On Facing the World with Confidence:
http://www.stoics.com/seneca_epistles_book_3.html#‘CV1
This essay explains how to keep yourself safe. It says to own nothing that could stir jealousy in others, keep to yourself, live a private life--as to avoid notice of others. Don't voice your opinions to the public, do not gossip. Do not provoke anyone, use common sense. Having a lot of money or power could lead you to danger as well. No one who can arouse terror can live with peace of mind. And most importantly don't do wrong, because even if no one finds out, you will always know that you did it. This seems to connect with the Dichotomy of Control because you are doing everything in your control to avoid disappointment.
On Rest and Restlessness:
http://www.stoics.com/seneca_epistles_book_2.html#‘LXIX1
This essay relates to Negative Visualization because it says that when people are constantly moving around from place to place, they are always unhappy and will never find peace. These people can never heal from past hurts because as they move from place to place trying to forget these people or events, they are really only stirring up past memories that cause more pain. People should settle down in one place, interrupted, in order to heal and find inner peace.
Showing posts with label Seneca Essays. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Seneca Essays. Show all posts
22 September 2010
Seneca
I read Seneca's letter on good company. This letter discusses that the time you have to spend with others is your free time and it is in your control what you do with it. This idea is represented in the technique of dicotomy of control. In order to avoid disappointment you can control the people you spend your free time with so surround yourself with people in good standing and that you enjoy being around.
http://www.stoics.com/seneca_epistles_book_1.html#‘LXII1
I also read Seneca's letter on the friendship of kindred minds. This letter was interesting, I got the feeling it was referring to self denial. Seneca talks about not allowing yourself to be friends with someone until they develop themselves into the type of person you want to spend time with. He says "such a joy is light and fleeting" referring to spending time with someone you love, but when the person you love is the sort of person that you desire them to be then the joy is sustained. This phrase is what made me think of self denial because this technique enables you to enjoy things more and for a longer period of time instead of having fleeting joy.
http://www.stoics.com/seneca_epistles_book_1.html#‘XXXV1
http://www.stoics.com/seneca_epistles_book_1.html#‘LXII1
I also read Seneca's letter on the friendship of kindred minds. This letter was interesting, I got the feeling it was referring to self denial. Seneca talks about not allowing yourself to be friends with someone until they develop themselves into the type of person you want to spend time with. He says "such a joy is light and fleeting" referring to spending time with someone you love, but when the person you love is the sort of person that you desire them to be then the joy is sustained. This phrase is what made me think of self denial because this technique enables you to enjoy things more and for a longer period of time instead of having fleeting joy.
http://www.stoics.com/seneca_epistles_book_1.html#‘XXXV1
21 September 2010
Seneca Letters
The first letter I read was on Self Control. This letter was about your emotions and how they can become vices if you become overindulged in them. No matter what, people will experience certain feelings and desires that they can't always control. But, if you act on these emotions and let yourself become overindulged in them sometimes it is hard and almost impossible to make them go away. What Seneca says is ideal, but also hard to do, is being able to let yourself indulge in emotions and give into certain desires only in moderation. This letter relates to the philosophical technique of Dichotomy of Control. Our thoughts which can dictate our emotions and desires are not always up to us and are out of our control. But what is up to us is how we choose to act on those thoughts and desires.
The second letter I read was On Grief for Lost Friends. This letter was about the line between what is a normal amount of grieving for the death of a friend and what is considered an excessive and unnecessary amount. Seneca says he "would not have you sorrow more than is fitting". Seneca points out that humans are mortal beings and at any moment their time on Earth can run out. This letter relates to the philosophical technique of Negative Visualization because if you visualize what your life would be like if you lost a good friend, it will help your realize and appreciate them more while they are still alive. If and when they do pass away, because everyone eventually does, you will not dwell and grieve for an unnecessarily long period of time, because you already accepted that it was going to happen. And, because of negative visualization you didn't take them for granted while they were still alive.
