Chapter 48

The Difference between a Philosopher and a Non-philosopher

Epictetus first presents the basic difference between a philosopher and non-philosopher. He then goes on to enumerate the signs that one is progressing in philosophy.

προσδοκᾷ: > προσδοκάω, “expects”

τῶν ἔξω: “from the outside,” i.e., “from external things,”

48.2

προκόπτοντος: “of one making progress.” On the Stoic concept of making progress, see ch. 12.1 and Diss. 1.4.18.

εἰδότος: perf. act. part. gen. masc. sg.

ἐμποδισθῇ ... κωλυθῇ: 3 sg. aor. pass. subj.

τι: “in any way,” adv. acc. (G. 540; S. 1606)

αὐτὸς παρ' ἑαυτῷ: “inwardly”

ψέγῃ: pres. subj. act. 3 sg., understand τις αὐτὸν from the previous sentence.

περίεισι: > περίειμι (εἶμι ibo), pres. ind. act. 3 sg., “he goes about”

τῶν καθισταμένων: “of the (parts of the body which are) calming down,” i.e., healing (LSJ καθίστημι B.4)

πρίν: After an affirmative clause πρίν takes the infinitive and means “before” (G. 568; S. 2431).

48.3

ἦρκεν: > αἴρω, 3 sg. perf. act. ind., “has removed” (LSJ ἀείρω III)

μετατέθεικεν: > μετατίθημι, 3 sg. perf. act. ind., “has directed” into (εἰς), “has focused” on

ὁρμῇ πρὸς ἅπαντα ἀνειμένῃ χρῆται: “his impulse toward everything is calm” (Smith 2014). ὁρμή is the Stoic term for a (positive) impulse, which is sent out once someone assents to an impression or opinion (φατασία). It is one of the things that are “up to us” (1.1). In ch. 2 Epictetus proposes that the student act on positive and negative impulses with reservation (μεθ' ὑπεξαιρέσεως), which seems to mean that one should perform appropriate action (the object of impulse) with the knowledge that it may not be fulfilled: for example, to love one’s wife or child and do all so that they live a long and healthy life is a natural impulse, but we should also know that they are mortal and subject to death and disease. ἀνειμένῃ: > ἀνίημι, perf. pass. part. dat. f. sg., “without (mental) straining,” “in a relaxed state of mind.” See Introduction, Assent.

πεφρόντικεν: 3 sg. perf. act. ind. (equivalent to a present in the condition).

ἑνί τε λόγῳ: “in a word”