‘[Simplicius’] moral interpretation of Epictetus is preserved in the library of nations, as a classic book, most excellently adapted to direct the will, to purify the heart, and to confirm the understanding, by a just confidence in the nature both of God and man.’Edward Gibbon’This book, written by a "pagan" philosopher, makes the most Christian impression conceivable. The betrayal of all reality through morality is here present in its fullest splendour – pitiful psychology, the philosopher is reduced to a country parson. And Plato is to blame for all of it! He remains Europe’s greatest misfortune!’Fredrich Nietzsche Of these two rival reactions the favourable one was most common. Epictetus’ Handbook on ethics was used in Christian monasteries, and Simplicius’ commentary on it was widely available up to the nineteenth century. The commentary gives us a fascinating chance to see how a pagan Neoplatonist transformed Stoic ideas, adding Neoplatonist accounts of theology, theodicy, providence, free will and the problem of evil. This translation of the Commentary on the Handbook is published in two volumes. This is the first, covering chapters 1-26; the second covers chapters 27-53.
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