Posted on 06/18/2022 7:56:29 PM PDT by Daffynition
The ultimate goal of Stoicism is to develop the mind to such an extent that the practitioner would reach a state of being called eudaimonia.
Eudaimonia is a Greek term that roughly translates as a state of flourishing, prosperity or happiness; a state in which the Stoic is free, as much as possible, from the shackles of needless suffering. A state in which Stoics depend only on their internal frame of mind for well-being, not on the uncontrollable external.
The Stoics had a word for one who had achieved the state of eudaimonia, they called such a person a sage. The Stoic sage was one who, through virtue and reason, had made themselves impervious to the suffering caused by external circumstances. Their well-being depends entirely on that which was within their control, i.e. their actions, beliefs, values, and perceptions. Not, wealth, reputation, respect, constant comfort etc
The ideas of the Stoic sage is an ideal, it’s unlikely that philosophers can really achieve this level of self mastery for more than a few hours at a time, however it’s serves as an important target to aim for to guide our practice.
Stoicism teaches us that to goal of reaching eudaimonia is achieved through acting in the world with virtue, and perceiving the world with logic and reason.
https://www.orionphilosophy.com/stoic-blog/what-is-the-goal-of-stoicism
Man is built to give glory to God.
How far we have strayed.
Years ago, I was watching a Bette Davis movie where she played the part of a very spoiled, selfish girl who was scolded by her uncle, Asa Timberlake: “In my day, we didn’t talk much about happiness. If it came we were grateful for it. But we were brought up in the belief that there were other things more important; old-fogy fantastic notions such as duty and personal responsibility.”
This had to be at least 50 years ago but that quote always stuck with me.
I many not be useful, but he said "when you die you will achieve total consciousness", so at least I got that going for me.
In 50 years after we die they’ll be little or no evidence we ever existed so be happy now, later no one will remember you. When I’m gone all I want to leave is an empty chair.
If you don’t know how to be happy you’re a moron.
I would say you have a legacy here so you have that going for you.
Well that’s Obama’s philosophy which is why he tried to turn most of our National holidays into a “day of service”.
The first amendment guarantees us life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. It doesn’t say anything g about usefullness. If you need to be useful to be happy that’s fine. If you can be happy sitting in a tree that’s fine too.
Kill the useless.
Your life is only gor God’s greater glory.
If you have downes and all you can fo is breathe for His greater glory, yours is a life for God and thus was useful.
If you created google or the pyramids but not God’s greater glory, you were useless.
You are not here for you or any society.
Or maybe not.
**PLENTY OF WORK AND THE STRENGTH TO DO IT.**
It was the last thing you saw when you left the house for the day.
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