“But” (says my pupil), “have I not recited to you? Do you not know what I am doing?”
What are you engaged on? Paltry phrases. Away with your paltry phrases: show me how you stand in regard to the will to get and the will to avoid: if you do not fail to get what you will, or fall into what you will to avoid. As for those paltry periods, if you have sense you will take them away somewhere or other and make away with them.
“What do you mean? Did not Socrates write?”
Yes, who wrote so much as he? But under what conditions? He could not always have someone at hand examining his judgements or to be examined by him in turn, and therefore be examined and questioned himself and was always putting to trial some primary conception or other in a practical way.
This is what a philosopher writes: but paltry phrases and periods he leaves to others, to the stupid or the blessed, those whose peace of mind gives them leisure for study or those who can draw no logical conclusions because of their folly.
—from Epictetus, Discourses 2.1
I have often felt a twinge of resentment when someone wiser and better is offering me sound advice. They aren’t being cruel, it’s rather my own guilty conscience talking, and instead of acting defensive I should get busy cleaning house.
While the student is proud of all his fancy scholarship, the master knows how the study of words is empty when not in service to the increase of the virtues. Indeed, I have found that the lure of academic achievement can easily be a downright hindrance to improving my character.
I think of how many hours I wasted memorizing only what I was expected to say. I cringe at the years of schooling spent learning to look clever instead of working to be wise. I regret trying to impress by bickering, when I really should have been seeking to love with understanding.
Has philosophy helped me to become kinder, or am I using it as an excuse to become nastier? If you think I’m exaggerating, take a moment to listen in on a typical academic conversation, and the level of frivolous conflict and spite will make you think that the gossipy church ladies are downright saints.
Am I being critical with myself, or am I merely criticizing others? There’s the rub.
I suppose Socrates did write, though he never wrote down any formal treatises, thinking it more important to practice philosophy than to show off about the theories. He wouldn’t have lasted a week in an academic department, or ever gotten published, and I don’t imagine he would have had any interest in doing so.
By all means, familiarize yourself with the tools—then start using them to do the actual job.
I have often felt a twinge of resentment when someone wiser and better is offering me sound advice. They aren’t being cruel, it’s rather my own guilty conscience talking, and instead of acting defensive I should get busy cleaning house.
While the student is proud of all his fancy scholarship, the master knows how the study of words is empty when not in service to the increase of the virtues. Indeed, I have found that the lure of academic achievement can easily be a downright hindrance to improving my character.
I think of how many hours I wasted memorizing only what I was expected to say. I cringe at the years of schooling spent learning to look clever instead of working to be wise. I regret trying to impress by bickering, when I really should have been seeking to love with understanding.
Has philosophy helped me to become kinder, or am I using it as an excuse to become nastier? If you think I’m exaggerating, take a moment to listen in on a typical academic conversation, and the level of frivolous conflict and spite will make you think that the gossipy church ladies are downright saints.
Am I being critical with myself, or am I merely criticizing others? There’s the rub.
I suppose Socrates did write, though he never wrote down any formal treatises, thinking it more important to practice philosophy than to show off about the theories. He wouldn’t have lasted a week in an academic department, or ever gotten published, and I don’t imagine he would have had any interest in doing so.
By all means, familiarize yourself with the tools—then start using them to do the actual job.
—Reflection written in 5/2001
IMAGE: Luca Giordano, A Philosopher Writing (c. 1680)
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