Tem

15/16 MAR

A metaphysical insight from stoic determinism: Because the cosmos is rational and determined by a benign force, everything that happens is providential and our appropriate (wise) attitude toward it should be acceptance. (a perfection!) (Note that this idea profoundly influenced Christianity - consider, for example the Serenity Prayer. Seeing it in the pantheist corporealist Stoic might make it easier to imagine as a possible belief for an atheist. FATE =GOD) -- discussion

Rationality and the goal of tranquility
Analysis of suffering as "mismatch" between reality and our desires
Reason to think that achievement of virtue will create conditions for happiness.
Connection to Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy and Cognitive Behavior Therapy

Key Idea: To realize our rational nature (and the joy that only rational being can know), we need to adjust our thinking about our lives to what we know about reality.

"Some things are in our control and others are not."
"Confine your aversion" and understand the limits of things. (Sounds like an “aversion” retraining program based on knowledge claims.)
Infamous #3. Read with #7, #8, and #14, in case we’re being too subtle.
Something like mindfulness, #4
Limits of pride. Catching the mind exaggerating.
Desire: #15
Comportment in later points of the enchiridion. (Unabashedly hierarchal -- recall "mix of elements")

"men of stone" objection: overdominance of reason - not sure the cosmic plan requires me to devalue everything "slavish" or nonrational; "men of stone"; counsel of passivity; rejection of determinism; rejection of providential character or universe.
Objections to the dichotomy of control
Unrealistic view of social life.

Group Discussion: Consider the stoic diagnosis of suffering (note comparison to Buddhism) and the remedy proposed. Consider typical objections and defenses. How does stoicism fare as a wisdom outlook and therapy?

368- 283 Crates of Thebes - friend of Antisthenes (445-365), who was a pupil of Socrates (469-399)
333-262 Zeno of Citium - credited as founder of Stoicism
331-232 Cleanthes
277-204 Chrysippus of Soli - 705 rolls written, 0 survive to date
fl. 200 Zeno of Tarsus
230-150 Diogenes of Babylon - famous visit to Rome to spread stoicism (156-155)
200-129 Antipater of Tarsus
Posidonius of Apemen - contemporary of Cicero (106-43)
3-65 Seneca
50-135 Epictetus
121-180 Marcus Aurelius

Gene culture co-evolution (also, "dual inheritance" or "bio-cultural") theory. Three necessary hypotheses:

1. Learning is a form of rapid cultural adaptation that accounts for key aspects of human culture. (extension of "Baldwin effect")
2. This process naturally produces "evolutionarily stable" but diverse strategies which divide humans into competitive groups. Imitation plays a key role in eliminating comp. adv. over time, but groups are often competitors and threatened by freeloaders. (This is where "large scale cooperation" comes into play. Note their puzzle about this.)
3. Culture exerts a selection pressure on individuals who have traits that directly or indirectly favor the group's strategy (note: whether it is a successful one or not. Easter Islanders. Mention next week's guest: Duddie's Branch. Positive Example: Pro-social emotions. might be a culturally created selection pressure for this via learning.)

cooperation: "costly behavior performed by one individual that increases the payoff of others. (start with reciprocal altruism - explain - arrive at civic virtue)
multiple "stable equilibrium points" create variation among groups. Something environment can select over.

discussion at p. 3286: evolved emotions: shame and guilt. But also "awe" and transcendence?