• 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

A Student of Socrates

Tag: Ergon