Made it to Chapter 8

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One probably wonders what I’m working on.  As an Independent Scholar, as I am not attached to a University, I am writing a commentary on the first book of a personal journal written by a 2nd Century Roman Emperor. In that book he lists 16 names and describes what each person contributed to his life. That’s the short version. I’ve covered the first 8 so far and hit a wall. Now I’ve gone back and am editing Chapters 1-3 to keep my mojo going. Not sure when I’ll be done but hopefully by years’ end. I already have another project lined up. 

Summum Bonum: The Highest Good (Virtue)

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A few days ago there was posted a list of Seven Tenets of Stoicism, the first of which was to seek  "summum bonum" or "the highest good," summed into word, "virtue." How does one seek to be virtuous except through philosophy, the love of wisdom? While it may not be possible to compile an exhaustive list of virtues, one may be able to catalog, think on and reflect on those he finds through wisdom-study. Moral Philosophy is an ideal realm to explore for virtues.

As much as possible over the next few days, weeks, perhaps months, we will fill an undetermined number of blog posts related to the nurture of our personal "summum bonum," with the view of making a contribution to the people in our lives and the world in which we live. 

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Made it to Chapter 8

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One probably wonders what I’m working on.  As an Independent Scholar, as I am not attached to a University, I am writing a commentary on the first book of a personal journal written by a 2nd Century Roman Emperor. In that book he lists 16 names and describes what each person contributed to his life. That’s the short version. I’ve covered the first 8 so far and hit a wall. Now I’ve gone back and am editing Chapters 1-3 to keep my mojo going. Not sure when I’ll be done but hopefully by years’ end. I already have another project lined up. 
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"On Keeping A Notebook" by Joan Didion

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I'm nearly finished reading Joan Didion's collection of essays, Slouching Towards Bethlehem.  The book was discovered through another book I was reading, Jon Krakauer's Eiger Dreams . If Jon felt this book was good enough to pack along on a mountain climbing expedition, then I'm interested. Took me three tries, but I finally found my copy on Amazon. One of the best book buys I've made. Joan selected the title of this book from William Butler Yeats' classic poem, Second Coming . The book title is shared with one of her larger essays, a record of encounters with people in the 1960's drug culture. Didion's book is divided into three distinct parts: "Life Styles In The Golden Land," a collection of articles capturing the California experience of the 1960's; "Personals," a few of essays of the first-hand nature; and "Seven Places Of The Mind", some thoughts about those parts of California that are now long gone. One essay...
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