|
The Ancient Art of Holding It Together
(I'm feeling kind of amused)
There once lived a dude named Antisthenes, a pupil of Socrates and one of the original members of an ancient group of philosophers known as the CYNICS.
They believed the purpose of life was to live it with virtue in accordance with nature. Wealth, power, possession, and fame were unnatural obstacles to happiness. Suffereing was a side-effect of believing in the wrong things (like social conventions and customs). Self-sufficiency was the only road to Oz.
Cynics were the watchdogs of humanity, exposing pretentions which lay at the root of human discontent, giving rise to what we now call satire.
The STOICS picked up where the Cynics left off- overcoming destructive emotions through self-control was their bag. A Stoic could percieve the world as sick and still be content. They could be physically unhealthy, dying, in exile, or disgraced but as long as their stoic fortitude held up, they could endure and be happy...or so it was said.
This message was brought to you by a modern-day Cynic, who oftentimes marvels at the serendipitous nature of nicknames and wishes more time could be given toward the noble creation of satire.
Good day to you all, regardless of the inevitable absurdities abundant within this landscape. We are so much more than drama.
|
