The Discourses, a work attributed to the ancient Stoic philosopher Epictetus, is believed to have been compiled from Epictetus’s lectures by his student Arrian. Some claim that Arrian himself authored The Discourses and falsely attributed authorship to Epictetus. That is, however, highly unlikely. Epictetus’s views were well known by his contemporaries in Roman society; if Arrian tried to pass off his own views as Epictetus’s, this deception would soon be exposed.
Summarize Argument
The author concludes that the claim that Arrian wrote The Discourses and falsely attributed the work to Epictetus is highly unlikely. He supports this by saying that Epictetus’s views were widely known, so if Arrian had tried to pass off his own views as Epictetus’s, the deception would have been quickly exposed.
Notable Assumptions
The author assumes that there was a clear and easily identifiable distinction between the views of Epictetus and Arrian, which would make any attempt to falsely attribute the work apparent. He also assumes that Epictetus’s contemporaries could have exposed the deception publicly and that that exposure would still be known today. Finally, he assumes that there aren’t any other reasons that may have motivated Arrian to falsely attribute The Discourses to Epictetus.
A
The Discourses would have received very little attention in Roman society if that work had not been attributed to Epictetus.
This weakens the argument by suggesting that Arrian may have been motivated to falsely attribute The Discourses to Epictetus in order for the work to receive more public attention.
B
Some of the philosophy that modern scholars believe Arrian subscribed to can be found in The Discourses.
This doesn’t strengthen the argument because, whether Arrian wrote The Discourses and falsely attributed it to Epictetus or just compiled his teacher’s lectures, it makes sense that some of Arrian’s own philosophy would be in the work.
C
Arrian in some ways modeled himself on the historian Xenophon, who had written works that he falsely attributed to the philosopher Socrates.
The fact that Arrian modeled himself in some ways on a historian who falsely attributed works to a famous philosopher does not strengthen the argument. We don’t know which of Xenophon’s ideas or practices Arrian adopted.
D
Arrian had high status in Roman society, which he knew would be undermined if he were shown to be dishonest.
This strengthens the argument by giving another reason why Arrian likely wouldn’t have falsely attributed The Discourses to Epictetus. Arrian’s high status would be damaged if he were seen as dishonest, and it’s reasonable to assume he wouldn’t want that.
E
During his long career, Arrian was a soldier, a consul of Rome, and a governor in Turkey.
This fails to address whether or not it is likely that Arrian falsely attributed The Discourses to Epictetus. Arrian’s various positions throughout his long career are not relevant to the argument.