Post by JoeC on Jun 25, 2014 21:29:41 GMT -5
To the ancient Stoics philosophy was conceived as a two part process. During the first part, students would familiarize themselves with the doctrines and academics of Stoicism. However, many of the surviving texts we have emphasis the importance of conditioning oneself to act on the information they had previously learned in the classroom.
Epictetus gives us this hint on how he suggests that we do this:
He suggests here that we write out doctrines daily. Some of what he might suggest seems fairly obvious from the context in which the passage is written. Others might be less obvious. Below is my list. Feel free to add to it, take away or alter the wording. Let me know your thoughts.
1) In our power are our opinions, desires and aversion; our own acts.
2) Not in our power are whatever acts are not our own.
3) That which is in our power are by nature free, not subject to restraint or hindrance.
4) That which is not in our power is weak, slavish, subject to restraint and held in the power of others.
5) That which is in our power, virtue, is the only real goods.
6) That which is contrary to virtue and nature (vice), is necessarily bad.
7) All other things are merely indifferents, to be taken and given away freely as they come and go from our lives.
8) Look at every trial in your life as an opportunity to show your virtue to nature, for nature does not test as vigorously those she deems unworthy of her efforts.
9) Master your opinions and you will master yourself.
10) Do not desire that which is not in your power, and no thing will ever vex your soul or have power over you. Then you will be truly free.
“For even sheep do not vomit up their grass and show to the shepherds how much they have eaten; but when they have internally digested the pasture, they produce externally wool and milk. Do you also show not your theorems to the uninstructed, but show the acts which come from their digestion.”
What then should a man have in readiness in such circumstances? What else than "What is mine, and what is not mine; and permitted to me, and what is not permitted to me." I must die. Must I then die lamenting? I must be put in chains. Must I then also lament? I must go into exile. Does any man then hinder me from going with smiles and cheerfulness and contentment? "Tell me the secret which you possess." I will not, for this is in my power. "But I will put you in chains." Man, what are you talking about? Me in chains? You may fetter my leg, but my will not even Zeus himself can overpower. "I will throw you into prison." My poor body, you mean. "I will cut your head off." When, then, have I told you that my head alone cannot be cut off? These are the things which philosophers should meditate on, which they should write daily, in which they should exercise themselves.
1) In our power are our opinions, desires and aversion; our own acts.
2) Not in our power are whatever acts are not our own.
3) That which is in our power are by nature free, not subject to restraint or hindrance.
4) That which is not in our power is weak, slavish, subject to restraint and held in the power of others.
5) That which is in our power, virtue, is the only real goods.
6) That which is contrary to virtue and nature (vice), is necessarily bad.
7) All other things are merely indifferents, to be taken and given away freely as they come and go from our lives.
8) Look at every trial in your life as an opportunity to show your virtue to nature, for nature does not test as vigorously those she deems unworthy of her efforts.
9) Master your opinions and you will master yourself.
10) Do not desire that which is not in your power, and no thing will ever vex your soul or have power over you. Then you will be truly free.
