The Role Ethics of Epictetus: Stoicism in Ordinary Life

by Brian E. Johnson

Overview

The Role Ethics of Epictetus:Stoicism in Ordinary Life offers an original interpretation of Epictetus’s ethics and how he bases his ethics on an appeal to our roles in life. Epictetus's role theory is a complete ethical theory, one that has been both misunderstood and under-appreciated in the literature.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781498550833
Publisher:	Lexington Books
Publication date:	11/14/2016
Pages:	216
Sales rank:	346,955
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.80(d)

About the Author

Brian E. Johnson is assistant professor of philosophy at Fordham University.

Table of Contents

Preface Acknowledgments Introduction Chapter 1: Epictetus’s Role for Human Beings Chapter 2: Bearing Many Roles: Specific Roles in an Individual’s Life Chapter 3: Roles in Action: Appropriate Acts (or “Duties”) Chapter 4: Education and the Good of Epictetean Roles Chapter 5: The Cases of Socrates and Heracles: Role Conflict and Identity Chapter 6: The Role of roles in Epictetus’s Discourses 1.2: Three Interpretations Chapter 7: Resolving Role Conflicts Chapter 8: Cicero’s Account of Panaetius’s Four Personae: A Theory of Decorum Chapter 9: Epictetus’s Role Ethics—The Unfolding Script Bibliography

Editorial Reviews

Brian Johnson’s study is the most extensive analysis to date of the importance of roles in Epictetus’ ethics. The work is ‘good to think with’: it provides ample textual evidence for its claims and robust analyses, it is generally lucidly written, and has a good bibliography

Archiv fur Geschichte der Philosophie

A strong and consistent reading of an ambiguous text is always welcome, and Johnson's effort to think through what a role-based ethics might entail is of philosophical interest regardless of its fit with Epictetus' ancient project. Readers at all levels will benefit, too, from Johnson's consistently patient and clear manner of laying out the issues and from his meticulous references to related passages elsewhere in the corpus.

Notre Dame Philosophical Reviews

This is a fresh approach that puts role ethics squarely at center stage in understanding Epictetus’s philosophy. With a lucid, penetrating, and original analysis, Johnson makes a strong case for both the importance of roles in Epictetus’s Stoicism and the originality of Epictetus’s version of role ethics. This study is a very welcome contribution to scholarship on Epictetus.

William O. Stephens

Brian Johnson’s study is the most extensive analysis to date of the importance of roles in Epictetus’ ethics. The work is ‘good to think with’: it provides ample textual evidence for its claims and robust analyses, it is generally lucidly written, and has a good bibliography

Archiv für Geschichte der Philosophie