The Subjectivism of Ancient and Medieval Philosophy

[Son_of_Niall]

Yesterday we placed the ancient philosophical analogue, not to be confused with an “equivalent,” of modern science in its proper historical perspective with the help of Peter Harrison’s The Territories of Science and Religion. Natural science in the ancient Greek and Roman sense was not really science in our modern understanding, nor was it primarily concerned with the natural world. Science was always conceived and practiced in the context of what was called the art of living or philosophy as a way of life. A prime example of this approach to thinking as living is the eminently practical guide, The Art of Living by Epictetus.

patheos.com/blogs/cosmostheinlost/2015/07/30/the-subjectivism-of-ancient-and-medieval-philosophy/

 

[midori]

So-- if someone were to try to sample Epictetus, what would be a good (a) book to start with, and (b) translation to try?

The edition in the original blog post (ISBN 978-0061286056) points out in the comments that it’s (a) “a new interpretation” and (b) missing 300 pages.

“The Enchiridion” (ISBN 978-0023546402) looked interesting, but at 48 pages, it seems to be even more of a condensed version of his Discourses than “Art of Living.”

A review of the Loeb Library edition (4 volumes) (ISBN 978-0674991453 for v. 1-2) says that various points are repetitive and could have been better-organized.

Suggestions?