Akademik

(c. AD 55–135)

The most influential teacher of Stoicism of his time, Epictetus was born a slave in Asia Minor. He was given his freedom around the year 68, but was banished from Rome by Diocletian around 90. He was lame for much of his life. It is known that he was extremely popular, respected, and lived a life of the utmost simplicity, in accordance with Stoic doctrine. His teachings or Discourses survive only through notes taken by his pupil Flavius Arrianus. They include an emphasis on submissiveness, humility, and charity, but also upon the ability and duty of a person to mould his or her character in the effort to achieve self-government and independence of external circumstance.