-Olivia
The second letter I read was On Grief for Lost Friends. This letter was about the line between what is a normal amount of grieving for the death of a friend and what is considered an excessive and unnecessary amount. Seneca says he "would not have you sorrow more than is fitting". Seneca points out that humans are mortal beings and at any moment their time on Earth can run out. This letter relates to the philosophical technique of Negative Visualization because if you visualize what your life would be like if you lost a good friend, it will help your realize and appreciate them more while they are still alive. If and when they do pass away, because everyone eventually does, you will not dwell and grieve for an unnecessarily long period of time, because you already accepted that it was going to happen. And, because of negative visualization you didn't take them for granted while they were still alive.
-Olivia
Seneca's Essays
For the first essay I chose "Instinct in Animals". In this essay Seneca talks of how our instincts are natural, just like animals instincts are natural. He also talks of how everyone has their own constitution and this constitution changes during the different stages of life. Seneca says we must act natural in all situations no matter what it may be because this is how Nature intended us to act. Constitution ties into this idea because Seneca says that during the stages of our life (infant, child, youth, adult) we learn actions that are appropriate for that age and we develop things that are needed for that age. Finally Seneca discusses our souls which he describes as "the consciousness of our constitutions". This is knowing that we are doing something from instinct but we don't know why we are doing it. In relation to our souls Seneca notices that animals show no sign of low self-esteem or carelessness of self so we should try to take after them in this manner.
For the second essay I chose "True and False Riches". Seneca says that it is not that impressive to refuse delicate food and eat common things, but it more impressive to give up common food and eat uncommon food. This causes us to appreciate the delicate foods when we have the opportunity to eat them. The same goes for other items of wealth. He says that as long as we have the essentials we should be happy and we will enjoy wealthy things more than those who experience wealth all the time.
For the second essay I chose "True and False Riches". Seneca says that it is not that impressive to refuse delicate food and eat common things, but it more impressive to give up common food and eat uncommon food. This causes us to appreciate the delicate foods when we have the opportunity to eat them. The same goes for other items of wealth. He says that as long as we have the essentials we should be happy and we will enjoy wealthy things more than those who experience wealth all the time.
Seneca Essays
http://www.stoics.com/seneca_epistles_book_3.html#‘CI1
The first essay I chose was “On The Futility Of Planning Ahead”. The entire essay seemed to be based around the technique of dichotomy (or trichotomy) of control. He basically is saying throughout the entire essay that we’re planning for eternity, but death is always over our shoulders. Many people pray and beg for a longer life and will do anything to prolong it and have less suffering, but death is one of those things that is completely out of our control, so why waste time worrying about it. I feel this is represented quite clearly in the following section, “But how foolish it is to set out one’s life, when one is not even the owner of the morrow! (uncertainty)”. He says that worrying about the outcome of our future just “eats away the mind” because essentially it is out of our control and just causes unnecessary fear.
http://www.stoics.com/seneca_epistles_book_1.html#‘III1
The second essay I chose was “On Discursiveness In Reading”. He says, “Do you ask what is the proper limit to wealth? It is, first, to have what is necessary, and, second, to have what is enough”. He’s telling us that happiness and contentment lies within what we have in life and we need to stop striving for things that we do not have. He also refers to the technique of fatalism. He says, “’Contented poverty is an honourable estate.’ Indeed, if it be contented, it is not poverty at all. It is not the man who has too little, but the man who craves more, that is poor”. If one’s fate is to be poor and live in poverty, then they need to live contently in the poverty because that’s how they were meant to be. This same idea was used in describing reading. Reading many books or authors at one time is not appreciating what you have and is nothing but a distraction. You will never fully appreciate a book or author until you focus solely on that one without thinking what else is out there to read.
