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4.5
This is the first of the two volume Loeb Classical Library edition of Epictetus' Discourses, with Greek and W. A. Oldfather's English translation on facing pages. For those who have no intgerest in the Greek, purchasing this volume may seem like a bit of overkill when compared with inexpensive reprints such as the one from NuVision Publications (September 19, 2006). As someone who bought the reprint first, I must tell you I tried to use it once and was immediately disappointed. Just as with my copies of Homer, Plato, Aristotle, and practically every other classic author, I rarely read them or parts of them from start to finish. Rather, I look up sections when I find references to them in commentaries on, for example, parts of the Old or New Testaments. In order to find the appropriate passage, one must use the established section and paragraph numbering. Unfortunately, this numbering is entirely missing from the reprint, which I have donated to my nearest library after receiving my Loeb copies. These little gems cost about four times the reprint, but for that, you get a book you will be proud to own, and even show off a bit on your bookshelf, plus a great little commentary on the Discourses, as well as the 'Fragments' and 'The Encheiridion', a summary of Epictetus thoughts by his secretary, Arrian. The reprint has none of this and, for the third time, I suggest it is less than useless, as it gives the illusion of value, and you will be disappointed when you find it missing.This volume contains the first two books of transcripts of Epictetus' Discourses. A student, Arrian copied down Epictetus' words, and the explanation of how scholars validated this claim is provided and interesting. The chapters themselves are to the precepts laid down in the Encheiridion what derivations are to axioms in mathematics. Each chapter is the full discussion behind the principles of Stoicism as Epictetus taught it. While possessing tremendous value, these books are not as approachable or succinct as the Encheiridion (and while not as succinct as Marcus Aurelius, this is laid out more clearly and thoroughly).A great volume for when you are ready to move past the basics of Stoicism.E.M. Van CourtText is excellent and untouchable, no need to comment on that.The binding of this brand-new version of a Loeb classic is poor though. I bought it NEW from Amazon like you're thinking about doing right after you're done reading reviews in order to justify your next purchase. Just know that you're looking at the latest version from Harvard University Press, specifically the 2000 reprint. See the next paragraph.I own the 1998 reset/reprinting by Loeb, supposedly the exact same book but one which is FAR superior to this recycled book mock duck. Aside from the slightly jaundiced paper color alone, is 2) ISBN 0674991451's sheer anorexia: whereas the 1998 edition is 1 1/8" thick (better paper), this one is a mere 7/8" overall (basic paper). Maybe the worst part is that what once was a sewn binding is 3) now just a glueback between hardcovers, and looking at this 2000 version even closer, even more worse is 4) how, if you buy it, thinking how you'll feel "played" like me for having paid the exact same price I once paid for a 1998, but instead you paid for awful craftsmanship that's, well, just junk. (And yes, this book is so good you will buy it for friends.)"Save a buck there, buck here! Who cares?"Don't answer them. Find a used version of this amazing text and gladly skip class on Loeb's new cost-cutting philosophy.A work everyone should read. Our government would be much better if based on this work rather than Christianity.This is a book you will keep returning to it and it will again and again speak to you. Worth of reading every bit of it.Good reading!ExcellentThis is my first of many Loeb Classics that I have read and yearn to read. I am glad I started with this Discourses to learn about the great man whom they called Epictetus. I anticipate I will return to his teachings for a 2nd and 3rd time; however, i pause to take note how intelligent and contemplative these antiquity philosophers were. They had so much working against them (war, disease), yet they advanced civilization at a pace faster than the minds whom populated the earth could appropriately handle. Why is it in modern times, we don't have such teachings? Such leaders of faith and virtue? To pose questions in thought? Today's age is probably more of need of such teachings as was our ancient forebearers. Christians knew these men had the provoking thought on morality, purpose and knew the concept between that of good and evil. This is probably why St. Paul conversed with Epictetus during his sermons though out Attica. As you find one's moral purpose, which Epictetus explicitly speaks about; you must understand how to apply Epictetus' lessons throughout your life on a continual basis. He knows it doesn't come quick. You must practice it as a faith to "know thyself," and to learn how to deal with "external impressions." In Book II, he speaks about how one should employ divination by an syllogism '..just as the wayfarer asks the man whom meets him which of two roads leads to his destination without any desire to have the right-hand road lead there any more than the left-hand road; for he does not care to travel on particular road of the two, but merely the one that leads to his destination. So also we ought to go to God as a guide, making use of Him as we make use of our eyes; we do not call upon "them' to show us such-and-such things by preference, but we accept the impressions of precisely such things as they reveal to us.."The Discourses and Handbook of Epictetus are not actually written by Epictetus himself, but by Arrian (also known for his history of Alexander the Great). In effect they are Arrian's "lecture notes" based on the teaching of the man himself. Sadly only 4 books of the Discourses survive - we know that there were more books, possibly as many as 8. As one of the few Stoic sources to survive in any quantity, alongside Seneca (whose corpus is also incomplete), Marcus Aurelius (personal notes and reflections never intended for publication) and Musonius Rufus (preserved only as extracts by Johannes Stobaeus), it takes on particular importance, and whilst for my part Seneca is the most valuable for many other modern followers of Stoicism Epictetus is regarded as the primary writer.As is often the case with these Loeb editions of the classics, the facing English translation is not particularly great, often coming across as very dated (this particular translation was made in 1925), and the print quality is not always outstanding, but to have side by side Greek/English texts which don't cost the earth this is invaluable. In the case of Epictetus I am not aware of any other complete bilingual text for that matter.Nice and in good condition. I like it.It was my sons birthday gift, he loved it! He has it as a treasure!I just finished the Loeb 1&2 and it is a much better book by far than the Everyman translation. The ideas and words seem to fit together better and flow easier. I feel that Epictetus's ideas are wonderful to ponder and practice. I wish I would have stumbled upon this book earlier in my life, but considering how we live I may not have been so accepting of these ideas then. The Loeb books so far seem to be closest to his thinking in my feeling.
