Our residential weekends take place in the UK. One module is made up of three weekends (this module: 5-7 September 2025, 24-26 October 2025 and 5-7 December 2025. For more information on how we run these please read our dedicated page here.
Course theme:
Simplicius (sixth century CE), one of the very last of the line of ancient philosophers who followed the Platonic tradition wrote a commentary on the Handbook of Epictetus as an introduction to the life of a philosophy. Our autumn module will be based around this work which is a fascinating mixture of Stoicism and Platonism. What Simplicius does is take the basic doctrine of the Stoic Epictetus and reset it in the wider spiritual framework of Platonism.
Across the three weekends we will be able to consider the core message of Epictetus – that we should act well with regard to “what is up to us” but be undisturbed by “that which is not up to us” while exploring the nature of soul; its place within the divine scheme; the role of a philosopher in community and in the cosmos; the derivative nature of evil; and the primacy of providence, and much else besides.
The Handbook is a practical guide written in different age (first century CE) and in a society in many ways very different from ours – which means we will need work back to the principles which lie behind the advice it offers – principles that apply to the essential nature of the human soul when embodied. But this examination too should encourage a deeper appreciation of the ways of philosophical thought, as we study the text and talk through the issues involved.
The weekends take place 5-7 September 2025, 24-26 October 2025 and 5-7 December 2025- costs per weekend range from £175 to £200 (which includes all food and drink and either a non-suite or ensuite bedroom). Bursaries and payment plans are available- payments are due three weeks before each weekend. Refunds only available with enough notice. For more information on how we run these please read our dedicated page here.
Bookings close 11 August 2025- first payment due 15 August 2025. If after you’ve read the dedicated page, please do get in touch with any questions or complete a booking form by following this link.