A Philosopher's Bible

These last few sections of Epictetus’s Handbook mention two interesting arguments. In section 44, Epictetus explains how people think they’re superior just because they’re more eloquent or have more money. He then demonstrates that everyone is equal and skills are what create differences. The other argument is section 47. Epictetus tells us that we shouldn’t brag because we have endured hard times, “Instead, when you are terribly thirsty, take cold water into your mouth, and spit it out, and do not tell anyone about it.” (Pg. 27) This shows that self discipline is only measured by us, and that no one else is responsible for noticing it.

Something I found very ironic was that Epictetus mentions “the first and most necessary aspect of philosophy” in the second to last section. Still, I don’t think that each section leads in to the next. Maybe Epictetus wanted to save the best for last.

A friend of mine told me that Epictetus had been a cripple and a slave. This is a valuable piece of information concerning the way Epictetus wrote The Handbook. Epictetus demonstrates, in several occasions, that the body is unimportant and that the mind is a lot more powerful. These would obviously be the thoughts of a cripple. I wouldn’t say he is against people who are healthy, but one of the side-effects of his condition could be his way of thinking.

I still maintain that The Handbook is the guide to being a philosopher. It doesn’t show us how to live our lives based upon the ideas of good or bad. He just gives us pieces of advice so we can be thought of as intelligent persons.