Epictetus · Philosophy

The Discipline of Desire

Epictetus’s first and hardest discipline - to want only what is in our power, and to will what actually happens, so that our desires can never be frustrated.

What you'll be able to recall

You learned Epictetus’s discipline of desire: wanting only what is up to us, and willing what happens. Centuries later Spinoza reached a strikingly similar conclusion through pure metaphysics - that freedom lies in understanding and accepting necessity. State Spinoza’s version.

Leads to Spinoza.

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