The first essay I chose was “On The Futility Of Planning Ahead”. The entire essay seemed to be based around the technique of dichotomy (or trichotomy) of control. He basically is saying throughout the entire essay that we’re planning for eternity, but death is always over our shoulders. Many people pray and beg for a longer life and will do anything to prolong it and have less suffering, but death is one of those things that is completely out of our control, so why waste time worrying about it. I feel this is represented quite clearly in the following section, “But how foolish it is to set out one’s life, when one is not even the owner of the morrow! (uncertainty)”. He says that worrying about the outcome of our future just “eats away the mind” because essentially it is out of our control and just causes unnecessary fear.
http://www.stoics.com/seneca_epistles_book_1.html#‘III1
The second essay I chose was “On Discursiveness In Reading”. He says, “Do you ask what is the proper limit to wealth? It is, first, to have what is necessary, and, second, to have what is enough”. He’s telling us that happiness and contentment lies within what we have in life and we need to stop striving for things that we do not have. He also refers to the technique of fatalism. He says, “’Contented poverty is an honourable estate.’ Indeed, if it be contented, it is not poverty at all. It is not the man who has too little, but the man who craves more, that is poor”. If one’s fate is to be poor and live in poverty, then they need to live contently in the poverty because that’s how they were meant to be. This same idea was used in describing reading. Reading many books or authors at one time is not appreciating what you have and is nothing but a distraction. You will never fully appreciate a book or author until you focus solely on that one without thinking what else is out there to read.
Seneca
In "On Old Age and Death" Seneca writes that "old age is a time of bloom" and a great time for one's mind. Seneca also counsels to be ready for death and that it could come at any time. He also writes that one must learn how to die and that "he who has learned to die has unlearned slavery." His belief is that at death "there is only one chain which binds us to life, and that is the love of life." I think fatalism comes in to play with this letter because death is a part of life and also the idea that do not worry about what is beyond your control is a big lesson in this teaching.
"On the Trials of Travel" was written by Seneca after a long voyage from Baiae to Naples. He finds it foolish that we will fear one thing more than another even when they will both end the same way. Seneca also ponders about the soul and remarks that the soul can not be "arrested or destroyed inside of the body" but can escape through any part of the body. This writing uses the logic of do not concern yourself with things that are beyond your control for if you fear your soul dying you should not because since it cannot be crushed then it can not be harmed.
Seneca Essays
The first essay that I read was "Self-Control"- CXVI. This essay mainly focused on self control of indulging in our emotions and personal desires like wealth. Many people want to obtain wealth and a high status, but the stoics believe that this will not bring a person happiness. One quote from the essay says, "We are endowed by Nature with an interest in our own well-being; but this very interest, when overindulged, becomes a vice." The writer of the essay talks about how it is very important to at first resist and avoid any temptations of over indulging because it will almost always be easier to avoid them, than to rid yourself of the habit. The more temptations that we give in to will only lead to an unhappier life. The stoics believe that we should live a normal life, which would consist of normal-average daily living even if you have enough wealth to buy more expensive things. This way of living uses the philosophical technique dichotomy of control. When practicing dichotomy of self-control, a person must set the goal to not give in to ones personal desires. We have the ability to control things like our personality, values, and goals. The stoic of this essay says that many people make up excuses for not controlling their personal desires because they love those vices and are unwilling to practice control.
The second essay I chose was "On Values" XLII. This essay is also about having self-control. It talks about valuing ones self by not over indulging because when we over indulge in objects sometimes we ended paying for them more that we actually thought we would. Material things do not add much value to our lives and the feeling that they give us will eventually fade, so it is important to have the self-control not to indulge in these things. One quote from this essay that makes a good point is, "We are eager to attain them at the cost of anxiety, of danger, and of lost honour, personal freedom, and time; so true is it that each man regards nothing as cheaper than himself." We must own ourselves before we focus on owning other things.
Kailee Miller
Seneca Essays
LXVIII: On Wisdom and Retirement
http://www.stoics.com/seneca_epistles_book_2.html#%E2%80%98LXVIII1
The first essay I read was "On Wisdom and Retirement," in it Seneca discusses how someone should go about retiring. He said that they should not announce that they will retire because they usually hide away from the world and this leads to other people to gossip about what has happened to the retiree. Seneca also suggests to spend your new acquired free time to do what you wish and not worry about what could have been. This essay is a prime example of Fatalism because Seneca is saying that after you retire you should move on with your life and not dwell on the past events that could have made what you are today different.
