... This is an interesting question; let me disclose that a) I am a newbie to this Stoa, and b) my political persuasion is libertarian. If one applies the...
3830
pdlanagan
Jun 1, 2002 11:40 pm
... extremes. One cannot have too much virtue. Epictetus says as much in Chapter 1 of his handbook. Regards...
3831
R&F Bamford
scipan_rick
Jun 2, 2002 12:40 am
I disagree. As a fan of Aristotle's Golden Mean rule, I think Virtue and the mean point between extremes are not only compatible, but necessarily so. This...
3832
charlesbricebroadway
charlesbrice...
Jun 2, 2002 2:25 am
I agree with pdlanagan. You can never have too much virtue. I think Aristotle's Mean is a product of his erroneous idea that the indifferents are actually...
3833
R&F Bamford
scipan_rick
Jun 2, 2002 3:34 am
I agree you cannot have too much virtue, but since I see virtue as the sum of all means, our viewpoints on this matter are not incompatible. Perhaps my view...
3834
charlesbricebroadway
charlesbrice...
Jun 2, 2002 4:27 am
In reading Pierre Hadot's The Inner Citadel, I was really struck by his discussion concerning why Stoicism is the only rational answer to the question of how...
3835
charlesbricebroadway
charlesbrice...
Jun 2, 2002 5:33 am
Mr. Bamford, It is not my aim to deter you from the Stoic life. I will not say that it is easy since it is not. But the denial of luxuries is definitely not...
3836
ELEN BUZARE
elen_buzare
Jun 2, 2002 8:06 am
Hello Charles, Could you tell me more about Camus'Physics (if you know something about it). A ex-member of Stoici Amici wanted to replace the physics of...
3837
Keith Seddon
khs10uk
Jun 2, 2002 12:45 pm
... I don't think Seneca's value as a mentor can be undermined by the fact that he was criticised (by his enemies, note) or even by the fact that some...
3838
charlesbricebroadway
charlesbrice...
Jun 2, 2002 1:24 pm
I don't know very much about Camus except for the myth of Sisyphus. I assume that he was an atheist/nihilist and held to the belief that the universe was...
3839
R&F Bamford
scipan_rick
Jun 2, 2002 8:19 pm
I agree that pain gives life meaning, for we all spend our lives trying to avoid that which is painful or unpleasant to us, and gravitating toward those things...
3840
Jan E Garrett
chrys1943
Jun 2, 2002 10:08 pm
The idea that virtue is a mean (essentially an Aristotelian idea, with considerable foundation in common sense, which of course is sometimes wrong, as even...
3841
Keith Seddon
khs10uk
Jun 2, 2002 10:57 pm
... I know exactly what you mean. Over and above being 'befuddled' by Stoic philosophy I find that other people, sometimes friends, can be downright hostile....
3842
Jan E Garrett
chrys1943
Jun 3, 2002 3:09 am
The Stoic sage, whose life is the model that Stoics have in mind, will worry or not worry depending on the meaning of the term. For "worry" has at least two...
3843
Jan E Garrett
chrys1943
Jun 3, 2002 3:05 pm
Over the many months I have been involved with this forum, I have noticed that quite a number of us have noticed similarities between certain forms of Buddhism...
3844
charlesbricebroadway
charlesbrice...
Jun 3, 2002 4:03 pm
Dr. Seddon, The hostility you are referring to is pretty basic to human beings. For instance, religious fanatics are often hostile to those who do not share...
3845
Sam
epam371
Jun 3, 2002 4:49 pm
Our reticence toward the doctrine of the mean has deep roots. Historically the Stoa was very much a rival of the Lyceum (Aristotle's school) as they both were...
3846
Sam
epam371
Jun 3, 2002 5:39 pm
Bravo - I think CBB has hit on a great insight: politics as we use the term today (indeed, as it is defined in universities) is all about "power." That power ...
3847
charlesbricebroadway
charlesbrice...
Jun 3, 2002 9:27 pm
Sam, I think this is the real test. Imagine that you were sent back in time to the WTC on the morning of Sept. 11 around 7 a.m. Knowing what you know, you act...
3848
Sam
epam371
Jun 4, 2002 3:13 am
Well, I would feel sad, quite naturally. Perhaps even extremely sad - after it was over, or perhaps while it was happening. My question is whether that ...
3849
charlesbricebroadway
charlesbrice...
Jun 4, 2002 10:32 am
Sam, The point I was trying to make and probably failed to make is that such a circumstance that I described usually produces a feeling of frustration. In...
3850
Sam
epam371
Jun 4, 2002 2:20 pm
... Your entire letter was insightful, and has been quite comforting to me at an approrpiate time. Thank you. Sam...
3851
Jan E Garrett
chrys1943
Jun 4, 2002 3:00 pm
... Your entire letter was insightful, and has been quite comforting to me at an approrpiate time. Thank you. Sam It is preferred that the Forum occasionally...
3852
R&F Bamford
scipan_rick
Jun 5, 2002 2:22 am
Agreed. One of his better letters. And a good illustration of why Stoicism retains my interest, despite some difficulties I have with it. Though he be ...
3853
William Annis
sedhom
Jun 5, 2002 2:09 pm
... This is an interesing point. I wonder if completely strikes to the heart of the matter, though. ... Ack! ... Now the more important question: *why* do...
3854
charlesbricebroadway
charlesbrice...
Jun 5, 2002 10:42 pm
William Annis, People are more complex than I have painted them, but I think the kernel remains. They wish to extend control because they believe that a proper...
3855
charlesbricebroadway
charlesbrice...
Jun 5, 2002 11:08 pm
This is directed more towards Dr. Garrett, but I will take any response that is offered. First of all, I am a determinist. This is largely the residue of my ...
3856
Jan E Garrett
chrys1943
Jun 6, 2002 12:14 am
Your view seems quite coherent, Charles, and not far from the view of classical Stoicism, not surprising at this point. I appreciate the internal consistency...
3857
charlesbricebroadway
charlesbrice...
Jun 6, 2002 1:48 am
Dr. Garrett, Could you elaborate more on the difference between the Stoics on this issue of amor fati/defiance? Where would Zeno and Chrysippus have stood on...
3858
R&F Bamford
scipan_rick
Jun 6, 2002 2:23 am
I am often confused as to how I should react to fundamentalist theists. While I am indifferent to what individuals believe spiritually, no matter how absurd it...
