Enchiridion 45, (Supplimental): Perception

-
Yesterday a few short comments were posted regarding Enchiridion 45, but the post was incomplete. Please consider this supplemental: 


"Does anyone bathe in a mighty little time? Don't say that he does it ill, but in a mighty little time. Does anyone drink a great quantity of wine? Don't say that he does ill, but that he drinks a great quantity. For, unless you perfectly understand the principle from which anyone acts, how should you know if he acts ill? Thus you will not run the hazard of assenting to any appearances but such as you fully comprehend." (Epictetus, Enchiridion 45)

Couched within these words is the Stoic principle of "calling a thing what it is." This is an exercise in perception. Epictetus makes you think about what you see: a person takes a quick bath--what do you say about it? "You did that wrong"? Or someone drinks too much. Do you pass judgement about it and say that what the person does is wrong? Instead you should say, "that was a short bath" or "that guy drinks alot." This is not passing judgment, but calling an act what it is.

Consider the example of Marcus Aurelius: when your food is presented before you, call it what it is--dead fish, dead bird, dead pig, grape juice, etc. Look at your clothes: sheep's wool dyed with blood of a shell-fish. See things as they are. Call things what they are. 

In checking your perception, you reserve judgement for things that actually matter. If you say (for example) that taking a short bath is wrong or bad, then what do we say when a person actually does something morally wrong or bad? Do you make bathing a moral act? No. So why judge them equally? Marcus Aurelius instructs to make proper use of reason, to be careful with language. 

One place this becomes helpful is during periods of suffering. The story is told of Epictetus being beat by his master. In so many words, Epictetus warned his master, "keep doing that and you will break my leg." His master did not relent and broke Epictetus' leg. His response? "Now you've done it." 

There is strength in calling a thing what it is. It keeps one grounded to reality. 

Popular posts from this blog

The Smooth-flowing Life

-
Image
Legend has it that the astronomer Ptolemy (1st century A.D.) suggested that falling stars were caused by the gods moving in the heavens, thus knocking stars out of their places. Somehow people reasoned that that if the gods were moving, they must be getting close to earth so they would lift their "prayers" or "wishes" (literally, "desires") whenever they saw the stars falling in hopes the gods would notice and grant a favorable answer. But how does one wish on falling star? Once you see it, it's gone before the wish or prayer can be made! The answer is simple: meteor shower. That's how to get your wish. Mrs. Ann Hodges had a wish fall right into her lap. Sort of. In 1954 Mrs. Hodges was sleeping on the couch when a 8 1/2 pound meteorite fell through her house and into her living room where it bounced off the radio and struck her left hip leaving her with a bruise. Not sure what she was wishing, but that's not how to do it. Epictetus hel
Read more

A Reflection in Plato’s “Republic” Book 2

-
Image
Early in Book 2 of Plato’s “Republic,” the discussion turns into the story of a man named Gyges who finds a ring that makes him invisible. Using the powers of the ring, he reports to the court of his king, seduces the queen “and with her help conspired against the king and slew him, and took the kingdom.” What would happen if there were two rings, one worn by an unjust man and the other by a just man? The story attempts to make the case that a just man will act unjustly if given the opportunity to think he is doing right, if only by himself. But what if he doesn’t? What if there was no ring, and what if there was a perfectly unjust man and a perfectly just man and both had everything they needed in life? The unjust man must cover his steps in order to be distinguished and succeed. In the eyes of others, he appears to be just. But what about the just man, who appears to be unjust?    “They will tell you that the just man who is thought unjust will be scourged, racked, bound-will have hi
Read more