Critique of Epicetus's "Encheiridion"

Epictetus’ thoughts in “Encheiridion” do not stray from the Via Romana, which promotes hard work and conservatism over the enjoyment of aesthetics and emotional indulgences. For Romans, at least, happiness is a meager issue compared to a Roman citizen’s obligations to the State and to his gods. In this manual of ethics, Epictetus suggests that Romans – and possibly non-Romans – should entirely reject the relative and fleeting satisfactions of judgment, indulgence, and expectation to achieve what he calls a “harmony with nature.” He believes that through an extreme sense of humility, we are able to better handle our destiny and put it into a perspective that is ultimately righteous. As appropriately idealistic as these notions might seem to a Roman citizen, they are wholly unrealistic and ultimately inapplicable to a rational human mind.
It seems that repression, rather than happiness, is the goal of a good life to Epictetus. He suggests that a human neglect h...