LXIII: On Grief for Lost Friends
http://www.stoics.com/seneca_epistles_book_1.html#%E2%80%98LXIII1
This essay is about how Seneca feels that we should grieve the lose of friends, even though he says that it would be ideal if we were not affected by this tragic event. He says that someone who does not grieve is ideal, but we "may be forgiven for bursting into tears." Seneca understands that grief is a necessary emotion and that there is no way to avoid it entirely. He does however say that is important to not allow our grief to flow without some control over it. I think this essay goes along with the idea of Negative Visualization because Seneca tells us to enjoy our friends now because you never know how long they will be here. With this, if we appreciate the good times we have with friends now, when they go, it won't be as difficult because we will have the memories of those better times.
http://www.stoics.com/seneca_epistles_book_2.html#%E2%80%98LXVIII1
The first essay I read was "On Wisdom and Retirement," in it Seneca discusses how someone should go about retiring. He said that they should not announce that they will retire because they usually hide away from the world and this leads to other people to gossip about what has happened to the retiree. Seneca also suggests to spend your new acquired free time to do what you wish and not worry about what could have been. This essay is a prime example of Fatalism because Seneca is saying that after you retire you should move on with your life and not dwell on the past events that could have made what you are today different.
LXIII: On Grief for Lost Friends
http://www.stoics.com/seneca_epistles_book_1.html#%E2%80%98LXIII1
This essay is about how Seneca feels that we should grieve the lose of friends, even though he says that it would be ideal if we were not affected by this tragic event. He says that someone who does not grieve is ideal, but we "may be forgiven for bursting into tears." Seneca understands that grief is a necessary emotion and that there is no way to avoid it entirely. He does however say that is important to not allow our grief to flow without some control over it. I think this essay goes along with the idea of Negative Visualization because Seneca tells us to enjoy our friends now because you never know how long they will be here. With this, if we appreciate the good times we have with friends now, when they go, it won't be as difficult because we will have the memories of those better times.
Seneca Essays
The frist essay I chose was "Facing Hardships." Basically what what Seneca is saying is the only things in life that are miserable are the things we make out to be miserable. He expalins that it isnt by chance that hardships occur, its by nature. It is natural for us to encounter hardships in our lives. Troubles are just a part of life. Senecca goes on to say that we must just agree with God's decision to allow this hardships to happen in our life. This idea connects with the concept of Fatalism. Fatalism urges us to just take things as they are/ as they come. To help us succeed with this we can think of how things could be worse, but do not think about how they could be better. Because how can we appreciate the good things in life if we dont experience the bad? This essay also connects to the idea of Dichotomy of Control, this concepts teaches us that we can't control what hardships come our way, but we can control how we react to them (if we choose to make them unbearable or not).
The second essay i choose was "Self Control." This essay ask the question is it better to have moderate emotions or no emotions at all? It is natural for us as humans to be affected by man's opions, to become affected by negative things that happen to us. It is natural for us to have certain desires and pleasures we want fullfilled. But what Seneca is saying is if you allow that desire to begin, you can't be so sure that you will be able to stop it. In other words it is eaiser to deny a desire from the beginning then to make it go away after we let it in. If you cant control the little that you have, it is better for you to aviod it all together. Of course we can't deny ourselves of everything, its okay to feel emotion and to experience pleasure, but only if we can do so in moderation. This essay connects with the idea of Fatalism also, Fatalism teaches us to learn to desire what we already have (and not what we wish to have). It also connects with Self-Denail because this concept tells us it's okay to enjoy pleasures, its okay to experience emotion; but dont abuse them. By practicing self-denial we are gaining a sense of self-control.
The second essay i choose was "Self Control." This essay ask the question is it better to have moderate emotions or no emotions at all? It is natural for us as humans to be affected by man's opions, to become affected by negative things that happen to us. It is natural for us to have certain desires and pleasures we want fullfilled. But what Seneca is saying is if you allow that desire to begin, you can't be so sure that you will be able to stop it. In other words it is eaiser to deny a desire from the beginning then to make it go away after we let it in. If you cant control the little that you have, it is better for you to aviod it all together. Of course we can't deny ourselves of everything, its okay to feel emotion and to experience pleasure, but only if we can do so in moderation. This essay connects with the idea of Fatalism also, Fatalism teaches us to learn to desire what we already have (and not what we wish to have). It also connects with Self-Denail because this concept tells us it's okay to enjoy pleasures, its okay to experience emotion; but dont abuse them. By practicing self-denial we are gaining a sense of self-control.
