympic scenario
A. Accident and being laughed at

VI.

Second Scenario
A. Win and being Celebrated

VII.

Reflections of Epictetus’s advices


Surname 1
Name
Professor
Course
Date
Enchiridion-Epictetus
Enchiridion contains a collection of Epictetus’s stoic principles or philosophy.
Essentially, Epictetus offers advice on how people can live a life free of disappointment, grief,
and worry. According to Epictetus, people are the one who takes themselves to disappointments
through their actions and decisions. To avoid a life of disappointments, grief and worry,
Epictetus advises people to distinguish between what is under their control and what is not
(Dobbin 220). He says that there are two categories of things. The first category consists of
things like impulse, desire, judgment, mental faculties, and aversion. However, the second
category comprises things like material possessions, body, status, and reputation. Things in the
first category are within man’s power to control but those in the second category are beyond
man’s control (Dobbin 220). If a person chooses to pursue what is in the second category instead
of what is in the first category, grief, and disappointments come.
Epictetus recommends people to engage in a number of practices in order to live better
lives. Firstly, he recommends people to direct their aversions towards what they can control
(Dobbin 222). Failure to do these results to disappointments. Secondly, he advises people to take
out anything that is not in their power to control. Subsequently, they should direct those things to
activities that they can be able to control. Therefore, individuals should suspend desires that are
too high yet the ability to achieve them is low. In this regard, Epictetus says that people should
restrict themselves to refusal. Thirdly, Epictetus advises people to have delight in things that

Surname 2
have little value (Dobbin 223). By doing so, they will not be disappointed if those things are
taken from them or if they are destroyed. The fourth recommendation that Epictetus gives is
rehearsing the plan of action mentally before taking action.
In regard to career choice, Epictetus advises people to choose careers that are within
them. In line with this an individual should first reflect what the career they want entails (Dobbin
233). Before committing to a particular career, an individual should consider all the requirements
of that career. Subsequently, one should evaluate whether he or she meets those requirements or
conditions. Secondly, a person should do research about that career (Dobbin 233). He or she
should listen to what friends particularly those in that career say about it. After doing all these, a
person should assess her or his capacity to fill the roles of that career. Thirdly, a person should
consider merits and demerits of the career in question. Besides, one should consider what he or
she will forego by choosing...


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Really great stuff, couldn't ask for more.

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