John Vespasian

Amongst all Stoic philosophers, Seneca has attained the widest reach and popularity. The reason is not hard to figure out. He simply wrote more and better than all others put together. #seneca devoted more than two decades of his life to writing. At the beginning, he wrote plays for the theatre, tragedies, that don’t deserve much consideration. They are boring and bloody, as well as unimaginative. In his forties, Seneca turned to writing essays, but following the literary conventions of this time. He conceived his writings as essays, but composed them in some parts as dialogues, where participants defend different views. He was imitating the pattern #plato had initiated with his #philosophy dialogues. Nonetheless, Seneca’s greatest literary achievement consists of a collection of letters called “Letters to Lucilius,” a friend of his. Seneca was in his fifties and early sixties when he wrote those letters. They sum up the #wisdom of a lifetime. In the Letters to Lucilius (or Letters from a Stoic), Seneca is presenting the principles of #stoicism . He is expanding the ideas of Cleanthes (330-230 BC), Zeno of Citium (334-262 BC) and Chrysippus (279-206 BC), the founders of Stoic philosophy. Seneca wrote more than one hundred Letters to Lucilius, but they all revolve around two main themes. The Letters are addressing these two themes from different angles: One, we should not blow our troubles out of proportion. It’s better to keep a cool head in times of adversity, and keep panic at bay. Two, we can improve our own lives, but it takes lots of effort and dedication. I regard the 63rd Letter to Lucilius as a masterpiece in clarity and conciseness. Seneca accepts that negative emotions such as grief are natural, but at the same time, he encourages readers to keep their emotions in check. Here is the link to the original article: https://johnvespasian.com/senecas-letters-from-a-stoic-explained/

It is not an exaggeration to say that #aristotle (384-322 BC) made modern civilisation possible. He invented formal #logic at a time where most of humanity could neither read nor write. If it wasn’t for Aristotle’s contribution to #philosophy , we wouldn’t enjoy such a high standard of living nowadays. In his book “Prior Analytics,” Aristotle outlined the method for drawing correct conclusions; his method is called syllogism or syllogistic reasoning. A syllogism is a sequence of thoughts, ideas or statements that lead to an inescapable conclusion. Human intelligence can employ #syllogisms (animals cannot, even the most intelligent) and, through programming, computers imitate what humans do naturally. Syllogisms typically consist of three elements. In Aristotle’s works, the first element is called “major premise” because it is making a wide statement. For instance, “cats are carnivorous.” The second element is called “minor premise” because it’s making a narrower statement. For example, “my pet is a cat.” I draw your attention to the fact that major and minor premises must share a common feature that enables a conclusion. In our example, the conclusion is “my pet is carnivorous.” I can imitate Aristotle’s style and place the word “therefore” at the beginning: “Therefore, my pet is carnivorous.” When a syllogism is based on permanent characteristics, it’s called “categorical syllogism.” For instance, the major premise “all horses have four legs” and the minor premise “my pet is a horse,” lead to the categorical outcome “my pet has four legs.” Syllogisms can also employ hypothetical premises. Let’s use the example, “when the weather is cold, there are fewer people on the beach” as a major premise. The minor premise “today is a cold day,” leads to the outcome “today, there are fewer people on the beach.” Modern philosophers have criticised Aristotelian syllogisms because of their #rigidity , but that’s precisely their key strength. Here is the link to the original article: https://johnvespasian.com/accuracy-in-aristotles-philosophy-of-logic/

If your #logic is slightly wrong, even one per cent wrong, you will end up completely lost fairly soon. Over time, your errors will compound and the consequences will eventually wipe you out. No one can escape the deleterious effects of faulty logic. There are three aspects that render Aristotelian logic vastly superior to other logical systems. For attaining success in your private and professional life, Aristotle’s logic is indispensable. Let us pass review at the three aspects that make it so effective. First, Aristotelian logic relies on human #perception . It does not need extrasensory inputs or religious insights to draw valid conclusions. It only needs facts or statements based on sensory data normally available to humans. That’s all it takes. Syllogisms, the logical method devised by #aristotle , operate on two premises that share a middle term, which enables us to reach a conclusion; the premises might be perfectly accurate or rather imprecise. Yet, even in the worst cases, we can still draw a conclusion provided that the premises share a middle term. The fact that Aristotelian logic works on human perception is crucial. Its importance should not be underestimated. In fact, catastrophic #decisions are often the result of people discarding their own senses and invoking insights from a higher realm. Ramon Llull (1232–1315) is to blame for having attacked and undermined this aspect of Aristotelian logic. Llull found it wrong that Aristotelian logic didn’t include mystical insights. It is a pity that his ideas gained traction in the early #renaissance and managed to confuse other philosophers. Gottfried Wilhelm #leibniz (1646-1716) made things worse by inventing requirements that he wanted to add to everyday logic; his invented claims only created #confusion and degraded the logical method devised by Aristotle. Here is the link to the original article: https://johnvespasian.com/the-superiority-of-aristotles-teachings-on-logic-and-reasoning/