Seneca essays
www.stoics.com/seneca_epistiles_book_1.html
The first topic I chose was about saving time. This was of particular interest to me because, being a college student, I have many things to do, and never enough time to get everything done. In this essay, Seneca describes how time is constantly slipping away from us, and most of the time we spend is without purpose. Therefore he advises us to not to waste anymore time because by the time we die, it will be too late. In connection to our lecture on Monday, three of the four psychological techniques can be applied to the concept of saving time. As time is slipping away, we should be pondering, "What if I didn't have this time that has been given to me?" The thought alone should give you a greater appreciation for the time you have, making you value it more. We experience hedonic adaptation in reference to time because we grow accustomed to having control over what we do with our time, all the while unaware that time is slipping away. Related to this idea is the dichotomy of control, meaning that some things we have complete control of, some things we have partial control of, and some things are completely out of our control. Time is related to all three of these concepts because although we can not control time ticking away, we can somewhat control what we do with our time. Prior obligations do take some of the time that we have, but it is our decision to do with our free time whatever we choose.
www.stoics.com/seneca_epistiles_book_1.html
The second of the Seneca letters that I read concerned true and false friendships. Seneca felt that a true friend is someone you can trust, and who knows you as well as you know yourself. You should feel comfortable telling your friends anything, and you should keep friends that are loyal and are not deceiteful. Seneca's thoughts about this topic can be related to the philisophical techniques of negative visualization and self-denial. For example, if you visualize your life without your true friends, you will learn to appreciate their company more, and not take for granted their presence in your life. Self-denial could also be practiced by putting yourself in a situation in which you are around complete strangers. Therefore when you are with your friends, you will be able to reflect on that experience and enjoy the comfortibility of the situation.
The first topic I chose was about saving time. This was of particular interest to me because, being a college student, I have many things to do, and never enough time to get everything done. In this essay, Seneca describes how time is constantly slipping away from us, and most of the time we spend is without purpose. Therefore he advises us to not to waste anymore time because by the time we die, it will be too late. In connection to our lecture on Monday, three of the four psychological techniques can be applied to the concept of saving time. As time is slipping away, we should be pondering, "What if I didn't have this time that has been given to me?" The thought alone should give you a greater appreciation for the time you have, making you value it more. We experience hedonic adaptation in reference to time because we grow accustomed to having control over what we do with our time, all the while unaware that time is slipping away. Related to this idea is the dichotomy of control, meaning that some things we have complete control of, some things we have partial control of, and some things are completely out of our control. Time is related to all three of these concepts because although we can not control time ticking away, we can somewhat control what we do with our time. Prior obligations do take some of the time that we have, but it is our decision to do with our free time whatever we choose.
www.stoics.com/seneca_epistiles_book_1.html
The second of the Seneca letters that I read concerned true and false friendships. Seneca felt that a true friend is someone you can trust, and who knows you as well as you know yourself. You should feel comfortable telling your friends anything, and you should keep friends that are loyal and are not deceiteful. Seneca's thoughts about this topic can be related to the philisophical techniques of negative visualization and self-denial. For example, if you visualize your life without your true friends, you will learn to appreciate their company more, and not take for granted their presence in your life. Self-denial could also be practiced by putting yourself in a situation in which you are around complete strangers. Therefore when you are with your friends, you will be able to reflect on that experience and enjoy the comfortibility of the situation.
Seneca Eassy
The first essay I chose was 'On the Reasons for Withdrawing from the World'. Seneca discusses how humans should not become slaves to the body, but rather embrace and enjoy it. He states that many others we will meet in life will judge us on our body or enslave it, but as an individual we need to cherish our body and yet be prepared to sacrifice it when the time comes. The ideas of negative visualization and fatalism are seen in this essay. Seneca wants us to remember that while we cherish our body we must also not take in for granted. In this aspect the concept of negative visualization plays out when we remind ourselves what it would be like without our healthy body. The second idea of Stoicism was fatalism. We must be ready to give up our body when the time comes, which is something decided by fate.
