> On Jan 5, 2015, at 12:22 AM, Dan Glover <[email protected]> wrote: > > Ron, > >> On Sat, Jan 3, 2015 at 9:32 AM, Ron Kulp <[email protected]> wrote: >> >> >>> On Dec 23, 2014, at 12:02 AM, Dan Glover <[email protected]> wrote: >>> >>> Ron: >>>> Shakespeare answered >>>> That it is also the fear of death that makes it better to be than not to >>>> be. >>>> Then we have Socrates that asks >>>> What it means to lead a Good life >>> >>> Dan: >>> What was his answer? And does leading a good life equate with knowing >>> that a life is worthwhile? >> >> Ron replies: >> Interesting question. Socrates broke >> It down in much the same way RMP >> Did, physically (moderation) socially >> (Goodwill) and intellectually (wisdom) >> Which he boils down to the highest pleasure. It seems to me that Socrates >> associates leading a good >> Life as leading a pleasing life. > > Dan: > Pleasing in what fashion? From what I gather, Socrates was pretty much > an itinerant beggar. He lived like a pauper in the midst of plenty. He > was an usurper of youth. He died a criminal by his own admission. Are > we to take the word of such a man that his life was pleasing? If so, > why did he throw it away so frivolously? Or did he? > Ron replies: I wouldn't say he did, no.. The dialog I remember is a discussion Involving what it means to lead a good life. The interlocutor was asserting that physical pleasure was The highest and best. Our boy Socrates thought wisdom was better And proceeded to persuade us that The love of wisdom was best and most pleasurable, held above all others. I remember when I read it It seemed to connect up with a lot Of things I've read about on how Understanding is a literal turn on. It gets you off. So I've always kind Of taken Socrates to meaning something along those lines.
>> Ron: >> With that being said, I would venture >> To project that a pleasing life would >> Be a worthwhile life. > > Dan: > To the Nazis, the holocaust was a pleasing life. To the followers of > the Islamic State, the sharia is a pleasing life. I somehow doubt any > of us here would consider those lifestyles as anything worthwhile. > Mind you, I'm not arguing with you so much as seeking a clear solution > to what constitutes a worthwhile life. Is there anything that we can > point to universally in that regard? Or are we all on our own when it > comes to discovering what really turns our crank? > Ron replies: Great question, and I think I know Where you're headed. My understanding is that the universal Is the feeling. We all are on our own, But what is shared is the passion for What is best. >> Ron: >> Therefore "knowing" for Socrates >> Is in the empirical pleasing sense of artistic Practice not an abstract, >> universal concept by which we measure a life. > > Dan: > But what about our life? Was Socrates saying we're all artists in our > own way? Or is that artistry found in the practice no matter how > mundane? > Ron replies: I'm going to assume Socrates was Familiar with Heraclitus and that The love of wisdom is a passion And love in practice. It exists in action. >> Ron: >> And I think that makes a distinct difference >> In ones outlook. > > Dan: > Possibly. The more personal the story the greater impact it seems to > have on the reader. Is that the power of ZMM? I think so. > > Thanks, Ron. > > Ron: I agree , thAnks again for the conversation. > > http://www.danglover.com > Moq_Discuss mailing list > Listinfo, Unsubscribing etc. > http://lists.moqtalk.org/listinfo.cgi/moq_discuss-moqtalk.org > Archives: > http://lists.moqtalk.org/pipermail/moq_discuss-moqtalk.org/ > http://moq.org/md/archives.html Moq_Discuss mailing list Listinfo, Unsubscribing etc. http://lists.moqtalk.org/listinfo.cgi/moq_discuss-moqtalk.org Archives: http://lists.moqtalk.org/pipermail/moq_discuss-moqtalk.org/ http://moq.org/md/archives.html
