(Untitled)

[awinedarksea]

"According to the great Stoic philosopher Epictetus (AD 50-120) one of life's greatest values is contentment, a life of tranquility, serenity, and composure. There is nothing worth becomng disturbed about...Peace of soul is gained through self-mastery, which is the ability to harness one's desires, commanding them instead of allowing them to rule.

Comments

[krypta]

mental equilibrium...vague...if you aren't in it in the first place how can it be disturbed?

There is a difference between positive disturbances caused by others and negative disturbances caused by others. Are they both so bad?

you are going to favor not having emotions over hiding them?

[awinedarksea]

I go back and forth as to the question of how possible it actually is to stifle all emotion. It has been my experience that anger, for example, is a very easy emotion to control. (This is probably because anger tends to be very reactionary--ie. it is felt in response to an event that has already occurred and thus can not be altered. Once one realizes the uselessness of anger, it becomes easier to let go of it. Stoic philosophy emphasizes very much the acceptance of things that can't be changed).

However, there are other emotions that I am hardly immune from but which I feel that perhaps I could exercise more self-control over. I am also torn as to whether one should strive to undercut all emotion or merely negative emotions. I do feel that perhaps positive emotions toward fellow beings help one to be more selfless and thus to be a better citizen of the world by showing concern for others' well being.

[krypta]

Anger is easy to control because that is how you are, not because of some outside logic. Other people can't control anger very well even if they realize that they can't affect the past).

You should watch the Lion King.

[krypta]

If two people become angry at each other, does that make them both slaves? If it does...I question your definition of slave. Even if it doesn't, I question your definition of slave :)

[krypta]

One if somebody is 100% content but regularly tortures other people.