The second essay I chose was 'On Saving Time'. In this essay, Seneca tells his friend that time is slipping away from them and if they do not begin to enjoy every second life has offered them, they will never begin to enjoy life as a whole. Seneca points out that the greatest lost of time is when we give our time to carelessness and choose to ignore what is going on around us. The Stoicism ideas that are expressed in this essay are control and fatalism. We can not control how much time we are given, therefore we should not worry about it and instead use the time we have as productively and joyfully as possible. We also do not know when our time will run out, therefore we should go with the flow and play your role as best as possible, leaving the rest up to fate.
The second essay I chose was 'On Saving Time'. In this essay, Seneca tells his friend that time is slipping away from them and if they do not begin to enjoy every second life has offered them, they will never begin to enjoy life as a whole. Seneca points out that the greatest lost of time is when we give our time to carelessness and choose to ignore what is going on around us. The Stoicism ideas that are expressed in this essay are control and fatalism. We can not control how much time we are given, therefore we should not worry about it and instead use the time we have as productively and joyfully as possible. We also do not know when our time will run out, therefore we should go with the flow and play your role as best as possible, leaving the rest up to fate.
Seneca Letters
LXIII ON GRIEF OF LOST FRIENDS
http://www.stoics.com/seneca_epistles_book_1.html#‘LXIII1
The first letter I chose was grief for lost friends, it mentions that when a friend dies we may weep but we must not wail. The Seneca letter follows Irvine's Negative Visualization. In the letter it mentions "Let us greedily enjoy our friends, because we do not know how long this privilege will be our." Sencea is saying that we need to enjoy our friends while they are still on earth, and when they do die, do not mourn but think of friends who are alive and well and that is like enjoying a meal of cakes and honey.
III ON TRUE AND FALSE FRIENDSHIP
http://www.stoics.com/seneca_epistles_book_1.html#‘LXIII1
The first letter I chose was grief for lost friends, it mentions that when a friend dies we may weep but we must not wail. The Seneca letter follows Irvine's Negative Visualization. In the letter it mentions "Let us greedily enjoy our friends, because we do not know how long this privilege will be our." Sencea is saying that we need to enjoy our friends while they are still on earth, and when they do die, do not mourn but think of friends who are alive and well and that is like enjoying a meal of cakes and honey.
III ON TRUE AND FALSE FRIENDSHIP
In the second reading I chose was if someone can have a true or false friendship. In this reading Seneca is saying that if a person considers someone there friend, but does not trust them, then they do not truly understand what true friendship means. This reading can go with Hedonic Adaptation because this is a change or experience that can temporarily affect happiness. When friendship is settled, you must trust; before friendship is formed, you must pass judgment.
Seneca Essay
http://www.stoics.com/seneca_epistles_book_3.html#%E2%80%98XCVI1
The first letter I choose was On Facing Hardship, in this letter it mentions that with all the complaining about bad circumstances, there is really only one bad part of this whole equation which is you complaining. He mentions that affairs come by order and not by chance. In life you will have the ups and downs that’s apart of living. This attitude on facing hardships is similar in the dichotomy of control, you can’t control everything bad in your life, things are going to happen to you and you will just need to accept it. Focus on the things in life you can control with the help of setting goals.
http://www.stoics.com/seneca_epistles_book_2.html
In the second letter I choose On the Diseases of the Soul, in this letter Seneca mentions there is a difference between the disease of the mind and its passions. The diseases are “harden and chronic vices, such as greed and ambition”, while passions are “objectionable impulses of the spirit, sudden and vehement.” With the diseases of the mind like greed and ambition can be an impulse from not letting go of incident in the past, for example whether you think someone has more than you. But with fatalism you have to let go of the past to be able to move on with the future. Only at that time will you be “undisturbed by fears, unspoiled by pleasures, we shall be neither afraid of death nor the Gods, it means not craving wickedness or excess; it means possessing supreme power over oneself.”
