Description
'[Simplicius'] moral interpretation of Epictetus is preserved in the library of nations, as a classic book, most excellently adapted to direct the will, to purify the heart, and to confirm the understanding, by a just confidence in the nature both of God and man.'
Edward Gibbon
'This book, written by a "pagan" philosopher, makes the most Christian impression conceivable. The betrayal of all reality through morality is here present in its fullest splendour - pitiful psychology, the philosopher is reduced to a country parson. And Plato is to blame for all of it! He remains Europe's greatest misfortune!'
Fredrich Nietzsche
Of these two rival reactions the favourable one was most common. Epictetus' Handbook on ethics was used in Christian monasteries, and Simplicius' commentary on it was widely available up to the nineteenth century.
The commentary gives us a fascinating chance to see how a pagan Neoplatonist transformed Stoic ideas, adding Neoplatonist accounts of theology, theodicy, providence, free will and the problem of evil.
This translation of the Commentary on the Handbookis published in two volumes. This is the first, covering chapters 1-26; the second covers chapters 27-53.
Author: Charles Brittain, Tad Brennan
Publisher: Bloomsbury Academic
Published: 04/10/2014
Pages: 240
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 0.61lbs
Size: 9.21h x 6.14w x 0.41d
ISBN13: 9781472558060
ISBN10: 1472558065
BISAC Categories:
- Philosophy | History & Surveys | Ancient & Classical
Edward Gibbon
'This book, written by a "pagan" philosopher, makes the most Christian impression conceivable. The betrayal of all reality through morality is here present in its fullest splendour - pitiful psychology, the philosopher is reduced to a country parson. And Plato is to blame for all of it! He remains Europe's greatest misfortune!'
Fredrich Nietzsche
Of these two rival reactions the favourable one was most common. Epictetus' Handbook on ethics was used in Christian monasteries, and Simplicius' commentary on it was widely available up to the nineteenth century.
The commentary gives us a fascinating chance to see how a pagan Neoplatonist transformed Stoic ideas, adding Neoplatonist accounts of theology, theodicy, providence, free will and the problem of evil.
This translation of the Commentary on the Handbookis published in two volumes. This is the first, covering chapters 1-26; the second covers chapters 27-53.
Author: Charles Brittain, Tad Brennan
Publisher: Bloomsbury Academic
Published: 04/10/2014
Pages: 240
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 0.61lbs
Size: 9.21h x 6.14w x 0.41d
ISBN13: 9781472558060
ISBN10: 1472558065
BISAC Categories:
- Philosophy | History & Surveys | Ancient & Classical
About the Author
Charles Brittain is Associate Professor at the Department of Classics, Cornell University.
Tad Brennan is Associate Professor at the Department of Philosophy, Yale University.