Beautiful text, thank you. Lots to think. "The ethics of many philosophies and religions are remarkably similar, as much as their respective metaphysics may differ sharply. So true. I also think that religion is mostly passive. How many people go to the church, listen to inspiring readings, are reminded to the ethics to be pursued, leave the church and just refuse to incorporate? It is almost that the exercise of going to the church (or temple, synagogue) is the end goal. Philosophy is an active exercise. With the exception of pure academics, where philosophy is the subject of study, for us, the non academics, you wouldn’t put the effort of trying to understand, debate, read, read again, if not with some practical intent.
Beautiful text, thank you. Lots to think. "The ethics of many philosophies and religions are remarkably similar, as much as their respective metaphysics may differ sharply. So true. I also think that religion is mostly passive. How many people go to the church, listen to inspiring readings, are reminded to the ethics to be pursued, leave the church and just refuse to incorporate? It is almost that the exercise of going to the church (or temple, synagogue) is the end goal. Philosophy is an active exercise. With the exception of pure academics, where philosophy is the subject of study, for us, the non academics, you wouldn’t go true the effort of trying to understand, debate, read, read again, if not with some practical intent.
On facing old age....I ran into a high school mate I hadn't seen in AGES! Chatted for a moment or two, when suddenly she looked at me very intently, and said, don't you HATE getting old? I responded, well, it won't help! Click! Bingo! Stoicism, I thought. She mildly recoiled at my response, gently stepped back as she said so long! I knew what had happened. She wanted to complain, and she probably hoped I would want to complain along with her. What a disappointment that must have been. When it was obvious that I saw aging quite differently than she, there was no more conversation to be had. In an instant I understood that some valuable and very practical Stoic thought had become a fundamental way I looked at things. I can't control the advancement of years, but I can certainly work on using my time in the most practical and productive ways. Complaining isn't one of them. "Don't be overheard complaining, not even to yourself". Thank you, Marcus Aurelius! And thank you, Professor Massimo, for pointing out how our streams of thoughts and actions shape our individual worlds.
Hi Massimo....thanks for sharing..... I've been working at the same place for 20 years now and as I get older (65) I am starting to see people who I have known during this period succumb to various sicknesses, some of them fatal. Most of these people are younger than me, having suffered from the effects of many years of alcohol abuse or bad lifestyle choices.
When I see such things it reminds me to focus on what's truly important, that is to do my utmost to be the best human being I can be, fortune permitting. It takes time for one to change (as I have many bad and stubborn habits 😁 ) and I am, as Seneca says, a sickman who is still recovering.
I try my best to see each day as my last, although I sometimes don't act like it 🤣 so I try to remind myself throughout the day of the reality of my own mortality. I try not to take things for granted, family, friends, circumstances etc. Before I sleep I bring to mind the troubles of the world and reflect on how fortunate I am to be able to live the life I have and to the things I am able to do, given my age and circumstances. It's easy sometimes to get bogged down by the humdrum and tedium of everyday living so I find this exercise very uplifting.
For me, as a Buddhist and , if I can say, a Stoic, (who spends more time with his head below the water than above😁,), I can see the immense value of living a virtuous life and it's role in bringing peace to our hearts when the lights are dim.
I have a long way to go and feel very fortunate to have discovered the amazing value of the teachings Epictetus, Marcus Aurelius and Seneca, and your blog!!! For myself these teachings are a refuge and a great way to cope with and live in a chaotic world.
So a big thank you to all my teachers.... whoever and wherever you are!!!
Your useful observations reminded me of the only grandparent I knew, an 1898 immigrant from Southern Italy. When I rented my first Manhattan apartment, a studio for one, I was full of joy and finally felt adult at 24. Did she show pride, or extend good wishes? No. She said “you live alone, you die alone.” And so she did. It got me thinking about how life often prepares and predicts the nature if its last chapter. And so it is for the family members you cite.
Lovely reflections on some of the facticities & choices made by Eva & Oddo as they approach the end of their life. Living each day as if it were our last seems an eminently sensible way to conduct ourselves in adulthood, no matter how old we are, as change & death are the only things we can totally rely on.
Great essay, thank you. I disagree with most opinions in that I think of death frequently and find it is an excellent meditation. One of my favorite books on the subject is Life in the Light of Death.
I also loved how personal this essay was. I wish you and your family happy holidays!
I'm an outright atheist and not much of a joiner, but don't have Oddo's problems. I like some things about Stoicism, but don't follow it as a 'philosophy' of life.
I do stuff, ride my trike, keep track of what my granddaughter and daughter do, and I am currently working on a little physics project. Sometimes, I try to write SciFi stories, but the only one I completed is my time travel version of Oedipus Rex (and it's not very good though the premise is interesting).
I don't like the idea of death but don't obsess about it even at 77.
