Through an approach that brings together contributors from various specialties, this volume, which is the result of international meetings in ancient philosophy, seeks to give an account of Epictetus' thought in all its richness by examining the historical, rhetorical and philosophical issues at stake in Epictetus' Discourses, Book 3.

This issue brings together the papers of a workshop focusing on the theme of man and animal: human beings speak about themselves through the animal, and make the animal in their image and, sometimes take its appearance. The exploration of the resemblance between human beings and animals constitutes, because it allows us to question human nature.

But prior to the full appropriation of this principle by the psychology, early modern thinkers and philosophers have argued and hesitated about the nature of this phenomenon and its correct explanation. The papers edited here intend to study different kinds of problems that arise when one tries to define and give an account of this connection.

Questions regarding the role and value of social conflict in democracy are nothing new. The following contributions examine the democratic potential of agonism, either directly or through a broader approach that engages longstanding questions in the field – revealing its complexity.