A Practical Course on Epictetus’ Enchiridion 1–5

 

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PHL 210: The Stoic Manual

A Practical Course on Epictetus’ Enchiridion 1–5

Instructor: James Manning
Duration: 15 Weeks (One 90-minute session per week)
Location: Room 203, Westfield High School
Text: The Core Enchiridion (CE), Chs. 1–5 (Instructor’s translation)

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Course Description

This course introduces students to the Stoic system of moral training through a close reading of the first five chapters of Epictetus’ Enchiridion. We proceed logically, one principle at a time, through the five steps that form the foundation of all Stoic ethics:

1. The distinction between what is up to us and what is not.
2. The correct direction of desire and aversion.
3. Preparation for loss.
4. Forethought in action.
5. Recognition that disturbance arises from judgment, not events.

The course is not about “philosophy” in the abstract, but about examining impressions and beliefs as they occur in daily life. Students will be evaluated on clarity of thought and accuracy of moral reasoning, not on opinion.

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Course Objectives

By the end of the semester, students will be able to:

1. Distinguish with precision between internal and external things.
2. Identify false judgments about externals that cause suffering.
3. Apply Stoic reasoning to everyday impressions and challenges.
4. Conduct a complete “examination sequence” on any emotional disturbance.
5. Formulate true propositions aligned with reason (virtue).

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Course Structure

• Weekly Seminar (90 minutes): Socratic dialogue, text reading, and practical analysis.
• Reflection Log: Short written exercises applying the week’s principle.
• Examination Drills: In-class reasoning through real or hypothetical impressions.
• Final Oral Examination: A live demonstration of examining an impression correctly.

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Week-by-Week Outline

Unit I: The Architecture of Control

Week 1 – Introduction: Philosophy as Practice

• Overview of Stoic ethics and Enchiridion 1–5.
• The human function: reasoning about impressions.
• Practice: Identify one current source of distress and classify it (internal/external).

Week 2 – Enchiridion 1: The Two Realms

• Logical structure of the “Dichotomy of Control.”
• Examples: body, possessions, reputation, and will.
• Exercise: Daily “Control Inventory.” Log five events and sort them correctly.

Week 3 – Enchiridion 1 (cont.): The Cause of Suffering

• False belief as the only cause of disturbance.
• Discussion: “Freedom as rational independence.”
• Practice: Replace one false proposition with a true one.

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Unit II: Desire, Aversion, and Freedom

Week 4 – Enchiridion 2: The Logic of Desire

• Why misdirected desire enslaves.
• Thought experiment: desire vs. discipline.
• Practice: Formulate one rational desire and one rational aversion.

Week 5 – Enchiridion 2 (cont.): Aligning Impulse with Reason

• The moral psychology of impulse.
• Case study: wanting praise, avoiding criticism.
• Exercise: Trace each to a false belief about externals.

Week 6 – Midterm Review: The Moral Map of the Soul

• Recap Chs. 1–2: control, desire, aversion.
• Group dialogue: How to live without dependence on externals.
• Midterm reflection due: “What I No Longer Control.”

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Unit III: Preparation and Forethought

Week 7 – Enchiridion 3: The Nature of Loss

• “When you kiss your child, remind yourself…” — meaning and method.
• The logic of impermanence.
• Practice: Observe three preferred indifferents; remind yourself of their nature.

Week 8 – Enchiridion 3 (cont.): Attachment and Affection

• Difference between rational love and possessive attachment.
• Exercise: Draft a “Stoic farewell” to something or someone valued.
• Discussion: How this changes real affection.

Week 9 – Enchiridion 4: Before You Act

• Anticipation and mental rehearsal.
• Example: the public bath → modern equivalents (traffic, meetings).
• Practice: “Pre-meditation of annoyance.” Identify likely externals before an event.

Week 10 – Enchiridion 4 (cont.): Action in Accord with Reason

• Aligning intention with virtue, not outcome.
• Drill: For a chosen daily task, write both (a) external goal, (b) rational goal.
• Compare the emotional effect when hindered.

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Unit IV: Judgment and Disturbance

Week 11 – Enchiridion 5: The Source of Disturbance

• Logical analysis: thing vs. opinion about thing.
• Example: death, failure, insult.
• Practice: Trace each emotion to its underlying belief statement.

Week 12 – Enchiridion 5 (cont.): Rewriting Judgment

• Replacement of false propositions.
• Workshop: small groups reformulate common student impressions (tests, relationships, social anxiety).
• Homework: Conduct a complete “examination” and record the sequence.

Week 13 – Integration: The Five Principles as a Single System

• How Chs. 1–5 form a complete ethical algorithm.
• Flowchart: Impression → Assent → Emotion → Action → Character.
• Practice: Apply full sequence to a real event of the week.

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Unit V: Application and Mastery

Week 14 – Living Proof: Demonstrations

• Students examine live impressions presented by classmates.
• Discussion: The role of community in Stoic practice.
• Reading: Manning’s “The Practice Spreads.”

Week 15 – Final Examination: Demonstrating Correct Use of Impressions

• Oral test: student receives an impression (scenario).
• Must identify internal/external, detect false belief, withdraw assent, and restate truth.
• Reflection due: “How I Know I’m Free.”

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Assessment

Component	Description	Weight
Reflection Logs (10)	Short weekly exercises	25%
Midterm Reflection	2–3 page analysis	15%
Examination Drills	Participation and accuracy	20%
Final Oral Examination	Live demonstration	30%
Attendance & Conduct	Active presence, rational discourse	10%

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Grading Philosophy

Grades reflect clarity and integrity of reasoning, not agreement with Stoicism.
A student who examines impressions honestly and reasons carefully will excel, regardless of conclusions.

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Expected Outcomes

By semester’s end, each student will:

• Recognize every disturbance as a false assent.
• Know how to withdraw assent consciously.
• Be capable of maintaining moral purpose under daily pressures.
• Possess a working understanding of Enchiridion 1–5 as a complete moral method.

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Instructor’s Note:

“This course is not about ideas—it’s about living.
If you finish this semester and find yourself less disturbed by externals, the course succeeded.”
— James Manning