Below are the readings that encompass some review of Session 1 (Intro) and the reading to be prepared for Session 2 (Metaphysics). This week represents the heaviest reading week by far; there is primary and secondary source "review" material that provides a broad conception of Stoicism in addition to reading that we will need for our Metaphysics class next Monday. Consequently, do not take it as a fair representation of what you will be asked to do on a week to week basis. Do what you can, skim if you must, and give it a good shot!
Reading:
Epictetus, The Enchiridion (in full).
A.A. Long, “Stoicism” in Hellenistic Philosophy: Stoics, Epicureans, Sceptics (PDF).
Epictetus, Discourses, 1.9 and 1.14 (PDF).
Marcus Aurelius, Books II, VI, & XII in Meditations.
Optional:
Baltzly, Dirk. "Stoicism" in The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Spring 2019 Edition), Edward N. Zalta (ed.), URL = https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/stoicism/. (Web)
Links to Epictetus' Enchiridion can be found here: https://www.katabasisprogram.com/post/primary-readings-for-stoic-philosophy. The Enchiridion, sometimes translated as the Handbook, is very short text that offers pithy insights that reflect the broad tenets of Stoicism. It is also one of the most important primary sources we have for Stoics!
A.A. Long PDF below. Long, a scholar of ancient philosophy, provides a broad overview of Stoic history and a meditation on how the word "Nature" is used for Stoics in these short secondary source selections.
Selections from Epictetus' Discourses PDF below. These are two meditations on our relationship to God and the cosmos.
Links to Marcus Aurelius' Meditations can be found here: https://www.katabasisprogram.com/post/primary-readings-for-stoic-philosophy. Meditations is a text that we will read in full for the course over time, but today we focus on how Marcus Aurelius feels about fate and religion.
Dirk reading here: https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/stoicism/ . An optional broad overview of Stoicism as a whole; a nice secondary source to bounce the primary sources off of.
Link to session 1 recording can be found here: https://youtu.be/F9DAa0Rwz5w
-S
