Short Works · Chapter
Chapter XXVII explained
A brief, aphoristic chapter asserting that just as a target is not set up to be missed, evil does not exist as an inherent part of the world's nature.
What happens
A brief, aphoristic chapter asserting that just as a target is not set up to be missed, evil does not exist as an inherent part of the world's nature.
Free preview opens on this chapter — companions, themes, and character notes appear beside the text.
Narrative arc
Story tension across the book.
- Setup
- Escalation
- Breaking point
- Aftermath
- Closing
This moment is the emotional and philosophical peak where Epictetus forces the reader into a crisis of choice,…
Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.
Follow the arc while readingThemes in this chapter
- Acceptance of Nature and Fate
Directly addresses the Stoic view of the cosmos, arguing that evil is not an inherent feature of Nature's design, which should be accepted.
- Reason as Guide and Consolation
Implies that using reason correctly leads to the understanding that the world is not fundamentally evil, offering a consoling perspective.
Characters to notice
- Epictetus
The author of the aphorism, presenting a core Stoic metaphysical view on the nature of evil.
Key passages
“As a mark is not set up for the purpose of missing the aim, so neither does the nature of evil exist in the world.”
A target exists to be hit, not missed. Similarly, the fundamental design of the world does not include evil as an intended feature.
Uses an analogy from archery to make a metaphysical claim about the providential, rational order of the cosmos.
