Biography:

1. Lived A.D. 55-135.
2. Started out as a slave.
3. Endured hardships including pain and hunger - he was beaten which resulted in a badly damaged leg.

Insights:

1. Epictetus declared that we could live free in the mind, even when our body is not.
2. Our thoughts are up to us.

Insights:

1. Translated as "flourishing" or "success" rather than "happiness".
2. Happiness is not just a matter of how you feel, but a sense of achievement in life.
3. Happiness also depends partly on luck - external factors can have an impact on happiness.
4. Good habits are key, and easier to develop at an early age. Parenting is an important factor in our development of habits.

References:

1. Aristotle believed the best way to live was not about seeking pleasurable feelings, but living according to eudaimonia.
2. Aristotle believed that even events after your death could impact your eudaimonia - your children's future or your legacy for example.
3. Aristotle believed that we need to develop the right kind of character so that when events happen in life we can respond with the right emotions.
4. Aristotle believed that it is important to be political to achieve eudaimonia - humans need to be able to live in systems and interact with other humans in society.

Definition:

1. Virtues lie between two extremes.

Example:

1. Bravery lies between foolhardiness and cowardice.

Insights:

1. The good life, according to many modern and ancient philosophers, should be about developing virtues, so rather than developing along extremes, we should try to aim for the golden mean.

Insights:

1. Stoicism derives its name from 'Stoa' (painted porch) where Zeno of Citium (334-262 BCE) started teaching philosophy.
2. His philosophy focused on mental control, with the basic idea of focusing mental capacity on what we can control and ignoring the rest.