Musonius Rufus, Lectures 16.7

“Now if your father, knowing nothing about the subject, should forbid you who had learned and comprehended what philosophy is to study philosophy, would you be bound to heed him, or would you not rather be obligated to teach him better, since he is giving bad advice? That seems to me to be the answer.

“Perhaps by using reason alone one might persuade his father to adopt the attitude he ought in regard to philosophy if the father's disposition is not too obstinate. If, however, he should not be persuaded by argument and would not yield, yet even then the conduct of his son will win him over if his son is truly putting his philosophy into practice.

“For, as a student of philosophy he will certainly be most eager to treat his father with the greatest possible consideration and will be most well-behaved and gentle; in his relations with his father he will never be contentious or self-willed, nor hasty or prone to anger; furthermore he will control his tongue and his appetite whether for food or for sexual temptations, and he will stand fast in the face of danger and hardships; and finally with competence in recognizing the true good, he will not let the apparent good pass without examination.”

Now recall that the original question was what a son should do when a father particularly forbids him the study of philosophy. Yes, we can all have a good laugh about that, given how often parents are driven to despair by seeing their children following what most of the world regards as useless disciplines.

I will venture to say, at the risk of becoming even more unpopular, that such objections are the result of lopsided thinking.

By all means, find the best way to pay for your day-to-day worldly needs, what the Ancients called the servile arts. Mea culpa; I sadly neglected those for far too long.

But what is the ultimate purpose of life, the end toward which all other means are directed? It is happiness, and there can be no happiness without distinguishing the true from the false and the right from the wrong. This requires what the Ancients called the liberal arts, those suitable for a person who is free.

To study philosophy, as the careerist might describe it, is probably a complete waste of time. To study, and thereby to live, philosophy, as Musonius would have described it, is an absolute necessity.  

Does the father command the son to build up his power and prestige instead of first building up his character? The father is mistaken. The son can show his reverence by using reason to argue his point, but if the father still does not comprehend, the son can offer only the dignity of his own example.

Most professional philosophers I know have a tendency to be petty and mean-spirited folks. Let them be as they choose to be. Most genuine philosophers, however, those who put into practice what they ponder, will be understanding, respectful, and caring. They will strive to be wise, courageous, temperate, and just. There is the basis of a good life.

Please convince me if I am wrong, before I send my own son off on his journey.

Written in 3/2000