Musonius Rufus · Philosophy

The Roman Socrates: Philosophy as Practice, Not Talk

Musonius Rufus taught that philosophy is not clever talk but the practice of noble living - virtue trained into us the way health is trained by a doctor and skill by a musician, through <em>askesis</em> (disciplined exercise) of body and soul.

What you'll be able to recall

You learned that Musonius held philosophy to be the practice of virtue, not a set of doctrines; that virtue is acquired like a craft (medicine, music) by askesis , training both body and soul; and that theory matters only so far as it guides practice. Explain the argument in your own words.

Leads to Epictetus.

epoché — a humanities education that remembers you.