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0dense“If the gods made plans for me and for what should happen to me, they made the right plans, for it is not easy even to conceive of a god counseling ill; and what reason had they to want to harm me? How could this be of benefit to them or to the common good on whose behalf above all they exercise providence? If they did not make plans for me in particular, yet they certainly planned the general good, and as incidental consequences of this I should love and welcome what happens to me.” from VI.44
This names the gods specifically, but VI.42 is not so culturebound: “the Reason which governs all will in any case make good use of you and admit you to a place among its fellow workers and co-operators”
And Reason is superseded in turn by a pantheistic rather than deist perspective: “Reflect frequently how all things in the universe are linked to one another and how they are related. For in a sense all things are interwoven and therefore in friendly sympathy. All things follow one another because of the active tension and common spirit breathing through them all, and because of the unity of all existence.” VI.38, emphasis added
So,
P1: the universe is ordered (vs chaos, as the presocratics were so adamant about establishing).
P2: The universe is good.
P3: Order does not arise on accident.
C1: Therefore the good nature of the universe is intentional as well.
P4: we are part of the universe, which is 1) ordered, 2) good, 3) intentional
C2: Therefore, we share this good nature, and this is correct, and it is appropriate for us to coexist with one another as agents within the universe.
I'm drawing up notes on the Meditations for my classmates and our final exam, and I love Marcus Aurelius. The course that first inspired me to stick with philosophy was an Ancients class, as well, so even if I'm not particularly working with the professor, I'm always delighted to come back to the Stoics.
Also, tomorrow's mass conflicts with Ancients, so I'll miss some lecture, but I've still gotta go for Our Lady. Especially in this day and age, proclaiming era Mexicana.
This names the gods specifically, but VI.42 is not so culturebound: “the Reason which governs all will in any case make good use of you and admit you to a place among its fellow workers and co-operators”
And Reason is superseded in turn by a pantheistic rather than deist perspective: “Reflect frequently how all things in the universe are linked to one another and how they are related. For in a sense all things are interwoven and therefore in friendly sympathy. All things follow one another because of the active tension and common spirit breathing through them all, and because of the unity of all existence.” VI.38, emphasis added
So,
P1: the universe is ordered (vs chaos, as the presocratics were so adamant about establishing).
P2: The universe is good.
P3: Order does not arise on accident.
C1: Therefore the good nature of the universe is intentional as well.
P4: we are part of the universe, which is 1) ordered, 2) good, 3) intentional
C2: Therefore, we share this good nature, and this is correct, and it is appropriate for us to coexist with one another as agents within the universe.
I'm drawing up notes on the Meditations for my classmates and our final exam, and I love Marcus Aurelius. The course that first inspired me to stick with philosophy was an Ancients class, as well, so even if I'm not particularly working with the professor, I'm always delighted to come back to the Stoics.
Also, tomorrow's mass conflicts with Ancients, so I'll miss some lecture, but I've still gotta go for Our Lady. Especially in this day and age, proclaiming era Mexicana.
