Discussion Of Epictetus 'Explanation Of Boethius'

As humans we tend to see the success of a person’s accomplishments rather than how it all began, the struggles that person had to experience to get to where they are in the end. What this quote means is that happiness may appear like happiness to a person on the outside looking in, but in reality you do not have a general idea of what that person had to go through for their happiness. The quote is saying we want happiness, stability, passion, and contentment, but no one wants to struggle and live through misery to get there. The success in the end is dull, but the suffrage and challenges are far more

As Epictetus opens his handbook with the line, “Some things are up to us and some are not up to us,” a precedent is set for the entire following of the nature in his teachings (Hackett, 5). We are not merely an individual seeking something better in life, but an individual who can control his/her own path as long as we follow the context of staying true to ourselves and not wandering outside of our own capabilities. “Our bodies are not up to us, nor are our possessions, our reputations, or public offices, or, that is, whatever is not our doing,” is a prime example of what we cannot control, death being one of these (Hackett, 5). Our control is limited to what we can grasp and be in power of, and whatever is out of that reach should not be looked

There are certain things that are in the control of the humans, at the same time there are several things, which are not under the human’s control. Thus, to persist a happy life, the humans are required to put an end their desire such that the satisfaction of

Aristotle continues to reflect if happiness is really a thing to admire or even valued but “clearly it is not to be placed among potentialities” (11). Happiness can sometimes bring something good in life but not always. People should consider that they would not always going to be happy, since there are some situations that can be hurtful throughout life. Douglass remembers about the fact that her grandmother was treat bad which then says that he “served to deepen [his] conviction of the infernal character of slavery” since he witnesses how terrible the slaveholders treated his grandma (5). In other words, happiness cannot always bring success in life, since there are some cases that life leads it to be sadness. Becoming successful in life does not mean that a person will always be happy. Happiness for some people could be a good thing but for others is not. A happy person does not have nothing to worry about, since they do everything good. Some do consider that if they achieve something good they should be happy in life, but not often. Not because someone does something good means that, their life will always bring them happiness, since there are some situations in life that will have some difficulties. Referring back to Douglass, his life was not as good, since he had to suffer all the punishments for being a slave, but he learn to live with that. His life was not

To her, people achieve happiness, when they get what they expected (Natural Obvious), and when they find more than what they expected they become more happy (Artificial Obvious). That’s how real life works. She also expresses that sometimes we don’t even try to find more happiness, which we should. On her point, only lovers, infants and knowledgable can see the hidden world more than a person who is just trying to find the only thing that’s matter to him.

Plato was born in Athens, Greece around 427 B.C. He was always interested in politics, until he witnessed his mentor and teacher, Socrates, death. After learning of the callousness of politics, Plato changed his mind and eventually opened up The Academy, which is considered if not the first, one of the first Universities. Students at the Academy studied many different fields of science, including biological and astronomical. The students also studied many other fields, such as math. Plato developed many views that were mathematical in nature. He expressed these views through his writings. According to Dr. Calkins of Andrew University, "Timaeus is probably the most renowned of Plato's thirty-five dialogues. [In it] Plato expresses that he

After reading Epictetus’ lecture called The Handbook, one can have a better understanding of Epictetus’ view on free will and what we are able to control as human beings. According to Epictetus, “…all that is in your power is your mind – more specifically, your judgments of whether or not to assent to its presentations – and only what is in your power should be of concern to you” (Reeve & Miller, 2015, pp. 443). It appears that Epictetus leaves a lot up to chance. According to Epictetus, whatever life gives you, you are to take it with open arms and deal with it the best way seen fit.

Although many different excerpts from the text contribute to the framework of the philosophy, the one that encapsulates the essence of it most succinctly and provides a suitable base is fragment no. 8.: “Do not seek to have events happen as you want them to, but instead want them to happen as they do happen, and your life will go well.” The central idea behind this is one that has been rooted in my life, and is a formative way of thinking. Rather than hope that things out of one’s control happens as one wishes, it is far more conducive to

This quote means that humans choose if they want to be good or bad people. The path a person traverses in life is their prerogative. The wolf that is fed is cared for. The wolf who is hungry will leave. The one that is cared for will stay with you. If you feed your negativity, it will grow and overpower the positivity inside of you. If you feed your positivity, it will grow and overpower the negativity inside of you.

One part of Lewis’ article that might be applicable to my life is his statement/idea (“that we depend for a very great deal of our happiness or misery on circumstances outside all human control”). As far as how keeping this statement in mind might alter my perception of my own happiness in the long term, I feel that if I try to force things to be so that I can be happy that it would never work. Or that just by having nice and expensive cars or big houses will not make me happy. I like to believe that I am better off in life by just appreciating life, letting go on things I cannot change, and be happy for what I have instead of trying to micromanage my entire life.

The only way to obtain happiness is through having the ability to govern one’s self. This means the person must have the ability to comprehended morality for themselves. Morality can not be certain and otherwise is distorted; when the definition is dependent on society, their acquaintances and especially their desires; this can turn out discombobulating; as well can lead out to deeds in the interest to gain fortune. The cause of the broken spirits from Shakespearean Tragedies are from; the lack of reason and sufficient knowledge, as well to have the arrogance to believe that the individual or humanity can control Earth; it is Earth that the Wheel of Fortune goes

“If someone lives a virtuous and morally worthy life, then no matter how advantages or disadvantages come to him (excluding those that are his fault), he will lack nothing needed for true happiness” (Balaam 25).

He recommended gaining a rational control over one’s desires, these desires being those that can be harmful to life such as: lust, greed, pride, and power. He argued that the key to human happiness is to turn away from the body and towards the soul. He said that harmonizing the different parts of the soul would produce a divine-like state of inner tranquility that the external world could not alter. A moral life is to be preferred to an immoral life. This view of happiness is linked to other concepts such as justice, virtue, and the ultimate meaning of human existence. Living a moral and just life would lead to a happier life.

He believed that this flourishment often occurred gradually not as a result of physical pleasure and enjoyment, but as a result of developing the mind and soul in accordance with perfect virtue (Nic. Ethics I 7).Therefore, it is by practicing virtuous activities and living virtuously that it is possible for one to flourish and develop their happiness.

It is human nature to want and desire certain things out of life. For the most part, people want the same things. No one is the same as anyone else but we all share the fact that we want to make our lives as good as we possibly can. There are many ways to achieve happiness and everything that is wanted out of life can make you happy. Whatever a person’s truest desire may be, if they obtain that desire they obtain happiness. All that is desired falls under “What will make you happy in life?” We long to be happy, but what gets us there?