Here is the second of an occasional series of video chats with authors and translators who have written about the philosophy, culture, and history of the Greco-Roman tradition.
In this episode of “Meet the Greco-Romans” I talk to Anthony Long, arguably the top living scholar on the Stoic philosopher Epictetus.
Tony is a British-American classical scholar, currently the Chancellor's Professor Emeritus of Classics, Irving Stone Professor of Literature Emeritus, and Affiliated Professor of Philosophy and Rhetoric at the University of California, Berkeley.
He was educated at Manchester the University College London (1957–1960) where he took a first class honors degree in classics and was subsequently awarded a PhD degree.
Between 1961 and 1971, Tony held lecturer positions in classics at the University of Otago, the University of Nottingham, and University College London, where he was promoted to the position of reader in 1971. In 1973, he moved to the University of Liverpool to take up the post of Gladstone Professor of Greek, a position he held until assuming the position of professor of classics at University of California, Berkeley in 1982. He retired at the end of June 2013 but continues to be active as a professor of the Graduate School, teaching courses in classics and philosophy, while pursuing his program of lectures and conferences and visiting appointments and ongoing research.
Tony is best known for his innovative work on Hellenistic philosophy. He was elected a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 1989, Corresponding Fellow of the British Academy in 1992, and a member of the American Philosophical Society in 2009. He was awarded an honorary doctor of philosophy degree by the University of Crete in 2015.
Here is a partial list of recommended books by Tony (most recent on top):
Selfhood and Rationality in Ancient Greek Philosophy: From Heraclitus to Plotinus
Plotinus Ennead II.4: On Matter
Seneca: Fifty Letters of a Roman Stoic
How to Be Free: An Ancient Guide to the Stoic Life
From Epicurus to Epictetus: Studies in Hellenistic and Roman Philosophy
Epictetus: A Stoic and Socratic Guide to Life
And here is our video chat:
Cool dude, great discussion of practical impressions of Epictetus’ teaching. “..even in extreme circumstances you can be something.” Thank you!
listening to you both was just delightful. thank you