Epictetus, Discourses | Personal Appearance and Beauty | Philosophy Core Concepts

This is a video in my new Core Concepts series -- designed to provide students and lifelong learners a brief discussion focused on one main concept from a classic philosophical text and thinker.

This video focuses on book 3 of Epictetus' Discourses, specifically on his discussion of physical appearance, the bases of beauty, and what kind of attention a person ought to devote to "beautification"

My videos are used by students, lifelong learners, other professors, and professionals to learn more about topics, texts, and thinkers in philosophy, religious studies, literature, social-political theory, critical thinking, and communications. These include college and university classes, British A-levels preparation, and Indian civil service (IAS) examination preparation

(Amazon links are associate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases)

#Stoicism #Epictetus #philosophy

[camiversa]

Thank you for this interesting lecture!

[acea]

Your lectures are very good. I find them entertaining and enjoyable. If I may make one suggestion, get yourself a small mic! The echo and tin component to the sound is tolerable, because you shine as a speaker. However, your videos could be "viral worthy" if you correct the sound issue! You're an extraordinary instructor, philosopher, and public speaker - you deserve good sound!

I'm not saying this as a negative, but according to this idea, a cancer tearing through an animal or human has a kind of beauty because it's doing what it's 'designed' to do. It seems that whether we consider a thing good or bad; beneficial or not, if the thing performs its purpose, it is beautiful. Interesting...

[Tomodachi]

So what this means is "beauty is in the eye of the beholder" ?

[Anekantavad]

I like the counter-tradition that holds that Cleopatra - supposedly the most beautiful woman since Helen of Troy - was actually either not all that physically attractive, or even downright ugly. There may even be some truth in this, as shown in what are believed to be the most accurate likenesses of her that have come down from antiquity, like coins with her image or a bust where she looks somewhat ordinary and Greek, as opposed to exotic and Egyptian.

But looks aside, there seems near-unanimity that she had an irresistible charm and attractiveness - even to men like Caesar and Mark Antony; men who could have *any* woman they wanted. Likewise, Caesar seems a bit too boney and even sickly looking from his more accurate images, yet he too had an enormous charisma.

The series "Rome" gave this a nod as well, as most of the women who were physically very beautiful were somewhat two-dimensional, while the truly impressive women weren't the real beauties of the series.

Thanks again.

:-)

[Beauweir]

I think Epictetus would be more concerned with obesity than anything else. How is overeating good for the human condition?