Reading your description of Symeon, I can't help but think of Epictetus's "open door" policy. Apparently the early Christians didn't look favorably on suicide, so all poor Symeon could do was make himself suffer and "hope for deliverance".
It sounds to me like the antithesis of a virtuous life, or of life "according to nature". If all humans behaved like this, we'd not be here to read this story... 🙈
That said, Diogenes is also a tad too extreme for me. I do prefer some indifferents.
This is such a wonderful essay! It’s chock full o’ the most sensational headlines that have circulated today. Just the fact that Plato has thrown his hands up, and has to shout, “[He is] Socrates gone mad!,” is reminiscent of the cartoon “Bizarro World”--and reminiscent of the daily insanity of our recent presidential administration.
Once I saw David Blaine stand on a column in Bryant Park. It was May 2002. I think he stood up there for 35 hours. People don’t change. 😄
I’m surprised, though, Diogenes was able to pull away from dark side of banking and become a Jedi. Banking to Cynicism? 🤔 If only our bankers in the daily scandals read some classics, they’d have gone down in history more virtuous even if they were defecating in the street! 😄
I’ll take “Genius and Wit of Diogenes” for $300. After all, there are too many similarities between a plucked chicken and a man. 🦵🍗 👍😊
Wouldn’t follow either-more of an Epictetus, Seneca, Cicero type of guy.🤷♂️
When I read much of what is attributed to Diogenes, I’m reminded of the late Yogi Berra/-“ I never said half the things I said.”…
Luis Bunuel made an awesome surrealistic film about Saint Simeon Stylites "Simon of the Desert". It stars an incandescent Silvia Pinal https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simon_of_the_Desert
Diogenes clearly enjoyed his life to the fullest, such as it was. I'd say he was on to something.
I’d follow neither: “Everything in moderation.” Aristotle?
Reading your description of Symeon, I can't help but think of Epictetus's "open door" policy. Apparently the early Christians didn't look favorably on suicide, so all poor Symeon could do was make himself suffer and "hope for deliverance".
It sounds to me like the antithesis of a virtuous life, or of life "according to nature". If all humans behaved like this, we'd not be here to read this story... 🙈
That said, Diogenes is also a tad too extreme for me. I do prefer some indifferents.
To answer your question, I would go with Diogenes! I would subscribe to Cynicism as described by Epictetus and his emphasis on cleanliness.
This is such a wonderful essay! It’s chock full o’ the most sensational headlines that have circulated today. Just the fact that Plato has thrown his hands up, and has to shout, “[He is] Socrates gone mad!,” is reminiscent of the cartoon “Bizarro World”--and reminiscent of the daily insanity of our recent presidential administration.
Once I saw David Blaine stand on a column in Bryant Park. It was May 2002. I think he stood up there for 35 hours. People don’t change. 😄
I’m surprised, though, Diogenes was able to pull away from dark side of banking and become a Jedi. Banking to Cynicism? 🤔 If only our bankers in the daily scandals read some classics, they’d have gone down in history more virtuous even if they were defecating in the street! 😄
I’ll take “Genius and Wit of Diogenes” for $300. After all, there are too many similarities between a plucked chicken and a man. 🦵🍗 👍😊