Study Questions

  1. What key distinction does Epictetus claim we must bear in mind when making decisions about what to pursue? Which kinds of things does he think we should strive for, and which should we try to avoid?
  2. Epictetus claims that “there is nothing intrinsically evil in the world.” What does he mean by this? What implications does he think this view has for how we should live our lives? Do you find his position plausible?
  3. What is Epictetus’s view of the gods, and how does it inform his views about how we ought to live? To what extent are his ethical views separable from his theological beliefs?
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