The choice of a method in #logic determines all other choices in your life. It determines the scope and depth of your thinking, your concept of #happiness , your drive and your steadfastness. In contrast to other systems of logic, the one delineated by #aristotle (384-322 BC) understands the importance of purpose and gives a central role in how conclusions are drawn. When looking at entities and events, Aristotelian #logic is not only asking how or why. It looks beyond the obvious and aims at clarifying the context. In his work “Metaphysics,” Aristotle recommended to study entities and events by looking at their constituent ingredients (“material cause”), at their shape (“formal cause”), at the force that moves them (“efficient cause”) and especially at their goal (“final cause”). The latter element constitutes a unique characteristic of the Aristotelian method of logic. When you draw conclusions from premises, you employ a middle term. You employ an element that is shared by both premises, a key element that stands “in the middle,” so to speak. However, the middle term is not always easy to find. This is where Aristotle’s theory of #causality comes to help. By looking at the material, formal, efficient, and final cause, you will stand much better chances of finding the middle term. In ethical or moral questions, Aristotle gave heavier weight to the final cause, that is, to the purpose. It’s wise to investigate someone’s #motivation and intentions before passing judgement on his actions. Humans don’t function like machines. We are not robots that carry out a program without asking themselves any questions. I regard Aristotelian logic as vastly superior to all others because it places so much emphasis on understanding the #purpose . Unfortunately, after Aristotle’s death, most logicians lost all interest in investigating the final cause; logic became ritualistic and formulaic. It was all about connecting A to B as quickly as possible, without having grasped the underlying motivation. Here is the link to the original article: https://johnvespasian.com/morality-in-aristotles-teachings-on-logic-and-reasoning/

The #optimism found in Aristotle’s view of human nature has been rarely shared by other philosophers. While #aristotle (384-422 BC) regarded humans as rational captains of their destiny, most thinkers in history have considered humans as deficient creatures driven by instincts and social pressure. Aristotle’s predecessor and teacher #plato (429-347 BC) gave his views on human nature in his books titled “The Republic” and “Phaedo.” In “The Republic,” Plato theorises about the division of the human soul in three parts (reason, emotions, and instincts). The same three parts appear in Aristotle’s writings. It’s clear that he had taken over Plato’s theory almost verbatim. However, there are large differences between Aristotle’s and Plato’s views on human nature. Plato had sustained the theory that the human #soul is immortal and that it preexists birth. The soul of each person, said Plato, preexists in a mythical realm of pure abstractions, which Plato called “forms.” It joins the body at the time of birth, and returns to the world of forms at the time of #death . After Plato’s death in 347 BC, Aristotle continued to adhere to Plato’s teachings for a while; later, around 345 BC, he began to develop his own #philosophy , sustaining that the soul appears at birth and will cease to exist when the body dies. Aristotle’s and Plato’s opposing views on the soul bear large practical consequences. In the field of education for instance, it plays a major role whether you endorse one theory or the other. For Plato, education and learning consist of remembering. It means that your soul will remember little by little what it knew already before joining your body at birth. Thus, Plato considers #education as a ritual to help students remember innate ideas. In contrast, Aristotle views education and learning as a pure process of self-development. Every person must first decide if he wants to learn, what he wants to learn and what for. Without motivation, there will be little progress in learning, and without goals, there will be little practical application. Here is the link to the original article: https://johnvespasian.com/opponents-to-aristotles-thoughts-on-human-nature/

