Consolation and Adversity
Commentary to be added later… Beware lest following the common conception, we come to some truly inconceivable conclusion. A wise man should never complain, whenever he is brought into strife with fortune; just as a brave man cannot properly be disgusted whenever the noise of battle is heard, since for both of them their very difficulty is their opportunity, for the brave man of increasing his glory, for the wise man of confirming and strengthening his wisdom. From this is virtue itself so named, because it is so supported by its strength that it is not overcome by adversity. It rests in your own hands what shall be the nature of the fortune which you choose to form for yourself. For all fortune which seems difficult, either exercises virtue, or corrects...
A Cooking Accident
I had a cooking accident last night. There was some chicken in the fridge that I had been meaning to use before it went bad. I thought it had a few days left (the date on the package seemed to reflect that too), but it was bad, so my original plan was thrown in the trash. I hurriedly dug through the freezer searching for a suitable thing to fry and emerged with some more chicken. The idea was to cook chicken tacos; it would just take longer now because the chicken I was going to use was frozen solid. After rinsing the chicken in hot water to speed along the thawing process I slashed into it with a knife, carving off the softer edges and working my way toward the frozen center. After I had cut off enough ckicken to start frying I stopped to allow the center...
Boethius on Free Will
I have just finished The Consolation of Philosophy. It was quite good. I think I would describe it “as almost a repository of great early Greek philosophy that has been slightly Christianized.” The following passage on Free Will caught my attention, for I think it has something to say about the symptoms of confusion and anxiety that seem so rampant in our society at times. Heavenly and divine beings have with them a judgment of great insight, an imperturbable will, and a power which can affect their desires. But human spirits must be more free when they keep themselves safe in the contemplation of the mind of God; but less free when they sink into bodies, and less still when they are bound by their earthly members. The last stage is mere slavery,...
Mahogany
I’m sipping peppermint tea out of my favorite mug, and quietly digesting steak (I ordered it “pushed” over medium, I’ve been meaning to ask for a “push” for some time now). I hear newsprint being thumbed on the other side of the room. Gastronomically-induced pleasure is a very real thing indeed; and it has nothing to do with fat, just so you know. Nothing to hear but the effervescent stillness, not demanding nor too empty; just ticking and crackling and humming contentedly. Here’s to you and yours… technorati : pleasure , silence del.icio.us : goodness , silence , pleasure...
Lines of Consciousness
Ariel, over at BittersweetLife, is examining a topic of endless fascination to me. I believe that that the question of reality and facticity is of vital importance. The following thoughts were composed in response to Ariel’s intial thoughts, and while they stand alone they are perhaps not very clear at the beginning to what we are actually writing about. This was to be a mere comment on his blog, but it got rather long and I think that posting it here serves to broaden the discussion. However, it may be helpful to read his column first. Read what he has to say, what I have to say, and what I have said before. And then say something yourself. I have found it quite helpful in my own wrestling with this subject to draw a very distinct line between...