Yesssireee .. Sirs & Madams… “looking”, in human terms, appears to have the equivalent effect of the sun shining on water — both can ‘evaporate’ the target of what is being viewed / shone upon! ( problems / water.) 🙂
aotc, there are two uses of “Virtue” here. One is a specific moral value or quality that you show here, and the other is an action or skill that creates a state of excellence the greek call “Arete.”
There were so many Philosophy schools that I’m sure there were various uses for it.
The definition I showed was the Pythagorean value that a virtue involves ones own Power, Reason and Deliberate Choice as per “The Pythagorean Sourcebook” a text with all the remaining references of them collected in one place in the chapter “Virtue.”
The Stoics parallel this with the notion of three disciplines in their philosophy that align with these three elements: Physics (Power), Logic (Reason) and Ethics (Deliberate Choice). Physics in this case would be understanding “matter, energy space and time” as it relates to your world and how it creates your body. Power is your ability RIGHT NOW and Deliberate Choice is the choice you make based on the other two.
Actually … that’s wrong. Typed too quickly.
Physics (Power) would be your actual material potential manifested in the Universe, Logic (Reason) your understanding and processing of your situation and Ethics (Deliberate Choice) is acting by a specific intention one arrived at through the other two … for Arete.
or AS Arete (Quality, Excellence).
The Classic Stoic Fork:
Is this under my control?
If yes, act with virtue for the sake of virtue itself and take pleasure in your created virtue as you act.
You probably know this already, but Marcus was a student of Epictetus.
I just discovered Aurelius myself. I learned about him after finding out that Pres. Bill Clinton’s favorite book is “Meditations.”
Epictetus short “Handbook” is a powerful work designed to bring Stoic practices to the commoner. I linked it above in the unlikely event that you haven’t read it.
For me, the realization that I can create virtue in any circumstance is the most liberating idea I have come across, and the Stoics were the best at demonstrating it.
Acting in Virtue is akin to a making love to a celestial goddess unselfishly. OF COURSE one wants that. And what would be the point? The point is virtue herself and her love IS the point.
Virtue in action is a combination of one’s Power, Reason and Deliberate Choice.
Geir Isene - uncut 
Illogics reside in the subjective.
Yep! And if I insist on keeping my problem, I must also resist simply looking at it! 🙂
It’s not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters.
– Epictetus
Yes.
“When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.” –Anonymous (according to Wayne Dyer)
Wayne Dyer even makes the case – in this 3-minute vid – that this is a scientific datum:
And this is how even physics works at the most fundamental level.
Yesssireee .. Sirs & Madams… “looking”, in human terms, appears to have the equivalent effect of the sun shining on water — both can ‘evaporate’ the target of what is being viewed / shone upon! ( problems / water.) 🙂
It isn’t the thing itself it’s what you bring to it (approx) – Marcus Aurelius
Great Stoic-nessity aotc!
“Work, therefore to be able to say to every harsh appearance, ‘You are but an appearance, and not absolutely the thing you appear to be’.”
– Epicketus ”
http://classics.mit.edu/Epictetus/epicench.html
The Stoic “Bridge” has returned. Three programs in Stoic Philosophy available at the College of Stoic Philosophers. Each relies on the other.
Hope they don’t cult it up.
http://collegeofstoicphilosophers.org
Thanks Kat, great to share good reading! Here’s an article you might like:
http://edwardfeser.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/cardinal-virtues-and-counterfeit-virtues.html
aotc, there are two uses of “Virtue” here. One is a specific moral value or quality that you show here, and the other is an action or skill that creates a state of excellence the greek call “Arete.”
There were so many Philosophy schools that I’m sure there were various uses for it.
The definition I showed was the Pythagorean value that a virtue involves ones own Power, Reason and Deliberate Choice as per “The Pythagorean Sourcebook” a text with all the remaining references of them collected in one place in the chapter “Virtue.”
The Stoics parallel this with the notion of three disciplines in their philosophy that align with these three elements: Physics (Power), Logic (Reason) and Ethics (Deliberate Choice). Physics in this case would be understanding “matter, energy space and time” as it relates to your world and how it creates your body. Power is your ability RIGHT NOW and Deliberate Choice is the choice you make based on the other two.
Actually … that’s wrong. Typed too quickly.
Physics (Power) would be your actual material potential manifested in the Universe, Logic (Reason) your understanding and processing of your situation and Ethics (Deliberate Choice) is acting by a specific intention one arrived at through the other two … for Arete.
or AS Arete (Quality, Excellence).
The Classic Stoic Fork:
Is this under my control?
If yes, act with virtue for the sake of virtue itself and take pleasure in your created virtue as you act.
If not … FUCK IT.
Pretty much sums it up 🙂
Marcus Aurelius is a fovorite of mine.
You probably know this already, but Marcus was a student of Epictetus.
I just discovered Aurelius myself. I learned about him after finding out that Pres. Bill Clinton’s favorite book is “Meditations.”
Epictetus short “Handbook” is a powerful work designed to bring Stoic practices to the commoner. I linked it above in the unlikely event that you haven’t read it.
For me, the realization that I can create virtue in any circumstance is the most liberating idea I have come across, and the Stoics were the best at demonstrating it.
Acting in Virtue is akin to a making love to a celestial goddess unselfishly. OF COURSE one wants that. And what would be the point? The point is virtue herself and her love IS the point.
Virtue in action is a combination of one’s Power, Reason and Deliberate Choice.
Bottom line: Virtue is the meaning we all crave. And it is a created meaning. Which means it is truly our own and worthy of great esteem.
UPDATED DEFN: Virtue in action is a combination of one’s Power, Reason and Deliberate Choice for Virtue itself.
I believe you are right about this. Makes me think that Cantor was onto some real life wisdom when he saw that the basic set is an empty set.
So right, Geir. We just cannot tolerate ’emptiness’! … Thus we add on!.. and on! ..and on! … and… 🙂
Most succinctly stated, Kat. I also hold that Enthusiasm for Life, is yet another Virtue.