Sunday, April 30, 2017

April 30th Reading from The Daily Stoic - What Is In Keeping With Your Character?


"Just as what is considered rational or irrational differs for each person, in the same way good or evil and useful or useless differs for each person. This is why we need education, so that we might learn how to adjust our preconceived notions of the rational and irrational in harmony with nature, In sorting this out, we don't simply rely on our estimate of the value of external things, but also apply the rule of what is in keeping with one's character."

~ Epictetus, Discourses, 1.2.5-7

NOTE: It seems like Epictetus is arguing for moral relativism here. I am certain that he is not, really. He is saying that our ideas of good and evil are relative, but that this is why we need to study, to get at the reality behind our ideas.

No comments:

Post a Comment