• Translation Matters: The Ergon of Stoicism

  

  I am no expert in translating ancient languages, but I know enough to recognise when a misunderstanding has become pervasive. In popular Stoicism, the important phrase that might lead people astray is: ‘in one word, whatever are our own actions.’ Alarm bells ought to be set ringing by the obvious contradiction there: whatever is said ‘in one word’ in ancient Greek is something that takes five words to say in English. But to what ‘one word’ does this phrase refer? […]

  drtobybetenson

  28th Nov 2023

  Philosophy

  Ancient Greek, Aristotle, Enchiridion, Epictetus, Ergon, Ethics, Philosophy as a Way of Life, Stoicism

• Translation Matters: The Happiness of Stoicism

  

  The meaning of the word ‘happiness’ has never been straightforward. Most of us aren’t clear what it means in our own language, let alone what it meant in an ancient one. This makes translation difficult. Most widely-available translations of ancient Stoic works think it easier to just say ‘happy’ and trust that people will understand more or less the right thing by that. But I think it’s an important word, and I’m not sure ‘happy’ is good enough. […]

  drtobybetenson

  19th Nov 2023

  Philosophy

  Ancient Greek, Aristotle, Epictetus, Ethics, Eudaimonia, Grief, Happiness, Philosophy as a Way of Life, Socrates, Stoicism

A Student of Socrates

Tag: Ancient Greek