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Oh the things you find while reading...

As I reach back into greek philosophy to help me find a way through the morass of modern critical thinking, I found this little nugget:

"We are disturbed not by events, but by the views which we take of them"

Epictetus - Greek Stoic, 55–b.c.e - 135 b.c.e.

I found my self earlier this week telling someone that what bothered me the most about Virginia Tech was not just what happened, but how people who were not there were reacting to what happened and how I found those reactions to be interesting, for reasons I had never considered before.

It was as if due to this event that our culture had a chance to sit in front of a mirror and write down what it sees reflected back at itself.

I've never come across this character before, so I will have to read some more...

Posted @ April 21, 2007 07:21 PM | Current Affairs

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Comments

Epictetus is brilliant-- often considered to be a phiosophical/intellectual peer of fellow Stoic, Marcus Aurelius, despite being a slave not an emperor. Best read with maturity,not in college.

Posted by: m at April 22, 2007 05:17 AM

"Best read with maturity, not in college."

Some words of wisdom right there; every time I talk to a college student these days I wish they would raise the voting age back up to 21 (or more). Yeah, Carter knew what he was doing.

Posted by: GyorgLyquor at April 23, 2007 11:32 AM

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