“People are upset not by things, but rather by the views they take of them.” This expression, stated by Epictetus in first century Rome and based upon principles drawn from Socrates. This statement is made in the Enchiridion or “handbook of Epictetus” (a handbook for living). {See: (1) en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enchiridion_of_Epictetus (2) classics.mit.edu/Epictetus/epicench.html }. It presents some of the basic principles and teachings of Stoic philosophy. The main focus of the Cynics, Stoics, Skeptics and Epicureans of ancient Greece was upon finding principles by which to live a “good life,” all claiming to be built upon the example of Socrates. Though they differed in emphasis and on a number of fine points, they all agreed that the purpose of philosophy is the achievement of “mental tranquility.” In this regard, they are similar in spirit (and in many ways in-principle) to the advent and development of Buddhism at approximately the same time in India. Much of contemporary (21st century) counseling and psychotherapy practice is borrowed from and based upon these ancient traditions recast in modern garb -- all too often without any awareness of their origins.
Posted on: Thu, 12 Sep 2013 05:59:35 +0000
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