Epictitus: Stoicism Vs. America
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Epictetus school of thought, Stoicism, promotes the practice of releasing ones care for that which he cannot control. This belief lies directly in contrast with the mindset of the modern American nation. As a unified body, America seeks to influence all things, both those it holds influence over and those it does not, in an effort to delegate the entirety of the world under its authority. However, it is not world domination in the traditional sense akin to the aspirations of Nazi Germany under Hitler, yet they seek to conform the world into an idealistic philosophy which follows closely to its own. Stoics, on the other hand, Epictetus in particular oppose the beliefs and actions of modern America, even though they do it unwillingly. In the first point of his Handbook, Epictetus states:
1. There are things which are within our power, and there are things which are beyond our power. Within our power are opinion, aim, desire, aversion, and, in one word, whatever affairs are our own. Beyond our power are body, property, reputation, office, and, in one word, whatever are not properly our own affairs. Now, the things within our power are by nature free, unrestricted, unhindered; but those beyond our power are weak, dependent, restricted, alien. Remember, then, that if you attribute freedom to things by nature dependent, and take what belongs to others for you own, you will