Justus Lipsius: On Constancy

Sellers (Oxford U.) modernizes and otherwise slightly revises Stradling's translation as published in Rudolf Kirk's 1939 edition, and includes some editorial material by Kirk. He also provides an introduction setting Lipsius' 1584 attempt to reconcile Stoicism with Christianity in historical and philosophical context. Distributed in the US by the David Brown Book Company. Annotation ©2007 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
Lipsius’ De Constantia of 1584 is a key Humanist text. A dialogue in two books, conceived as a philosophical consolation for those suffering through contemporary religious wars, it proved immensely popular in its day and formed the inspiration for what has become known as ‘Neo­stoicism.’ This movement advocated the revival of Stoic ethics in a from that would be palatable to a Christian audience. In De Constantia Lipsius deploys Stoic arguments concerning appropriate attitudes towards emotions and external events. He also makes clear which parts of stoic philosophy must be rejected, including its materialism and its determinism. De Constantia was translated into a number of vernacular languages soon after its original publication in Latin. Of the English translations that were made, that by Sir John Stradling (1595) became a classic; it was last reprinted in 1939. The present edition offers a lightly revised version of Stradling’s translation, updated for modern readers, along with a new introduction, notes and bibliography.