🏺 Epictetus Course
Updated: Sep 5
Free Course by Everything IFS Academy | Stoicism Series
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🎧 Audio is read by AI
🏺Welcome to the Epictetus Course for Everyday People
Around the year 50, a child was born into slavery in the Roman Empire who would grow up to become one of the most influential teachers of his age. His name was Epictetus. After he won his freedom he taught philosophy for decades, first in Rome and later at his own school in Greece, drawing students from across the empire and, by some accounts, a future emperor. His starting point was as plain as it was hard-won: almost everything that happens to a person is outside their control, and the one thing that never is turns out to be enough to build a free and steady life on.
This course teaches Epictetus on his own terms, pure to himself and his school, with no other thinkers or modern methods mixed in. It is written in plain, down-to-earth language anyone can follow, whether you have studied Stoicism for years or this is your very first step into it. It is not an academic course, and it is not motivational content. It is Epictetus's actual ideas, taught clearly enough that you can understand them and carry them into how you see your own life. Each lesson gives you the real teaching, grounded in everyday examples, alongside an honest account of both his brilliance and his contradictions, from the conflicting stories about how he went lame to the family life he urged on others but never chose for himself.
This course is self-paced, with no tests, no exams, and no homework. Feel free to move through it in order, or jump straight to whatever interests you most.
If Epictetus leaves you curious about where his own ideas came from, the natural next step is the man who first taught him. Meet him in the course on his teacher, Musonius Rufus.
Course outline
Click any lesson below to begin.
Orientation
Core Teachings
Closing
Disclaimer:
Everything IFS Academy is an independent educational platform and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to the IFS Institute. While we strive for accuracy, errors can occur, and users are encouraged to cross-reference critical information. These courses present the ideas of historical Stoic philosophers for educational and self-reflection purposes only. They describe what these thinkers taught and argued and do not constitute an endorsement of any philosophical position, nor do they constitute religious instruction or professional advice of any kind. They do not constitute therapy, mental health treatment, clinical training, or crisis support, and they should not be used as a substitute for professional mental health care.
Crisis Support: 🚨
If you are experiencing a mental health crisis, feel unsafe, feel at risk of harming yourself or someone else, or feel too overwhelmed to safely use self-directed practices, please pause this material and reach out for immediate support. Contact a licensed mental health professional, call or text 988 in the U.S. or Canada, or use your local emergency or crisis resources.
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