| It's amazing how much time some people think they have. They're so sure they're going to live into their 80s, so sure that next week, that tomorrow is coming, that they're willing to spend today arguing with strangers on the internet. They'll hand over an hour (and their brain) to talking heads from the television outrage factory. They'll seek out conflict and arguments, going back and forth over text and email, passing up time with family for a fight with a coworker. We've talked about Elon Musk before—the embodiment of this modern ethos. The guy has more money than God, more actual problems than any human can handle, and he's volunteering to fight in the culture wars? Let's contrast this with the bit from the comedian Tom Segura we've talked about over at Daily Dad. When he had kids, he said, he gave up arguing with strangers. He gave up arguing with his own parents too. He'll just tell people whatever they need to hear to end the conversation so he can go back to what he actually needs to focus on—his family, his career, his own issues. Epictetus said that if someone lives like a philosopher, they won't have any room in their lives for fighting. Because they have learned what's up to them and what isn't, what's their affair and what isn't. So it should go for us. Philosophy should both teach us the truth and pointlessness of arguing with other people about it. Philosophy should equip us with the tools to get things right…and the strength to not need to be right. To accept, to tolerate, to side-step squabbles and intractable arguments. It gives us urgency and perspective. We know that time is short. We know what matters and what doesn't. |
No comments:
Post a Comment