Howdy folks,
The Am-EU group finishes the chapters 16-17 of William B. Irvine's A Guide to the Good Life on February 2nd.
I've attached the mind map below in both PNG & PDF form. For readability, I've also printed the mind map in bulleted form here:
Chapter 16 - Exile: On Surviving a Change of Place
Chapter 17 - Old Age: On Being Banished to a Nursing Home
General Notes
For Next Meeting - February 9th, 2025
For our next meeting, Here's a sneak peek at the next couple of chapters:
The Am-EU group finishes the chapters 16-17 of William B. Irvine's A Guide to the Good Life on February 2nd.
I've attached the mind map below in both PNG & PDF form. For readability, I've also printed the mind map in bulleted form here:
Chapter 16 - Exile: On Surviving a Change of Place
- Stoics took stubbornly to doing their social duties, naturally pitting them against the powers that be. Only one of the four great Roman Stoics, Marcus Aurelius, wasn't exiled at some point. Through their teachings, they were much better equipped to handle it.
- For Seneca, exile isn't as bad as people make it seem. It's nothing but a change of place, and there are even people at the exiled location who are there of their own free will. The state can deprive him of family, friends and property, but they can't take away "his place in Nature and his virtue".
- Those who hone their characters to be virtuous (i.e. proper values, etc.), then exile can't harm or degrade them. Happiness depends on one's values, not where one is.
- (RedFox): Like the Cs say, it's not where you are, but who you are and what you see.
- (Mari): So many folks being attacked and getting their lives ruined due to telling the truth. The Cs say to be gentle as doves, but wise as serpents. Exile may not be physical, but can be something else too like being shunned in society.
- (Steph_Rivers): If one practices negative visualization, then you'll see what you value in life.
- Exile has the ability to change people for the better. It has caused people to reassess their luxurious living style and lead better lives, as well as turning some into philosophers.
Chapter 17 - Old Age: On Being Banished to a Nursing Home
- Many people go through life valuing things in life that they think would bring them happiness, but doesn't in the long run. A midlife crisis may result, causing one to re-evaluate how they carry their lives. It can be worse or better than the previous strategy, and in some instances, some may gravitate towards Stoicism despite their younger selves discarding it forthright.
- (RedFox): Kids nowadays don't listen to their elders. Some people are so trapped in their bubbles that it's hard for them to learn from reality.
- (?): Difficulties and crisis are what's needed to build character. Maybe this is what they need.
- (Mari): One builds their life around the values that they've determined via reason and thought to be truly valuable. Lots of folks don't go through this process.
- (Luis): People live day by day, and it's hard for them to choose something else. Almost like cogs in a machine.
- (RedFox): The general law--the law that keeps people in place.
- (Luis): There are some though that are capable of self-observation, but aren't part of any philosophical group. It's something that some folks are born with, but it's also a skill that can be developed.
- (Stephen_Rivers): What influences this spectrum--karma, environment, etc?
- (Mari): From the Cs material, it comes out when people get to the point that enough is enough and it's time to learn and do something about it.
- Some may find, after losing some of the physical and cognitive abilities they may have taken for granted, in a nursing home. It is a form of exile, even though they haven't been banished to a desolate island devoid of much physical comfort. Other challenges include witnessing ambulances pulling up to the building whenever there's a complication, navigating a clique-y environment, etc.
- The good news is, is that some older folk may realize the importance of adopting a philosophy of life such as Stoicism after contemplating the idea of death.
- Seneca says that experiencing old age has its benefits: "Let us cherish and love old age; for it is full of pleasure if one knows how to use it." Stoicism is particularly suited for the elderly, as the elderly tend to value tranquility at their point in their lives.
- When one is old, vices and other oftentimes deleterious values fall away with old age. These include:
- Tiring from one's physical appetites and to be done with them.
- Curtailed desire for sexual gratification.
- etc.
- While the body may deteriorate, the nonphysical mind may stay strong well into old age.
- (Mari): There was this experiment to study dementia--they found that the brains of some older folk were healthy due to keeping their brain engaged and living healthy lives. In this way, the brain is like a muscle and needs to be honed. Gathering knowledge can also prevent dementia.
- With old age, negative visualization comes easier and more naturally--helping one to take each day for what it is, and to feel gratitude to be alive another day and to not worry about things outside of his/her control. Seneca states, "If God is pleased to add another day, we should welcome it with glad hearts". Someone who is old who takes nothing for granted will be happier than someone who is much younger and takes everything for granted.
- When one is old, vices and other oftentimes deleterious values fall away with old age. These include:
- (Mari): In Laura's knowledge of being videos, she remarks that people don't know how to die--that's why there are a lot of souls staying on the earthly plane and not going to the light.
- (Steph_Rivers): Not sure where I read this from, but there's this saying that a squirrel knows innately and genetically what to do to survive. Though if squirrels were gifted a mind like a human's, then there's the danger of the squirrel to believe that the nuts that fall from the sky come from the gods, which may spiral negatively when they don't get the nuts. This is similar to the human condition where this third input really messes with us and our connection to nature.
General Notes
- Plane crashes in the USA.
- (Luis): The plane crashes in the USA may be due to incompetence. There were issues with DEI at Boeing and other safety issues. Though it could be something else as well.
- (Luis): The Stargate project using mRNA technology to fight cancer. Can't believe Trump is going with this
- (RedFox): Are they trying to imply something with the name Stargate? Back during COVID, they were researching cancer cures too.
- (Mari): The senate hearings, as Laura has said, has exposed how crazy some of the people in congress are.
- (Luis): Trump is being surrounded by pro-zionist people, it'll be hard for him to come up with something of use for the American people.
- (?): Surprising to see Matt Walsh say that all nations, including Israel, shouldn't be getting monetary aid.
- (Mari): Trump said that they bombed some caves in Somalia and taking out ISIS.
- (Redrock12): He says that no civilians have been harmed.
- (RedFox): Joe & Niall noticed that many presidents have bombed Somalia before. It's like a mini-Ukraine proxy war that's been going on for decades.
For Next Meeting - February 9th, 2025
For our next meeting, Here's a sneak peek at the next couple of chapters:
- Chapter 18 - Dying: On a Good End to a Good Life
- Chapter 19 - On Becoming a Stoic: Start Now and Prepare to Be Mocked
