Impacts Of Epictetus, Stoic Philosopher

Epictetus, Stoic Philosopher, became well known because of his great impacts on Roman understanding. “Stoicism is the belief that the individual is wholly responsible for his or her interpretations of circumstance and that all of life is natural and normal in spite of one's impressions” (Mark). With his teaching methods and loyal followers, his knowledge continued through years and years after his death. Even to today, Epictetus has made a mark on the people's self-understanding.

Like many others, Epictetus was born in a lower class family. Born in Phrygian city Hierapolis, around 50 CE(never fully proven), Epictetus already held the occupation as a slave. His mother, also a slave, was never known or named. His owner, the rich and powerful freedman Tacitus Epaphroditus, who was also once a slave, brought down the Roman emperor to give freedom to himself and his fellow slaves. After being freed, Epictetus began expressing his opinions of life and philosophy. Amongst many other philosophers, he was banished by the emperor Domitian in the year 89 CE (Mark). Not long after, he opened his own school to teach philosophy in Nicopolis, Greece. Through lectures, Epictetus’ main purpose in class was to “encourage his students to live the philosophic life”

Usually, “Stoics were materialists, and God is conceived of as a type of fiery breath that blends perfectly with all other matter in the universe” (Seddon). Epictetus frequently expressed his understanding of God, the universe, and himself; he refers to God as the captain who calls us back on board ship, being a metaphor of our inevitable death (Seddon). He also claims that “God is also portrayed as 'the Giver' to whom we should return all those things we have enjoyed on loan” (Seddon). If the Stoic progression was done correctly, “ they will never blame the gods, nor find fault with them”