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Created: 2023-02-09
Notes on Philosophy
Stoicism
I. The fundamental rule of life: the notion that some things are up to us and others are not, and that a good life is the result of focusing on the first class while cultivating an attitude of acceptance and equanimity toward the second class. II. Opinions are not facts: facts are objective, mind-independent features of the world, while opinions are the result of human judgments. We would do well to keep this distinction in mind because it is our opinions, not the facts themselves, that so often upset us. III. There are three areas (so-called disciplines) in which we need to train ourselves in order to live an ethical life: (a) re-orienting our priorities toward what is truly good and away from what is truly bad (as opposed to what society tells us is good or bad); (b) acting justly toward our fellow human beings; (c) refining our judgments so that they are correct as frequently as possible. IV. We should embrace an ethos of cosmopolitanism, according to which other human beings are like brothers and sisters. V. We need to pay attention to our thoughts and actions, because things are generally not improved by not paying attention.
Aristotle
I don't know what this has to do with anything.
Aristotle also suggested that relationships were based on three different ideas: utility, pleasure, and virtue. People are attracted to relationships that provide utility because of the assistance and sense of belonging that they provide. In relationships based on pleasure, people are attracted to the feelings of pleasantness when the parties engage. However, relationships based on utility and pleasure were said to be short-lived if the benefits provided by one of the partners were not reciprocated. Relationships based on virtue are built on an attraction to the others' virtuous character.
All Possibilities
In essence, while philosophy provides a lens through which we can analyze and interpret reality, it may never fully "squeeze out" or encapsulate all its possibilities. Instead, philosophy serves as a guide for navigating the complexities of existence, inviting ongoing exploration, debate, and reflection.