Do I give assent to this?
Among the tools of the stoics is Epictetus’ Discipline of Assent. Now the Greek work for consent or approval is sunkatathesis, but in the stoic context it means agreeing with Continue Reading
Premeditatio malorum – ‘premeditation of adversity’
We just don’t know for certain what is around the corner as we go about living our lives. When times are rosy, we naturally let our guard down in Continue Reading
Stoic response to death – Returning to non-existence
The notion there’s no afterlife after death, only an oblivious nothingness absent of consciousness, was an idea already familiar in the ancient world. The Greek philosophers entertained this view Continue Reading
Stoic response to death – Time’s running out…
The stoics were in the habit of reminding their friends through their letters, the students in lecture halls and especially themselves on the certainty of death. Seneca, like all Continue Reading
Memento Mori – Remember you will die…
This part is a build up towards the main point: the stoic response to death. So for now there will only be minimal mention of stoicism here. Memento Continue Reading
Goodbye 2020
It’s been a tough year in more ways than one for many people, many countries around the world have endured repeated lockdowns and economic harm as a result of the Continue Reading
Are you Evil?
I’ve thought long and hard on this for a very long time, years, in fact, ploughing my way through the moral maze of intent, unintended consequence and much, much more Continue Reading
Fritz Haber, A lesson in Karma
Fritz Haber (born 1868), was a Polish Jew, who received a Nobel prize in Chemistry for his invention of the Haber-Bosch process (a method used in industry to synthesize ammonia Continue Reading
Philosophy at a funeral; a lived experience…
News of death Last year my maternal grandmother passed away, she was in her eighties. Some background is in order: my grandmother was taken ill to hospital and was eight Continue Reading
Stoic deconstructionism – looking at the way things are
There is a passage in Book 6 of Marcus Aurelius’ meditations, which I found outlined an interesting method. Marcus wrote of a perspective that deconstructs the appearance of things, more of Continue Reading