Senaca Essays
LXIII On Grief for Lost Friends
The sentence that reads " Even such a man will be stung by an event like this, but it will be only a sting." I believe in this sentence he is relating to the negative visualization because if the person who lost that friend had known that people are mortal and will die one day then he would come to accept that death and it would only hurt a little. Another sentence that follows this technique to Stoicism is "Let us greedily enjoy our friends, because we do not know how long this privilege will be our." Also, this reminded me on the two fathers that Irvine compared in the book. The father that cherished the time he had with his daughter the less painful her death would be compared to the father that never thought that the last moment he had with his daughter would be his last.
LVII On Trails of Travel
This caught my attention because it as about travel and I thought it would relate to our trip to Italy. In this letter a voyage is discussed and how two problems or inconveniences occur, but then in my opinion he thinks of the positive side. Almost like fatalism and not seeing how it could be better. "The gloom, however, furnished me with some food for thought; I felt a certain mental thrill, and a transformation unaccompanied by fear, due to the novelty and the unpleasantness of an unusual occurrence." This can be related to out trip if we get stuck in traffic or it is raining.
The sentence that reads " Even such a man will be stung by an event like this, but it will be only a sting." I believe in this sentence he is relating to the negative visualization because if the person who lost that friend had known that people are mortal and will die one day then he would come to accept that death and it would only hurt a little. Another sentence that follows this technique to Stoicism is "Let us greedily enjoy our friends, because we do not know how long this privilege will be our." Also, this reminded me on the two fathers that Irvine compared in the book. The father that cherished the time he had with his daughter the less painful her death would be compared to the father that never thought that the last moment he had with his daughter would be his last.
LVII On Trails of Travel
This caught my attention because it as about travel and I thought it would relate to our trip to Italy. In this letter a voyage is discussed and how two problems or inconveniences occur, but then in my opinion he thinks of the positive side. Almost like fatalism and not seeing how it could be better. "The gloom, however, furnished me with some food for thought; I felt a certain mental thrill, and a transformation unaccompanied by fear, due to the novelty and the unpleasantness of an unusual occurrence." This can be related to out trip if we get stuck in traffic or it is raining.
20 September 2010
Seneca Essays and Stoic Techniques
"On the God Within Us"
http://www.stoics.com/seneca_epistles_book_1.html#‘XLI1"On the Healing Power of the Mind"
http://www.stoics.com/seneca_epistles_book_2.html#‘LXXVIII1
"On the Healing Power of the Mind": The prominent theme of this essay is the use of positive thinking to overcome physical illness. A milder theme of the essay is death and how one should look at death. The themes relate to the dichotomy of control and fatalism, respectively.
The former relates in that one cannot control illness, or more specifically it is a thing of which we have some but not complete control. One can do things to hopefully stay healthy (eat well, exercise, proper hygiene, etc.) but for the most part we cannot control physical illness as it is an occurrence of nature. But what we can control in the situation is our mental state. If an ailed man sets the mental goal that he can overcome the illness, and thinks positively that others have faced similar hardship, along with focusing on positive memories, then he gains some control. Though positive thinking cannot guarantee a return to health, it will keep his spirits high and provide him with strength, in a sense.
The topic of death relates to fatalism in that Seneca tells us that death is inevitable. To quote, "you will die, not because you are ill, but because you are alive; even when you have been cured, the same end awaits you; when you have recovered, it will be not death, but ill-health that you have escaped." We are all merely actors, as Epictetus said. We are playing a role and the final scene is death. Death, however, can relate to the dichotomy of control as well due to that fact that we cannot control it. If death occurs naturally, that is, not by suicide, murder, or some form of assistance, then we cannot know its place and time. It is completely out of our hands.
"On the God Within Us": I couldn't make any strong connections between the techniques and this section. The title very much explains the topic. The essay has an Eastern religion vibe, but there are also references to Western conception of god as well. The essay conflates these two viewpoints, but does positively so that we see the importance of the god that dwells within, and also the god that dwells within nature.
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