A Little History of Philosophy

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

Insight: Epictetus declared that we could live free in the mind, even when our body is not.

Insight: Our thoughts are up to us.

• Definition: Translated as "flourishing" or "success" rather than "happiness".
• Insight: Happiness is not just a matter of how you feel, but a sense of achievement in life.
• Insight: Happiness also depends partly on luck - external factors can have an impact on happiness.
• Insight: Good habits are key, and easier to develop at an early age. Parenting is an important factor in our development of habits.
• Reference: Aristotle believed in the best way to live was not about seeking pleasurable feelings, but living accoring to eudaimonia.
• Reference: Aristotle believed that even events after your death could impact your eudaimonia - your children's future or your legacy for example.
• Reference: 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.
• Reference: 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: Virtues lie between two extremes.
• Example: Bravery lies between foolhardiness and cowardice.
• Insight: 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.

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