Stoic Lessons: Musonius Rufus' Complete Works

by Chuck Chakrapani

This is the complete works of Musonius Rufus (25-95CE), the man who taught Epictetus. While he was very well-known and respected during his time, he is less widely known now. He was a social activist, a proto-feminist, a vegetarian, and a minimalist. No topic is too small or too big for him. Here are some of the topics covered in this book * Women and men are equal. * Why hardships are of little importance? * Why everyone should study philosophy? * Where you live or are forced to live is of no importance. * Don’t take things personally and be personally insulted. * Live "according to nature" * Live a virtuous family life. * Live a simple life. *Children should obey their parents, but not indiscriminately. *If you keep practicing virtue, you don’t need anything special in your old age.

Genres: Philosophy, Nonfiction

155 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 12, 2018

Reviews

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

Part of the issue is his works are generally second-hand only. They're good historically, but they don't strike me as much as his student's Epictetus or Seneca. Plus, while some aspects were ahead of their time, they're views that are somewhat archaic now. A good thing to read, however, if you're interested in philosophy.

[Andre · Rating 3 out of 5]

This review is not a comment on the translation, but on Rufus' ideas.

I was looking forward to finally reading Rufus. I have read most of the other Stoic's work that survives. (I like Senenca the best). But I have to say I was a bit disappointed. Considering Rufus was Epictetus' teacher I was expecting more.

One component of Stoicism is living according to nature; acknowledging the nature of things, people, etc. Knowing what you can change and not fretting over what you can't. There is definitely some of that approach here. But there is way too much "wishful thinking" about the nature of man, woman, etc. Much more "man ought to..." rather than "man is such and such..." Musonius' concepts of marriage and how men and women should interact is very naive. True he's more progressive than other Stoics, but frankly he should have left well enough alone.

If you want to read the "classics" then definitely pick this up. But if you're just getting into Stoicism I'd stick to other classical authors, or even pick up a modern take on Stoicism.

[Giuliano · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good source of Stoic knowledge. Musonius Rufus was Epictetus' teacher and many of the themes found in the latter's 'Discourses' are drawn directly from Rufus' teachings. A must read for anyone with an interest in Stoicism.

[Jerel Wilmore · Rating 4 out of 5]

A useful gloss on the admittedly fragmentary works of Musonius Rufus, a Roman Stoic philosopher who taught Epictetus, who then influenced the great Stoic Marcus Aurelius.

[Aaron Pincus · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think Epictetus quoted the best of Masonius in his works. But it was useful to fill out the rest with this quick and useful read.