Stephen Downes

I like the way Miguel Guhlin is recasting Epictetus's Enchiridion, a core work in Stoic philosophy. He sets up the series with this podcast episode and then settles in with the actual chapters (three of six so far: one, two, three). "It opens with the Stoic premise stated plainly: 'some things are up to us, and some things aren't. What's up to us is our own perspective, our goals, and our choices. What's out of our hands is our health, our wealth, and our reputation.'" Or, put another way: "Look, the person who can give you what you want, or take away what you're afraid of losing - that person is your master. If you want to be completely free, stop wanting things from other people and stop fearing what they can do. Otherwise, you're just a slave in a nice suit." Now, of course, there are things we can do that influence our health, reputation and wealth - we don't live in the year 135 any more. But the advice - that we should focus on what is within our control - is still good.