The philosopher and the acrobat (Epictetus, /Discourses/ 3.12)

Le philosophe et l’acrobate

Thomas Bénatouïl (1, 2)

1 STL - Savoirs, Textes, Langage (STL) - UMR 8163
2 Lille Humanités - Université de Lille - Faculté des Humanités

This paper offers an analysis of Epictetus, Discourses 3.12 « On Training ». To explain the objects, the functions and risks of philosophical exercises in Epictetus, I study his criticism of acrobatic exercises and of Diogenes’ practice of cynicism as a public performance, to which Epictetus opposes his notion of philosophical training as essentially private and even invisible.

Mots clés: training; exercise; performance; Diogenes of Sinope; cynicism; Epictetus

Domaines: Philosophie

Thomas Bénatouïl. Le philosophe et l’acrobate. Methodos : savoirs et textes, 2021, L'exercice en art, 21, ⟨10.4000/methodos.8427⟩. ⟨halshs-03128862⟩