I too have an "Oddo" in my life. Although he is slightly younger and does not have a terminal illness, he has a very similar disposition and habits as Oddo. It is challenging to deal with him, to say the least. My Stoic practice has helped me understand that I can only care for him where he is and everything else is not up to me. This was a very helpful reflection. Thank you for sharing!
Oddo is pre occupied with dying/Eda with living. Everything that lives, dies...being preoccupied with it to me is a waste of time. That said, Each person should be able to live, and die, as they wish...and Oddo will get his choice/wish soon, it seems-his choice(s); not my “place” to have an opinion on another’s life. But if asked, I would say he wasted a life.
"I don’t think it matters that much whether one is a Stoic, a Buddhist, a Christian, or whatever. The ethics of many philosophies and religions are remarkably similar, as much as their respective metaphysics may differ sharply."
I have been thinking about this a lot lately: I am a practicing Christian, and yet I benefit greatly from Stoicism (and Zen Buddhism at times), and I wonder what that means (if anything) to my Christian commitment. On one level, from a practical and functional perspective, we integrate what we think will help us become a more skillful and compassionate human being. On another level, though, there are metaphysical claims that seem to be ontological in nature where different belief systems are contradictory in nature and cannot all be true - with the rub then is trying to identify which ontological claims are true. But functionally, the practical aspect of how our religion or philosophy enables us to live well is more important than metaphysical claims about ultimate reality that cannot be proven one way or the other - or so it seems to my limited perspective.
Another point of similarity between religions and the ancient philosophies of life is that they had organizations and gatherings. The Epicureans were particularly notable for the celebration on the 20th of each month. We have tomb inscriptions saying that the person belonged to a philosophical club, such as a Pyrrhonist club. These would be good ways to meet like-minded people for developing friendships.
A wonderfully perceptive essay, as always, Massimo. I wonder how much gender plays a role in all this. In my experience it seems as though women are generally better at seeking out, creating and maintaining friends throughout life. I see this in myself (and in my wife). Perhaps our society encourages this in the way our gender roles develop - the model of the individualistic "Marlboro Man". As I age, (I'm 73!, I think I need to work on widening my circle of friends.in order to age well and flourish.
Beautiful text, thank you. Lots to think. "The ethics of many philosophies and religions are remarkably similar, as much as their respective metaphysics may differ sharply. So true. I also think that religion is mostly passive. How many people go to the church, listen to inspiring readings, are reminded to the ethics to be pursued, leave the church and just refuse to incorporate? It is almost that the exercise of going to the church (or temple, synagogue) is the end goal. Philosophy is an active exercise. With the exception of pure academics, where philosophy is the subject of study, for us, the non academics, you wouldn’t put the effort of trying to understand, debate, read, read again, if not with some practical intent.
Beautiful text, thank you. Lots to think. "The ethics of many philosophies and religions are remarkably similar, as much as their respective metaphysics may differ sharply. So true. I also think that religion is mostly passive. How many people go to the church, listen to inspiring readings, are reminded to the ethics to be pursued, leave the church and just refuse to incorporate? It is almost that the exercise of going to the church (or temple, synagogue) is the end goal. Philosophy is an active exercise. With the exception of pure academics, where philosophy is the subject of study, for us, the non academics, you wouldn’t go true the effort of trying to understand, debate, read, read again, if not with some practical intent.
On facing old age....I ran into a high school mate I hadn't seen in AGES! Chatted for a moment or two, when suddenly she looked at me very intently, and said, don't you HATE getting old? I responded, well, it won't help! Click! Bingo! Stoicism, I thought. She mildly recoiled at my response, gently stepped back as she said so long! I knew what had happened. She wanted to complain, and she probably hoped I would want to complain along with her. What a disappointment that must have been. When it was obvious that I saw aging quite differently than she, there was no more conversation to be had. In an instant I understood that some valuable and very practical Stoic thought had become a fundamental way I looked at things. I can't control the advancement of years, but I can certainly work on using my time in the most practical and productive ways. Complaining isn't one of them. "Don't be overheard complaining, not even to yourself". Thank you, Marcus Aurelius! And thank you, Professor Massimo, for pointing out how our streams of thoughts and actions shape our individual worlds.
Hi Massimo....thanks for sharing..... I've been working at the same place for 20 years now and as I get older (65) I am starting to see people who I have known during this period succumb to various sicknesses, some of them fatal. Most of these people are younger than me, having suffered from the effects of many years of alcohol abuse or bad lifestyle choices.
When I see such things it reminds me to focus on what's truly important, that is to do my utmost to be the best human being I can be, fortune permitting. It takes time for one to change (as I have many bad and stubborn habits 😁 ) and I am, as Seneca says, a sickman who is still recovering.
