That was interesting, Massimo, thank you. And it reminds that I have to actually start reading the meditations (hard work as my copy is in Italian).
In your booklet, you write the following about Hadot's three categories.:
"(a) Things that are an integral part of living according to nature (...)
(b) Things that in themselves are morally neutral, neither good nor bad, but that — if possessed — allow us to better practice virtue. They include health and wealth, both of which facilitate our goal of helping other human beings. These things do not have an absolute value, as their value is ranked according to how much they facilitate moral living.
(c) Things that have no value in themselves, but can be exchanged for some good, and are therefore indirectly useful to virtue. "
You then ask for the readers to given an example of the latter.
Shouldn't wealth be in category (c) rather than (b)? I mean, we help others through our efforts for which we need to be healthy. We also help others materially which we do by exchanging our savings for what they need (if you give away cash, that would be wealth under (b), I suppose). Under (b), should we also think of knowledge (I'm not thinking of wisdom but more of know-how)? There is no virtue by itself in knowing how the world works, but we can be a more useful fellow-citizen if our understanding of the world is better.
Maurits, wealth is definitely into category (b). Epictetus, for instance, says that money is certainly valuable, but it doesn't tell you how to use it. You need virtue for that.
Yes, general knowledge is certainly under (b) as well. Though the virtues themselves (category (a)) are considered to be a kind of knowledge.
I remain puzzled by (c), but perhaps commerce and working in the service industry may qualify. Doing most jobs doesn't have any intrinsic value, but it brings money, which is a preferred indifferent. That, in turn, can be used for good, which is virtuous.
Hi Massimo - many thanks for another e-book. Quick question, plse. I have recently bought Professor Hadot's: The Inner Citadel / Philosophy as a Way of Life / What is Ancient Philosophy.
Is there a particular order in which I should approach these works. Many thanks.
Hi Tony, there is no particular order, it depends on what you are interested in. My suggestion would be to proceed this way: Ancient Philosophy > Way of Life > Inner Citadel, simply because the first one is on a broader topic and the other two get progressively more focused.
i have spent the last couple of days reading Professor Hadot's THE INNER CITADEL, and woke up this morning wishing there was some sort of a guide to it. And going on line, there was Your email with exactly what i was looking for.
i have read Your HOW TO BE A STOIC and can only say that i wish You had written that book ~ and that i had read it ~ 50 years ago when i was still trying to sort out the two years i'd spent in Vietnam in 1966-68; or even better, 60 years ago when i was a senior in high school the year President Kennedy was assassinated.
i have also just begun watching Your Wondrium Series THINK LIKE A STOIC, and wish that had come into my life much sooner, as well.
Thank You, Sir, for what You have done, are doing, and will continue to do to bring Stoicism to the 21st century. With deepest respect, ~ jeff
Dear Jeffrey, thank you so much for your kind words, you made my day. It is humbling and yet very encouraging to be able to help others on their journey. That's all that my writing, podcasting, etc. is about. Best luck for your continued journey!
Thank You Professor. i have found what i've been looking for for quite some time now: Guidance. With You and Your Colleagues, Cohorts, and Compeers of the Modern/New Stoicism Evolution pointing out the way and Way, it will be a fine journey, i am sure.
That was interesting, Massimo, thank you. And it reminds that I have to actually start reading the meditations (hard work as my copy is in Italian).
In your booklet, you write the following about Hadot's three categories.:
"(a) Things that are an integral part of living according to nature (...)
(b) Things that in themselves are morally neutral, neither good nor bad, but that — if possessed — allow us to better practice virtue. They include health and wealth, both of which facilitate our goal of helping other human beings. These things do not have an absolute value, as their value is ranked according to how much they facilitate moral living.
(c) Things that have no value in themselves, but can be exchanged for some good, and are therefore indirectly useful to virtue. "
You then ask for the readers to given an example of the latter.
Shouldn't wealth be in category (c) rather than (b)? I mean, we help others through our efforts for which we need to be healthy. We also help others materially which we do by exchanging our savings for what they need (if you give away cash, that would be wealth under (b), I suppose). Under (b), should we also think of knowledge (I'm not thinking of wisdom but more of know-how)? There is no virtue by itself in knowing how the world works, but we can be a more useful fellow-citizen if our understanding of the world is better.
Maurits, wealth is definitely into category (b). Epictetus, for instance, says that money is certainly valuable, but it doesn't tell you how to use it. You need virtue for that.
Yes, general knowledge is certainly under (b) as well. Though the virtues themselves (category (a)) are considered to be a kind of knowledge.
I remain puzzled by (c), but perhaps commerce and working in the service industry may qualify. Doing most jobs doesn't have any intrinsic value, but it brings money, which is a preferred indifferent. That, in turn, can be used for good, which is virtuous.
Thank you Massimo.
Hi Massimo - many thanks for another e-book. Quick question, plse. I have recently bought Professor Hadot's: The Inner Citadel / Philosophy as a Way of Life / What is Ancient Philosophy.
Is there a particular order in which I should approach these works. Many thanks.
Hi Tony, there is no particular order, it depends on what you are interested in. My suggestion would be to proceed this way: Ancient Philosophy > Way of Life > Inner Citadel, simply because the first one is on a broader topic and the other two get progressively more focused.
Many thanks, Sir
Dear Professor Pigliucci:
i have spent the last couple of days reading Professor Hadot's THE INNER CITADEL, and woke up this morning wishing there was some sort of a guide to it. And going on line, there was Your email with exactly what i was looking for.
i have read Your HOW TO BE A STOIC and can only say that i wish You had written that book ~ and that i had read it ~ 50 years ago when i was still trying to sort out the two years i'd spent in Vietnam in 1966-68; or even better, 60 years ago when i was a senior in high school the year President Kennedy was assassinated.
i have also just begun watching Your Wondrium Series THINK LIKE A STOIC, and wish that had come into my life much sooner, as well.
Thank You, Sir, for what You have done, are doing, and will continue to do to bring Stoicism to the 21st century. With deepest respect, ~ jeff
Jeffrey G Moebus
Master Sergeant, US Army [Retired]
Sitka, Alaska
Dear Jeffrey, thank you so much for your kind words, you made my day. It is humbling and yet very encouraging to be able to help others on their journey. That's all that my writing, podcasting, etc. is about. Best luck for your continued journey!
Thank You Professor. i have found what i've been looking for for quite some time now: Guidance. With You and Your Colleagues, Cohorts, and Compeers of the Modern/New Stoicism Evolution pointing out the way and Way, it will be a fine journey, i am sure.
Thank you, kind sir Massimo! These e-books are so helpful - keep them coming (and keep up the great work)!
You’re welcome!