Aitia (Dec 2022)
Le masque de Socrate dans le théâtre du monde d’Épictète-Arrien
Abstract
Arrian is the only person responsible for Epictetus’ Dissertationes as a literary work. He adopts the strategy of the disciple who makes himself invisible to better ensure the effectiveness of his master’s speeches. In the world of Dissertationes, which he describes in a theatrical atmosphere, he presents the philosopher with the help of the figure of Socrates in particular, to whom he reserves the role of the refuter. Socrates is thus the paradigm of how to implement the fundamental principle of taking care of oneself. This paradigm is intended to help people who are more or less well-disposed towards philosophy to discern what is really up to us. In the elaboration of this figure of Socrates, the Cynic tradition, especially that of Antisthenes, should not be overlooked. Moreover, Arrian brings in the figure of Diogenes the Cynic, in particular for the role of the royal philosopher who must rebuke those who are distanced from philosophy. The Cynic’s role is to encourage them to face enemies who frighten and tyrannize them, even though they are only « scarecrows ». The doctrinaire philosopher, represented by Zeno, does not fit into the framework of Dissertationes (i.e. mobilising people towards philosophy, and not transmitting doctrines), nor does the man who is only concerned with the beauty of speeches and the applause of the audience. Arrian’s philosophical ethos cannot be restricted to Dissertationes, even if it is in this early work that the author most fully exercised his philosophical mission, adopting the mask of the disciple and using the mask of his own master Epictetus, and in a complementary way those of Socrates and Diogenes.