I love ancient #timemanagement techniques because they do not rely on technology. They revolve around human nature and the concentration of one’s efforts; and their advice can be put into practice right away. In his Letters to Lucilius, #seneca made recommendations on time #management, especially in the 47th and 101st Letters. His advice can be condensed in one word: consistency. I must however acknowledge that it is hard to implement. Seneca had perfectly understood that time management isn’t about little tricks that enable us to gain a few minutes here and there. In the long term, those little gains don’t amount to much because they are unsustainable without strong #motivation . From Seneca’s perspective, time management is about focus and self-discipline. It rests on the willingness to say no to less important activities, so that we can concentrate our efforts on a few areas. Seneca mentions that Cleanthes (330-230 BC) possessed this kind of focus and self-discipline. In spite of his limited financial resources, he devoted sustained efforts to learning philosophy. The fact that he had to earn a living doing menial jobs hadn’t discouraged him from pursuing knowledge. If we imitate Cleanthes, we’ll manage our time excellently and advance in the direction of our dreams. Consistency is the key element in this respect. Seneca emphasised the importance of acquiring the habit of pursuing the right goals. Seneca also refers to the drills performed by Roman soldiers in times of peace. Those exercises required daily effort, but helped Roman soldiers move fast and effectively in the face of danger. By investing their efforts in acquiring skills, Roman soldiers enhanced their fighting abilities. They cultivated their skills on a consistent basis, so that they would be able to move quickly during battles. Their time management was the result of doing the right thing every day. Good time management, Seneca explained, is the outcome of good habits. When we teach ourselves to do the right thing, our habits will automatically drive us in the right direction. Here is the link to the original article: https://johnvespasian.com/seneca-on-the-best-use-of-time/

In contrast to modern philosophers, Seneca did not give a great importance to time. Like other Stoic thinkers, he did not fundamentally care whether his life was long or short. Seneca’s view of time is worth studying because it helps us understand key concepts of #stoicism. In his 49th and 101st Letters to Lucilius, #seneca criticised people who waste their lives in trivial pursuits. On the other hand, the 49th and 101st Letters praise individuals that focus on self-improvement and learning, in particular Stoic #philosophy. Seneca had a negative view of distractions that prevent people from living a philosophical life. He regarded the human #lifespan as sufficient for fulfilling life’s key purposes, provided that we do not get sidetracked by non-essential #goals . If we focus on proper ambitions, Seneca explained, we have the capacity “to achieve the greatest things.” People should be more afraid of wasting their life than of actually dying. Sooner or later, we are all going to die. That’s something that we cannot avoid. However, more often than not, death takes people by surprise. When the time comes, they claim that their life has been too short and that they still have things to do, but have they used their years effectively? In his 49th and 101st Letters to Lucilius, Seneca gives a clear guideline for making the best of one’s days. He encourages us to define our lifetime mission, so that we can plan our days accordingly. Seneca acknowledged that none of us can be sure how long we will live. We can do our best to stay healthy and strong, but even then, we may suffer a lethal accident. What to do in the face of such uncertainty? We have no guarantee of living many years nor of achieving our goals, Seneca acknowledges, but that’s not the main issue. Our priority should be to make the best of each day, so that we are always ready to face death calmly, whenever it comes. Seneca’s indifference to time is conveying one of the major insights of Stoicism, an insight difficult to comprehend in our century, where people feel constantly under time pressure. Here is the link to the original article: https://johnvespasian.com/how-seneca-viewed-time/

