Recorded oral teaching

Discourses, Book I

byEpictetus

The most theoretical book: it opens with the distinction between what is and is not up to us, defends providence and man's kinship with God, discusses logic, argues against Academics and Epicureans and teaches how to behave before a tyrant. Chapters (30): 1. Of the things which are in our power, and not in our power; 2. How a man on every occasion can maintain his proper character; 3. From God being the Father of all men to the rest; 4. Of progress; 5. Against the Academics; 6. Of providence; 7. Of the use of sophistical and hypothetical arguments; 8. That the faculties are not safe to the uninstructed; 9. From our kinship with God, the consequences; 10. Against those who eagerly seek preferment at Rome; 11. Of natural affection; 12. Of contentment; 13. How everything may be done acceptably to the gods; 14. That the Deity oversees all things; 15. What philosophy promises; 16. Of providence (II); 17. That the logical art is necessary; 18. That we ought not to be angry with the errors of others; 19. How we should behave to tyrants; 20. About reason and how it contemplates itself; 21. Against those who wish to be admired; 22. Of praecognitions; 23. Against Epicurus; 24. How we should struggle with circumstances; 25. On the same; 26. What is the law of life; 27. In how many ways appearances exist; 28. That we ought not to be angry with men; 29. On constancy; 30. What we ought to have ready in difficult circumstances.

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