Political Philosophy and Ethics discussion

Now available for pre-order:

My name is William Ferraiolo, I am a Philosophy Professor and author, and my new book of essays about Stoicism and Philosophy of Religion is now available from John Hunt Publishing: 👍

Excerpt:
“Since they are not dispensed in tablet or capsule form, Stoic anxiolytics remain available without prescription and exhibit an extraordinarily benign side effect profile. They rarely cause weight gain, sexual dysfunction, or uncontrollable movements of the limbs. Physiological dependence is relatively uncommon – and not especially pernicious. Instead, Stoicism offers rationally grounded, proven psychological techniques for the gradual development of consistent self-mastery and emotional detachment from those elements of the human condition that tend to cause the most pervasive and unsettling forms of fear, anxiety, and avoidable disquiet.”

https://www.amazon.com/Life-Worth-Liv...




Life Worth Living, A
Meditations on God, Death and Stoicism
William Ferraiolo
January 31 2020
Paperback 978-1-78904-304-4

Thank you for your consideration. 🙏
William Ferraiolo

William wrote: "Now available for pre-order:

My name is William Ferraiolo, I am a Philosophy Professor and author, and my new book of essays about Stoicism and Philosophy of Religion is now available from John Hu..."

Although I have a rule that posters are not to create a new substantive topic without consulting with me first, I have no problem with this particular topic or with your mentioning your book. I do, however, have a problem with your evident attempt to market a pharmaceutical product in this forum. Please remove that quote and replace it with something more philosophical from your book or otherwise.

Absent your removing the said quotation, I will delete your post.

Thank you.

Alan E. Johnson
Moderator

Addendum to my preceding post: It now occurs to me that you were speaking tongue-in-cheek, though it difficult to be sure since the quote is taken out of context. On this assumption, I will let the comment stand as is.

That was my impression as well; that it was all just a clever turn of phrase being employed. The sticky wicket was the term 'anxiolytics' which I had to ponder for a while. Is that an actual variety of drug? I sure don't know.

Hello,

My new book comes out on June 1st:

In Slave and Sage William Ferraiolo distills and reanimates the original spirit of Epictetus’ Enchiridion for a 21st century audience, and shows how the lessons Epictetus offered are more relevant than ever to modern life. Much like the original stoics, Ferraiolo's work prides itself on a combination of erudition and accessibility, to teach and counsel every reader.

"This little gem of philosophical insight will help you dig down into the best wisdom of the ancient Stoic philosopher, Epictetus, and see how it can apply powerfully in our lives today. Highly recommended."
Tom Morris, author of The Stoic Art of Living

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/178...

Hi all. I’ve been trying to journal, using the daily stoic journal by holiday and hanselman. I keep getting hung up though. In February, one of the questions was “do I see and assess myself clearly?”
Probably not! How do we even step back to see ourselves clearly, without being too lenient (therefore dishonest) or without judging ourselves to harshly. At least I know better than to ever ask my kids a question like that again! Wow, that was humiliating. How would any of you assess yourselves?

re: Anna's msg #6 this thread

Anna, your deliberation does you credit, and is well-worth considering by any thoughtful person.

Should men turn their gaze 'inward' or 'outward'? The problem is that the horns of this dilemma have shifted; 'inward' and 'outward' mean something different in previous eras than it does now. What to do in today's world?

No less than Socrates emphasized the importance of inner reflection. The "self-examined life" is a familiar Socratic quotation.

But the downside of this is frivolousness; lassitude; narcissism. Daydreaming and reverie do not generate a productive life. I myself do not much admire anyone who spends inordinate time, 'navel-gazing'.

Nor does political ombudsman Charles Krauthammer in the following commencement speech. It's an address which reminds us all of our role in civic, public affairs:

https://www.nationalaffairs.com/stora...

Background on Krauthammer:
https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/arc...

Greek statesman Pericles also stressed public duty in citizens. All very sage encouragement for turning 'outward' rather than 'inward'.

But gazing 'outward' today, has flipped inside-out. An "exterior-life" in modern times has become trifling and paltry. Surfing; bingeing; spectating; "social media".

Who today 'gazes outward' in the sense of civic life? Who is engaged and active in public duty?

Socrates and Pericles rarely co-exist anymore. Action and reflection are sublime when complementary. But in life today, there is usually an imbalance.

I don't know what to recommend. Just musing aloud here.

Epictetus’s Complete Works (2022)

I have just learned of a 2022 translation of Epictetus’s Complete Works translated by Robin Waterford. The publisher is the University of Chicago Press. The Kindle edition is only $2.99 (USD). The Amazon link is https://www.amazon.com/Complete-Works....

Thanks. I had not seen it at the $2.99 price, and bought it immediately. I usually enjoy Waterfield’s translations. The public domain Epictetus translations I have found online range from uninspiring to awkward, and my Oxford Worlds Classics volume is missing.

Ian wrote: "Thanks. I had not seen it at the $2.99 price, and bought it immediately. I usually enjoy Waterfield’s translations. The public domain Epictetus translations I have found online range from uninspiri..."

Yes, I could not get much into Epictetus on the basis of earlier translations; my Greek is rather rudimentary, and I am mostly reliant on good English translations. I also bought the Kindle edition and will read it sometime after I finish writing the book on political philosophy that I am currently preparing.

Since I mentioned the Oxford World's Classics Epictetus, translated by Robin Hard, Discourses, Fragments, Handbook, I should point out that the Kindle edition is currently available for $5.99 (and I got it for less using Amazon points).

It should not be confused with Hard's 1995 Everyman revision of the eighteenth-century Elizabeth Carter translation of the "Discourses" (only). I have at one time or another owned both in paperback, and I'm not sure I had that distinction in mind when I mentioned the OWC translation yesterday.

Carter's pioneering translation may also underlie some of the unsatisfactory public domain translations:. Even if it was not too strongly shaped by the Greek original, what was simple and natural in eighteenth-century English may come across stilted, even in less than expert modernization. If I ever look into it, I will try an early edition through the Internet Archive.

Ian wrote: "Since I mentioned the Oxford World's Classics Epictetus, translated by Robin Hard, Discourses, Fragments, Handbook, I should point out that the Kindle edition is currently available..."

Thank you for this information. I have a revision (reviser not identified) of Carter's translation on Kindle, and I read it in part in 2019. I have now downloaded the Kindle edition of the Robin Hard translation that you referenced in the first paragraph of your preceding post and, after rewards credits, it was only $2.26. It is somewhat incredible that this OUP edition and the University of Chicago edition mentioned in my earlier email (Robin Waterford translation) are so inexpensive; usually, such academic books, especially from OUP, are quite expensive.

Oxford Worlds Classics are usually less expensive than other OUP volumes, and they sometimes show up at very low prices for Kindle editions. I periodically do a sort for them using Amazon Advanced Search, looking for temporary bargains.

Ian wrote: "Oxford Worlds Classics are usually less expensive than other OUP volumes, and they sometimes show up at very low prices for Kindle editions. I periodically do a sort for them using Amazon Advanced ..."

Thanks for the tip!