When we talk about avoiding #distractions , we are assuming that we have clear goals and plans to achieve them. If we keep pursuing those goals assiduously, we are on the right track, but if we get sidetracked, it is because we are getting distracted. #seneca Seneca addressed this subject in the 1st Letter to Lucilius, in which he deplores the human tendency to waste time on things of little importance. The more time we waste on distractions, the less time we will have left for fulfilling our life’s #purpose. The 1st Letter enumerates what Seneca regards as important, namely, studying #philosophy , meditating and cultivating virtue. Seneca calls readers to steer away from distractions and devote their time and energies to the above-mentioned essentials. Seneca regarded “distraction” and “waste” as synonymous; he also condemned inactivity, not as laziness, but as distraction that consumes time that we could have employed productively. Stoicism rarely uses the terms “good” and “bad” because it refrains from rigid moral formulations. It prefers to categorise bad habits as “distractions” that lead to a “disorderly lifestyle.” Like his philosophical predecessors Zeno of Citium (334-262 BC) and Cleanthes (330-230 BC), Seneca abhorred waste and disorder. He viewed them as distorting factors of the logos (reason) that rules the universe and as impediments to human #happiness . For Seneca, peace of mind constituted the key benefit from philosophy. Distractions are obstacles, he argued, that we need to remove or circumvent. If we allow distractions to eat up our time, our thoughts will become disorderly and anxious, making it impossible to achieve peace of mind. How can we avoid distractions? Seneca recommended us to study philosophy and regularly pass review to our actions. If we just keep going without thinking, chances are that we’ll get sidetracked. The best approach, Seneca said, is to devote some time daily to assess “how we’ve lived and what we’ve done.” Here is the link to the original article: https://johnvespasian.com/seneca-on-avoiding-distractions/

We could save an enormous amount of time if we figured out how to remain focused on our goals. Even for #motivated people, it is difficult to keep going day after day without getting sidetracked. #seneca came up with a powerful formula for avoiding distractions. In #history , many people have put it into practice successfully. Some of them had learned it by reading Seneca's works, and others had arrived at the same conclusion by themselves. In his 54th and 77th Letters to Lucilius, Seneca condensed his #wisdom about how to avoid distractions. I can sum up his formula in a few words: Thinking of death is the best way to get focused in life. By "thinking of death," Seneca meant "becoming conscious of our limited lifespan." He didn't mean that we should obsess about death and become paranoiac about health risks, potential accidents, and life after death. Stoicism regards death as part of the normal life cycle, not as a tragedy. Seneca encourages readers to accept that, one day, they will cease to exist. The philosophically minded will strive to use their lifetime in the best possible manner, but there is no reason to agonise about #death itself. Seneca argues against the complaint that life is too short. He believes that human life possesses the right length. If we use our days in an effective manner, we can achieve fulfilment; but if we waste them, it won't make any difference whether we live one year longer or not. For Seneca, only unwise people fear death. Philosophically minded individuals are one hundred per cent focused on making the best of today. They want to make sure that, when their moment arrives, they can accept it calmly. In his 54th and 77th Letters to Lucilius, Seneca advises us to make death our friend by cultivating #virtue each day and doing what needs to be done. Let's learn to regard death as something that is neither good nor bad. It is just a fact of life that needs to be accepted. By adopting this mentality, we will not have to #worry about distractions. By focusing on living philosophically and in the present, we will not waste time and energy on lamentations, worry and #anxiety. Here is the link to the original article: https://johnvespasian.com/senecas-formula-for-avoiding-distractions/

It is not exaggerated to affirm that #solitude enabled Arthur Schopenhauer (1788-1860) to become a great philosopher. It took him forty thousand hours of quietness to sharpen his powers of observation, and another forty thousand to make sense of what he had observed. #schopenhauer Schopenhauer held solitude in high regard because it is a prerequisite of self-awareness. Individuals need quietness to understand how the will (“life force”) affects their lives. In his book “The world as will and representation” (1818), Schopenhauer argued that the will never stops prompting humans to pursue goals that are often impossible to achieve. The will is to blame for a large part of #dissatisfaction and suffering in the world. Solitude enables individuals to disengage from the influence of the will. It helps people say no to distractions and confront their passivity, disorientation, and fears. According to Schopenhauer, solitude can help you achieve a profound understanding of the world in general, and yourself (your motivation, goals and desires) in particular. In contrast to modern psychologists, Schopenhauer did not rate solitude negatively. In modern terms, I would say that he refused to be categorised either as alpha (group leader) or beta (group member). In “Parerga and Paralipomena” (1851) and other books that Schopenhauer wrote after moving to Frankfurt, he illustrates how to use solitude to develop #tranquillity and inner peace. Unless you carve a private space of total quietness, you might be driven by the pressures and expectations of society. Unless you cultivate self-awareness, your decisions will be distorted and polluted by the noise of the world. Schopenhauer pointed out that solitude is also necessary for artistic contemplation. Here is the link to the original article: https://johnvespasian.com/schopenhauers-views-on-solitude/