Discourses of Epictetus
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The Discourses of Epictetus are a series of extracts of the teachings of the Stoic philosopher Epictetus written down by Arrian c. 108 AD. There were originally eight books but only four now remain. In a preface attached to the Discourses, Arrian explains how he came to write them:
I neither wrote these Discourses of Epictetus in the way in which a man might write such things; nor did I make them public myself, inasmuch as I declare that I did not even write them. But whatever I heard him say, the same I attempted to write down in his own words as nearly as possible, for the purpose of preserving them as memorials to myself afterwards of the thoughts and the freedom of speech of Epictetus.[1]
The Discourses are unlikely to be word-for-word transcriptions and are probably written-up versions of Arrian's lecture notes. The books did not have a formal title in ancient times. Although Simplicius called them Diatribai (Discourses),[2] other writers gave them titles such as Dialexis (Talks),[3] Apomnêmoneumata (Records),[4] and Homiliai (Conversations).[5] The modern name comes from the titles given in the earliest medieval manuscript: "Arrian's Diatribai of Epictetus" (Greek: Αρριανου των Επικτητου Διατριβων).
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[edit] Manuscript editions
The earliest manuscript of the Discourses is a twelfth-century manuscript kept at the Bodleian Library, Oxford. [6] All other manuscripts are derived from this one archetype.[7] The Discourses were first printed (in Greek) by Trincavelli, at Venice in 1535.[8]
[edit] English translations
The first English translation did not appear until 1758 with the appearance of Elizabeth Carter's translation. This proved to be very influential, and some later translations, including those of Higginson and Robin Hard, were based upon it. A list of English translations is as follows:
- Elizabeth Carter, (1758), All the works of Epictetus, which are now extant; consisting of his Discourses, preserved by Arrian, in four books, the Enchiridion, and fragments. (Richardson)
- Thomas Wentworth Higginson, (1865), The Works of Epictetus. Consisting of His Discourses, in Four Books, The Enchiridion, and Fragments. (Little, Brown, and Co.)
- George Long, (1877), The Discourses of Epictetus, with the Encheridion and Fragments. (George Bell)
- William Abbott Oldfather, (1925-8), Discourses. (Loeb Classical Library) ISBN 0-674-99145-1 and ISBN 0-674-99240-7
- Robin Hard, (1995), The Discourses of Epictetus. (Everyman) ISBN 0-460-87312-1
- Robert Dobbin, (2008), Discourses and Selected Writings. (Penguin Classics) ISBN 0-140-44946-9
[edit] Notes
- ^ Epictetus, Discourses.
- ^ Simplicius, Commentary on Epictetus' Enchiridion.
- ^ Aulus Gellius, Attic Nights.
- ^ Stobaeus.
- ^ Photius, Biblioth.
- ^ Oxford University Philosophy Faculty Library - Manuscripts and rare books
- ^ Aston et al., The History of the University of Oxford, Oxford University Press. (1984).
- ^ Smith W, Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology. (1870).
[edit] External links
- George Long, The Discourses of Epictetus at the Internet Classics Archive.
- George Long, The Discourses of Epictetus at Perseus Tufts. (Includes George Long's footnotes.)
- Thomas Wentworth Higginson, The Works of Epictetus at Perseus Tufts.
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