Discourses, fragments, handbook

What Hacker News says

1. rramadassFeb 2022
   Checkout Robin Hard's translations in the Oxford World's Classics series (all are excellent);

   1) Epictetus Discourses, Fragments, Handbook

   2) Marcus Aurelius Meditations: with selected correspondence

   3) Diogenes the Cynic Sayings and Anecdotes: with Other Popular Moralists

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2. kashyapcJun 2019
   On "cool, smart, or successful" and "deserving of happiness", you might want to hear what the Stoic philosopher, Epictetus, had to say:

   One central message [of his book, "Discourses, Fragments, Handbook"] is that the basis for happiness or well-being is 'up to us' and that we all have the capacity to move towards this state, regardless of our specific social context or individual character. [...] Epictetus also stresses that this capacity forms an integral and inalienable part of what makes human beings distinctive in the natural universe, as well as the prime expression of what is 'divine' within us.

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3. Red_TarsiusNov 2017
   How to be a Stoic changes the historical context of Stoicism to suit Pigliucci's personal views. I do not recommend that book, since his good bits are borrowed from The Inner Citadel. The author lost my respect when he supported the revisionism of the BBC. https://medium.com/opacity/comment-on-klueless-massimo-s-com...

   This short essay by GILBERT MURRAY is the best introduction to Stoicism: http://ia600304.us.archive.org/13/items/thestoicphilosop00mu...

   After that, you can dive into:

   - EPICTETUS, Discourses, Fragments, Handbook (Oxford World's Classics. It features both Enchiridion and fragments)

   - MARCUS AURELIUS, Meditations (Oxford World's Classics)

   - Any collection of letters and essays written by SENECA

   - PIERRE HADOT, The Inner Citadel (Harvard Press, Translated by Michael Chase)

   Don't rush through the material, think deeply about every page you read. Don't forget to understand the life and history of each author. Context is extremely important. Don't let modern sensibilities fill the gaps. If you're looking for a solid introduction to traditional logic, I recommend you Socratic Logic, by Peter Kreeft. Lastly, the only way to truly understand Stoicism is to learn about Socrates and Plato as well.

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