'About things that are within our power and those that are not.' Epictetus's Discourses have been the most widely read and influential of all writings of Stoic philosophy, from antiquity onwards. They set out the core ethical principles of Stoicism in a form designed to help people put them into practice and to use them as a basis for leading a good human life. Epictetus was a teacher, and a freed slave, whose discourses have a vivid informality, animated by anecd...

At a time of unprecedented interest in Stoicism, this book offers a comprehensive introduction to Stoic ethics for students and for readers interested in Stoic life-guidance.It combines an explanation of the main philosophical ideas in ancient Stoic ethics by Christopher Gill with discussion of how to put these ideas into practice in our own lives by Brittany Polat.The first seven chapters examine central Stoic ethical claims and the questions raised by their claims, includ...

'Do not act as if you had ten thousand years to live ... while you have life in you, while you still can, make yourself good.' The Meditations of Marcus Aurelius (AD 121-180) is a private notebook of philosophical reflections, written by a Roman emperor probably on military campaign in Germany. In short, highly charged comments, Marcus draws on Stoic philosophy to confront challenges that he felt acutely, but which are also shared by all human beings - the looming presence of death, making...

At a time of unprecedented interest in Stoicism among scholars and the general public, this book offers a sustained examination of the core Stoic ethical claims and their significance for modern moral theory. The first part considers the Stoic ideas of happiness as the life according to nature and virtue as expertise in leading a happy life and explores the senses of 'nature' (both human and universal) relevant for ethics. The second part studies Stoic thinking on ethical development (lear...

This is a collection of essays written by leading experts in honour of Christopher Rowe, and inspired by his groundbreaking work in the exegesis of Plato. The authors represent scholarly traditions which are sometimes very different in their approaches and interests, and so rarely brought into dialogue with each other. This volume, by contrast, aims to explore synergies between them. Key topics include: the literary unity of Plato's works; the presence and role of his contemporaries in his...

Galen is the most important medical writer in Graeco-Roman antiquity, and also extremely valuable for understanding Graeco-Roman thought and society in the second century AD. This volume of essays locates him firmly in the intellectual life of his period, and thus aims to make better sense of the medical and philosophical 'world of knowledge' that he tries to create. How did Galen present himself as a reader and an author in comparison with other intellectuals of his day? Above all, how di...

At a time of unprecedented interest in Stoicism, this book offers a comprehensive introduction to Stoic ethics for students and for listeners interested in Stoic life-guidance.It combines an explanation of the main philosophical ideas in ancient Stoic ethics by Christopher Gill with discussion of how to put these ideas into practice in our own lives by Brittany Polat.The first seven chapters examine central Stoic ethical claims and the questions raised by their claims, incl...

"No man is free who is not master of himself."“Of all existing things some are in our power, and others are not in our power.”The Enchiridion or ‘Manual’ of Epictetus is a short manual of Stoic ethical advice from the 2nd-century Greek Stoic philosopher Epictetus. The focus is on applying philosophy in daily life. The primary theme is that one should accept what happens.The manual has played a significant role in the rise ...

“We continue to live within the intellectual shadow cast by Nietzsche.”—New York Times Book ReviewReissued for the age of "fake news," On Truth and Untruth charts Nietzsche’s evolving thinking on the nature of truth, which has exerted a powerful influence over modern and contemporary thought. This original collection of German philosophy features the complete text of the celebrated early essay “On Truth and Lies in a Nonmoral Sense” (”a keystone in Nietzsche’s thought”—

The landmark work on how to connect your mind and body to reduce stress and lead a more fulfilling, healthy, and complete life—now revised and updatedFeaturing a preface from Thich Nhat Hanh“This wise, deep book is essential, unique, and, above all, fundamentally healing.”—Donald M. Berwick, M.D., president emeritus and senior fellow, Institute for Healthcare ImprovementStress. It can sap our energy, undermine our h...

The tradition of ancient philosophy is a long, rich and varied one, in which a constant note is that of discussion and argument. This book introduces readers to some ancient debates to engage with the ancient developments of some themes. Getting away from the presentation of ancient philosophy as a succession of Great Thinkers, the book gives readers a sense of the freshness and liveliness of ancient philosophy, and of its wide variety of themes and styles. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short...

Letters from a Stoic is a collection of personal letters written by the Roman philosopher Seneca to his friend Lucilius. In them, Seneca offers practical advice on how to live a virtuous and meaningful life using Stoic principles-focusing on self-control, resilience, and inner peace. The letters explore topics like dealing with hardship, the value of time, and the importance of wisdom, encouraging readers to cultivate a calm mind and moral strength regardless of external circumsta...