I have to die. If it is now, well then I die now; if later, then now I will take my lunch, since the hour for lunch has arrived – and dying I will tend to later. SAYS epIctetus… THEN KANT DISAGREES 🙂
It is like an iceberg – the tip may be visible, but the bulk of the iceberg lies beneath the surface. Even though I know death is looming, I still have to carry on with life for the present moment.
Epictetus, the Greek philosopher, believed that death is an inevitable part of life and should not be feared. He emphasized the importance of living in the present moment and doing what needs to be done without worrying about the future. In his view, the time of death is not under our control, but how we choose to live our lives is. Therefore, he encourages us to focus on the present moment and make the most of it. We should not be afraid of death, but rather accept it as a natural part of the cycle of life. By living in the present and accepting death, we can find peace and fulfillment in life.
According to Epictetus, death should not be seen as an end, but rather a transition to a new state of being. He believed that the soul is eternal and will continue on after the body has died. Therefore, death should not be feared, but rather embraced as a natural part of the journey of life. By accepting this fact, we can live our lives with purpose and meaning, knowing that our time on earth is limited. While death may seem scary and unknown, it is simply a new beginning for the soul, and should be welcomed with open arms.
As a natural part of the cycle of life, Epictetus encourages us to focus on living a virtuous life and treating others with kindness and compassion, rather than worrying about what will happen after we die. He believed that by living in accordance with these principles, we can find true happiness and fulfillment in life, regardless of our circumstances. In essence, he teaches us to live in the present moment, appreciate the beauty of life, and let go of our fears and anxieties about the future. By doing so, we can achieve a sense of inner peace and contentment that will carry us through even the most difficult times.
Including our own mortality. Epictetus’ philosophy reminds us that death is a natural part of life, and it is up to us to make the most of the time we have on earth. By focusing on what we can control – our thoughts, actions, and attitudes – we can live a life of purpose and meaning, free from the fear of death. Ultimately, Epictetus reminds us that death is not the end, but rather a new beginning – a chance for our eternal souls to continue on their journey through the universe. So let us embrace this journey with open hearts and minds, living each day to the fullest and cherishing every moment we have with those we love.
Someone may assume this is not a rationale thinking when you approach to that like modern philosophers Kant or Hume. Then the conversation will evolve into the following.
Epictetus’s quote is a reminder that we should not dwell on death, but rather focus on living our lives to the fullest. He is saying that if we are going to die, then we should not let that stop us from enjoying the present moment. This is a Stoic philosophy that emphasizes the importance of virtue and the need to control our own emotions.
Modern philosophers like Kant and Hume would likely disagree with Epictetus’s view on death. Kant believed that we have a duty to live our lives in accordance with the moral law, even if it means sacrificing our own happiness. Hume, on the other hand, believed that death is the end of our existence, and that there is no point in worrying about it.
Ultimately, whether or not we agree with Epictetus’s view on death is a matter of personal philosophy. However, his quote is a reminder that we should not let the fear of death prevent us from living our lives to the fullest.
Here are some additional thoughts on Epictetus’s quote:
- It is important to remember that we cannot control when we will die. However, we can control how we live our lives.
- We should not let the fear of death prevent us from enjoying the present moment.
- We should focus on living our lives to the fullest, and on doing what we believe is right.
- Death is a natural part of life, and it is something that we will all face at some point.
- We should not fear death, but rather embrace it as a natural part of the human experience.
When I drill down with Bard on Epictetus’ control freak and ignorance here comes out my question:
Is happiness a thread in Epictetus’ thinking causing an ignorance about the things that are out of our control?
I don’t think it’s fair to say that Epictetus’s thinking on happiness causes ignorance about the things that are out of our control. In fact, I think he would argue that the opposite is true. He believed that the key to happiness is to focus on the things that are within our control, and to let go of the things that are not. This doesn’t mean that we should ignore the challenges that we face, but it does mean that we should not let them control us.
Here’s an analogy that might help to illustrate this point. Imagine that you are driving down the road and you get a flat tire. You could get angry and frustrated, or you could focus on changing the tire and getting back on the road. Epictetus would argue that the latter is the better course of action. He would say that it’s pointless to get angry about something that is out of your control, and that it’s better to focus on the things that you can control, such as changing the tire.
Of course, this doesn’t mean that we should never be concerned about things that are out of our control. If we are facing a serious challenge, it’s important to seek help and support. But Epictetus would say that we should not let our fear of the unknown control us. We should focus on the things that we can control, and let go of the things that we cannot.
I think Epictetus’s thinking on happiness is still relevant today. In a world that is increasingly unpredictable and uncertain, it can be helpful to remember that we are not in control of everything. But we can still choose to live happy and fulfilling lives by focusing on the things that we can control, and by letting go of the things that we cannot.
Other way around? How about ignorance is the outcome of his philosophy resulting a contradiction with Stoics’ virtues?
It is possible that ignorance could be the outcome of Epictetus’ philosophy, resulting in a contradiction with Stoic virtues.
Stoicism is a school of thought that emphasizes the importance of reason, logic, and self-control. Stoics believe that we should live in accordance with nature and that we should strive to achieve virtue.
However, Epictetus’ philosophy could lead to ignorance if it is taken to an extreme. For example, if we believe that we should not worry about anything that is out of our control, we may become apathetic and stop taking action to improve our lives. We may also become ignorant of the world around us if we do not pay attention to things that are happening outside of our control.
Additionally, Epictetus’ philosophy could lead to a contradiction with Stoic virtues if we believe that we should not care about anything that is not within our control. For example, if we believe that we should not care about our health, we may neglect our physical and mental health. We may also become indifferent to the suffering of others if we believe that we cannot do anything to help them.
Ultimately, it is up to each individual to decide how much they want to embrace Epictetus’ philosophy. It is important to remember that Stoicism is not about being indifferent to the world around us. It is about living in accordance with nature and striving to achieve virtue.
ARABACI SPACE 