Epictetus, Discourses | Dealing with Appearances | 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 a key idea running throughout Epictetus' Discourses, specifically on his discussions about how we ought to deal with "appearances" or "impressions" (phantasiai)

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#Stoicism #Epictetus #philosophy

[followyourideas]

If only it were that easy to stop and reflect before taking any action after seeing an appearence. Great material!!!

[Anekantavad]

Once again, I see in your work a contribution to integrating (or perhaps pointing out a non-apparent connection that was always there) between east and west. At about 9:00 you refer to "arguments", and this reminds me of syadvada, or the 7-fold Jain "Theory of Maybe" whereby we attempt to analyze appearances. Appearances are often described in Indian thought as shocking or even frightening forms being vomited from the mouth of a monster. The forms keep appearing, and keep *demanding* that we react to them or at least try to make sense of them - inasmuch as that is possible. The "phantasia"of Epictetus seem to correspond to the "forms" flying from the mouth of the monster.

And, of course, ultimately the "monster" isn't a monster at all. It simply *is*, as are the forms that it vomits out directly into our path.

When I make these comparisons, I often wonder if I'm projecting connections where there are none, but that too may be something of a false equivocation.

Thanks again!

:-)

[AliDemir-hwjf]

Can you make an video about how you annotate stoic books, thank you

[aech]

Thank you! That translation was always confusing to me

[ZiemniakZKosmosu]

I think that video is wrongly put into, ,Philosophers in the Midst of History'' channel. Maybe I will write more, when I watch it.

[sallybugs]

Appearances are 4 kinds,
Things either are as they appear to be,
Or neither are nor appear to be,
Or they are but do not appear to be,
Or they are not and yet appear to be.
Epictetus