I try my best to see each day as my last, although I sometimes don't act like it 🤣 so I try to remind myself throughout the day of the reality of my own mortality. I try not to take things for granted, family, friends, circumstances etc. Before I sleep I bring to mind the troubles of the world and reflect on how fortunate I am to be able to live the life I have and to the things I am able to do, given my age and circumstances. It's easy sometimes to get bogged down by the humdrum and tedium of everyday living so I find this exercise very uplifting.
For me, as a Buddhist and , if I can say, a Stoic, (who spends more time with his head below the water than above😁,), I can see the immense value of living a virtuous life and it's role in bringing peace to our hearts when the lights are dim.
I have a long way to go and feel very fortunate to have discovered the amazing value of the teachings Epictetus, Marcus Aurelius and Seneca, and your blog!!! For myself these teachings are a refuge and a great way to cope with and live in a chaotic world.
So a big thank you to all my teachers.... whoever and wherever you are!!!
Your useful observations reminded me of the only grandparent I knew, an 1898 immigrant from Southern Italy. When I rented my first Manhattan apartment, a studio for one, I was full of joy and finally felt adult at 24. Did she show pride, or extend good wishes? No. She said “you live alone, you die alone.” And so she did. It got me thinking about how life often prepares and predicts the nature if its last chapter. And so it is for the family members you cite.
Lovely reflections on some of the facticities & choices made by Eva & Oddo as they approach the end of their life. Living each day as if it were our last seems an eminently sensible way to conduct ourselves in adulthood, no matter how old we are, as change & death are the only things we can totally rely on.
Great essay, thank you. I disagree with most opinions in that I think of death frequently and find it is an excellent meditation. One of my favorite books on the subject is Life in the Light of Death.
I also loved how personal this essay was. I wish you and your family happy holidays!
When I was in college I thought non-existence in some way worse than 'hell', but after a few root canals, I changed my mind!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QvfS7mBxK6Q&t=1s
I'm an outright atheist and not much of a joiner, but don't have Oddo's problems. I like some things about Stoicism, but don't follow it as a 'philosophy' of life.
I do stuff, ride my trike, keep track of what my granddaughter and daughter do, and I am currently working on a little physics project. Sometimes, I try to write SciFi stories, but the only one I completed is my time travel version of Oedipus Rex (and it's not very good though the premise is interesting).
I don't like the idea of death but don't obsess about it even at 77.
This is hitting too close to home and seems personal--seriously, interesting stuff, even for us old farts.
I’ve found a lot of truth in the way Seneca delt with the issues of death, and old age, in the earlier part of his “Letters”; Cicero, as well…
I too have an "Oddo" in my life. Although he is slightly younger and does not have a terminal illness, he has a very similar disposition and habits as Oddo. It is challenging to deal with him, to say the least. My Stoic practice has helped me understand that I can only care for him where he is and everything else is not up to me. This was a very helpful reflection. Thank you for sharing!
Oddo is pre occupied with dying/Eda with living. Everything that lives, dies...being preoccupied with it to me is a waste of time. That said, Each person should be able to live, and die, as they wish...and Oddo will get his choice/wish soon, it seems-his choice(s); not my “place” to have an opinion on another’s life. But if asked, I would say he wasted a life.
"I don’t think it matters that much whether one is a Stoic, a Buddhist, a Christian, or whatever. The ethics of many philosophies and religions are remarkably similar, as much as their respective metaphysics may differ sharply."
I have been thinking about this a lot lately: I am a practicing Christian, and yet I benefit greatly from Stoicism (and Zen Buddhism at times), and I wonder what that means (if anything) to my Christian commitment. On one level, from a practical and functional perspective, we integrate what we think will help us become a more skillful and compassionate human being. On another level, though, there are metaphysical claims that seem to be ontological in nature where different belief systems are contradictory in nature and cannot all be true - with the rub then is trying to identify which ontological claims are true. But functionally, the practical aspect of how our religion or philosophy enables us to live well is more important than metaphysical claims about ultimate reality that cannot be proven one way or the other - or so it seems to my limited perspective.
Another point of similarity between religions and the ancient philosophies of life is that they had organizations and gatherings. The Epicureans were particularly notable for the celebration on the 20th of each month. We have tomb inscriptions saying that the person belonged to a philosophical club, such as a Pyrrhonist club. These would be good ways to meet like-minded people for developing friendships.
A wonderfully perceptive essay, as always, Massimo. I wonder how much gender plays a role in all this. In my experience it seems as though women are generally better at seeking out, creating and maintaining friends throughout life. I see this in myself (and in my wife). Perhaps our society encourages this in the way our gender roles develop - the model of the individualistic "Marlboro Man". As I age, (I'm 73!, I think I need to work on widening my circle of friends.in order to age well and flourish.