Stoic News

By Dave Kelly

Thursday, February 26, 2004

The Art of Living: The Stoics on the Nature and Function of Philosophy by John Sellars.

"Stoic philosophy should be understood as an art (techne) grounded upon rational principles (logoi) which are only expressed in one's behavior (erga, bios) after a period of practical training (askesis). Both logos and askesis are necessary components of philosophy conceived as a techne but neither can be identified with philosophy itself" (118).

Friday, February 20, 2004

What is Stoic training?

"This chapter (3.12) is an outline account of a Stoic askesis (training) which, stated simply, consists of desiring nothing, employing aversion only to our bad habits, and developing the habit of making proper use of impressions by practicing Epictetus' three disciplines."

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/stoics/messages/6908

Tuesday, February 17, 2004

The Enchiridion, or Manual, of Epictetus; George Long translation

"Among Epictetus' pupils, who came from all parts of the Empire, was a certain Flavius Arrian, later consul under Hadrian and the historian of Alexander. Arrian took careful notes of the lectures and teaching of Epictetus and published them in the eight books of the Discourses, of which the first four have survived. Arrian says in his preface that the Discourses are 'in the very language Epictetus used, so far as possible', and preserve 'the directness of his speech'. Arrian also compiled out of his lecture notes a compendium of the main tenets of Epictetus, the Encheiridion, or Manual" - Great Books of the Western World, Vol. 12.

Monday, February 16, 2004

What is Stoic training?

"This chapter (3.12) is an outline account of a Stoic askesis (training) which, stated simply, consists of desiring nothing, employing aversion only to our bad habits, and developing the habit of making proper use of impressions by practicing Epictetus' three disciplines."

Thursday, February 05, 2004

I recognize four schools of thought (haireseis) on the International Stoic Forum, those led by:

Dr. Jan Garrett
Dr. Keith Seddon
Dr. Lawrence Becker
Steve Marquis