Epiktētou Encheiridion, Kēbētos Pinax, Prodikou Hēraklēs, kai Kleanthous Hymnos
by Epictetus
| Epiktetou Encheiridion | ||
 at the College of William & Mary. |
||
| Author | Epictetus | |
| Published | Glasguae: in Aedibus Academicis Excudebat Robertus Foulis | |
| Edition | Precise edition unknown | |
A short manual of Stoic ethical advice compiled by Arrian, a 2nd-century disciple of the Greek philosopher Epictetus. Although the content is similar to the Discourses of Epictetus, it is not a summary of the Discourses but rather a compilation of practical precepts. Eschewing metaphysics, Arrian focused his attention on Epictetus's work applying philosophy in daily life. The primary theme is that one should accept what happens:
What upsets people is not things themselves but their judgments about the things. For example, "death is nothing dreadful (or else it would have appeared dreadful to Socrates)..." — Chapter Five [1]
However, "some things are up to us and some are not up to us"[2] and we must act accordingly, taking responsibility for planning and enacting what we can with virtue without becoming upset or disheartened by obstacles and reverses beyond our control.
For many centuries, the Enchiridion maintained its authority both with Christians and Pagans. Two Christian writers—Nilus and an anonymous contemporary—wrote paraphrases of it in the early 5th century and Simplicius of Cilicia wrote a commentary upon it in the 6th. The work was first published in Latin translation by Poliziano in Rome in 1493; Beroaldus published another edition in Bologna in 1496. The original Greek was first published in Venice with the Simplicius's commentary in 1528 and an English translation appeared as early as 1567. The book was a common school text in Scotland during the Scottish Enlightenment. Adam Smith had a 1670 edition in his library, acquired as a schoolboy.[3]
Evidence for Inclusion in Wythe's Library
Listed in the Jefferson Inventory of Wythe's Library as "Epictetus Gr. p. f. Foul." and given by Thomas Jefferson to his grandson Thomas Jefferson Randolph. The Brown Bibliography[4] lists the fourth edition published by Foulis Press in 1758 based on the copy Jefferson sold to the Library of Congress in 1815.[5] George Wythe's Library[6] on LibraryThing states "Precise edition unknown. Greek editions were published by Foulis in 1744, 1748, 1751, 1758, 1765, and 1775." As yet, the Wolf Law Library has been unable to purchase a copy of this title.
See also
References
- ↑ Text of translation by Elizabeth Carter, circa 1750, The Enchiridion
- ↑ Ibid.
- ↑ Text of translation by P. E. Matheson, 1916, The Discourses of Epictetus, The Manual Of Epictetus
- ↑ Bennie Brown, "The Library of George Wythe of Williamsburg and Richmond," (unpublished manuscript, 2009, rev. 2023) Microsoft Word document (on file at the Wolf Law Library, William & Mary Law School).
- ↑ E. Millicent Sowerby, Catalogue of the Library of Thomas Jefferson (Washington, D.C.: The Library of Congress, 1952-1959), 2:28-29 [no.1300].
- ↑ LibraryThing, s.v. "Member: George Wythe," accessed on July 10, 2025.