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Edgar Jackson's avatar

Physics gives us the reason why certain things ought to be borne and others forborne. For they are either in accord with nature and your role within it, or they are not.

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Gregory B. Sadler's avatar

Nope. not that straightforward and simple in actual Stoic philosophy, I'm afraid

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Edgar Jackson's avatar

Can I ask why you disagree, or is it pedagogical caution against short formulations?

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Gregory B. Sadler's avatar

That's part of it. The whole "in accordance with nature" is a complex idea, not one to treat reductively. And most of the references we have to it aren't in the bits of Stoics physics we have, but in Stoic ethics. There's more that could be said, but that's a good enough start, I'd say

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Edgar Jackson's avatar

Although I accept there is nuance, I cannot see how ethics can stand without it. Why would I have ethics without a rational, purposeful cosmos? Why should I care about reason? From a practical point of view, we can learn and deepen our understanding over time, but it is not so complicated as to make it inaccessible to the average Stoic.

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Gregory B. Sadler's avatar

Good luck with your studies

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Todd's avatar

Thank you Dr. Sadler for applying rigor and depth to Stoicism,

Catch phrases, buzzwords, and chicken soup for the Stoic Soul type things infuriate me.

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