ABSTRACT
This chapter offers a brief overview of some of Epictetus' core concepts and conceptions – also making clear that there is no substitute for reading Epictetus himself. It outlines relationships with later thought developed by Kant, Wittgenstein and others. Though Epictetus' thought is deeply religious and indeed was and is popular in Christian circles, the chapter some more than marginal differences between Epictetus' theology and Christianity. It further argues that institutionalized religion is not easily made compatible with Epictetus' philosophy of life. Still, our Christian or sometimes not so Christian culture may profit from Epictetus' identification of man with God. The chapter concludes with a plea both for religious tolerance and a war cry against any violence, wrong as it is in itself and wrongly related to religion as it may be – however much any war cries may have been anathema to Epictetus himself.
