Thoughts on Virtue, Part 1 – Sacred Life
If whilst walking in the countryside you encounter a spider’s web that blocks your path, do you go around or do you break it? Does it matter if the spider Continue Reading
On Old Age by Cicero – fourth objection, It is not far from death.
We come to the last conclusion of this series, the fourth objection: “We must finally consider the fourth objection to growing old – an objection that seems especially calculated Continue Reading
On Old Age by Cicero – Third objection, It deprives us of almost all sensual pleasures.
Moving on from the last topic, Cato continues on his defence of old age; he gladly proclaims: “We come now to the third objection to growing older – that Continue Reading
Cathars or Western Buddhists?
In the wake of a thrilling conversation with my good friend and collaborator on this site (Epicurus of Albion) the other day I decided to dive deep into the mystical Continue Reading
On Old Age by Cicero – Second objection, it weakens the body.
Cato continues his pep talk on why old age should not be looked upon as a burden: “I no longer wish for the strength of youth – that Continue Reading
On Old Age by Cicero – First objection, It takes us away from an active life.
In the first objection against old age, Cato fights against the claim of old age as a period in our lives where things slow down and stagnate and Continue Reading
On Old Age by Cicero – Intro, Preliminary Discourses & Minor Arguments
Bust of Cato the Elder Introduction Based on its mention in three letters to Atticus, Cicero’s friend, the earliest of which was written on 12th of May, 44 BC, Continue Reading
Hierocles and The Cosmopolitan Ideal in the Ancient World.
The origins of cosmopolitanism can be traced all of the way back to the 4th Century BC, to the then much loved (as indeed he still is today) Diogenes of Continue Reading
The Legislative State
In the developed world with western economies such as the USA, Europe and the UK there are a never-ending plethora of new laws being passed by government day in day Continue Reading
Marcus Aurelius on time, entropy, history and the love of life…
I absolutely love Marcus Aurelius, I’ve never met him of course (I’m much too young for that), but I’ve read his works and in a sense, the spirit of the Continue Reading
The Internet and Free Speech
We live in a polarized age, mainly thanks to the internet. It’s a double-edged sword and like all gifts of the gods, it can cut both ways. It can bring Continue Reading
What is Philosophy For? (According to the Stoics)
It’s amazing, that one of the things that I treasure about getting older (for me at least,) is that I have an increased sense of gratitude for the life that Continue Reading
10 Ways to deal with your enemies like a Roman Emperor
I’ve always been the type of guy who thought that he didn’t have enemies in life. I was the nice guy, I did nice things, I was kind to everyone, Continue Reading
Epictetus on insulting behavior and character assassination…
When I was a kid, going to school and growing up in the 1970’s the adults around us used to encourage us to be unbothered or indifferent to the name Continue Reading
Stoic Paradoxes – Paradox 6 That the wise man alone is rich
We finally arrive at the last paradox; Paradox VI. That the wise man alone is rich. Cicero gives us his definition, revealed later, on what makes us rich and Continue Reading
The Tyranny of Positive Thinking
I’ve got an app on my desktop that helpfully shows me little philosophical proverbs and quotes, every day. It’s been very good in the recent past but has crossed the Continue Reading
The Stoic approach to life and death.
“Nobody is born on purpose,” that’s an oft-quoted remark from one of my favourite tv shows at the moment, namely ‘Rick and Morty,’ that underlines a profound truth, that as Continue Reading
Stoic Paradoxes – Paradox 5 That the wise man alone is free, and that every fool is a slave.
Now to enter the world of Paradox V. That the wise man alone is free, and that every fool is a slave. As part of the commentary of Cicero’s Stoic Continue Reading