Skip to main content

Secondary sourceSpeech16 March 1915

The Stoic Philosophy

Gilbert Murray · 16 March 1915

A 1915 lecture by Gilbert Murray on Stoic philosophy, placing Epictetus within the wider Stoic tradition.

Places Epictetus within the broader Stoic philosophical tradition for a general audience.

Ask Epictetus about this sourceView the original(opens in new tab)
Full text (Wikisource)

About this source

What it is

This is a published lecture delivered by the classical scholar Gilbert Murray at South Place Institute on 16 March 1915, titled The Stoic Philosophy. It discusses the Stoic school of thought, within which Epictetus is a central figure.

Why it matters

Murray's lecture shows how Stoicism, including Epictetus's teachings, was presented to a general audience in the early twentieth century. It reflects ongoing interest in using ancient philosophy, including Epictetus's ideas, to address modern questions about how to live.

Look closer

  • Why might a scholar give a public lecture on an ancient philosophy during a time of war?
  • What might Murray hope his audience takes away from learning about Epictetus and the Stoics?
  • How does hearing about Epictetus through a 1915 lecture differ from reading his own words?

This speech is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Epictetus on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

More Epictetus sources

Meet the AI Epictetus →
Title page and opening of Chapter I of the Enchiridion of Epictetus, a 1683 edition with Greek and Latin text in two columns, a decorated initial letter, and Latin commentary below.Book

Secondary source

Enchiridion of Epictetus

Arrian · early 2nd century AD (this edition 1683)

A photographed page of an ancient Greek manuscript on aged, yellowed parchment with brownish edges. Dense lines of handwritten Greek script fill the page, with a large dark brown stain in the center obscuring part of the text. A small circular library stamp appears on the right side, and a marginal number is visible at the upper right. Some marginal notes are written at the lower right.Book

Secondary source

Discourses of Epictetus

Arrian · c. 108 AD

A photographed page of an old handwritten Greek manuscript on yellowed, worn parchment. The dense brown-black lines of script are written in a cursive hand, with a large dark stain in the middle obscuring part of the text. A circular library stamp is visible at the upper right and another near the bottom. Faded marginal notes appear on the right side.Document

Secondary source

Codex Bodleianus

c. 11th-12th century

Title page of a 1558 Latin and Greek edition of Marcus Aurelius's Meditations, printed in Zurich by Andreas Gesner. The page lists Xylander as translator and includes a second title for Marinus' Life of Proclus.Book

Primary source

Meditations

Marcus Aurelius · c. 170-180 AD (this edition printed 1558)

Scan of the inside cover or flyleaf of a book, grey and aged, with an oval library stamp reading 'Bibliotheque de la Ville de Poitiers' and 'D 3463' at top left, and handwritten shelfmark 'v. 33.' and 'in 8°' in the centre. No title page text is visible.Book

Secondary source

Altercacion, dialogue de l'Empereur Adrian et du Philosophe Epictete

Jean de Coras (translator)

Ready when you are

Start chatting with Epictetus now.

20 messages free · No credit card · Available in 50+ languages.

Trial Humy for freeGet a quote for institutions