May 12, 2017

Epictetus On The Dichotomy Of Control - Webinar and Online Seminars

We have started offering monthly webinars and online seminars this year, starting out with two discussing central aspects of Aristotle's virtue ethics (one on virtue and vice - watch it here - and the other on types of friendship - watch it here).

We're moving to a new thinker and topic for our online offerings in May - a key thinker and a main topic in Stoic philosophy:  Epictetus on the Dichotomy of Control - what is, and what is not, in our control!

This is a key Stoic doctrine - in fact it is the very first thing Epictetus discusses in his short work, the Enchiridion - but it can also be a challenging and confusing one for many readers.  We'll be looking more closely at this distinction in these online events, and discussing topics such as:

  • what things are in our control from a Stoic perspective
  • what things are outside of out control from a Stoic perspective
  • the consequences of confusing what is in our control and what is not
  • our prohairesis (faculty of choice), desire and aversion, emotions and beliefs
  • external matters such as reputation, wealth, and the body as “indifferents”
  • common objections to the dichotomy of control
  • Irvine’s proposed “trichotomy of choice”
  • how uses of things outside our control is something in our control
  • what we can do to develop effective control

The 45 minute webinar is FREE for anyone who wishes to attend - and it will take place Tuesday, May 16 at 12:00 PM Central Time.  I'll spend about 25 minutes talking about the topic, and then we'll open it up for an additional 20 minutes of Q&A from the viewers.

The 2-hour online seminar is a more intensive study of the topic.  We'll be hosting two sessions of that seminar - one at 10:00 AM and the other at 4:00 PM Central Time both on Saturday, May 20.  Enrollment is $49, and there are twelve total seats available in each session.  To learn more about the online seminars, click here.

If you're interested in enrolling in the webinar, one of the seminars, or even in both (which is all right by me!), you'll want to sign up in advance here.  But if you'd like to see me talking about these events, check out this short video.

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