Chinese Curses And Happiness

Bob Miller · 15 Apr 2007, 12:52 · from 2007-April.txt.gz

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From: bob_bageera at hotmail.com (Bob Miller)
Date: Sun, 15 Apr 2007 07:52:30 -0500
Subject: (urth) Chinese Curses And Happiness
In-Reply-To: <15891.67.142.130.12.1176512558.squirrel at brunians.org>
Message-ID: <BAY135-F22F91180E3E811EC85A34188530 at phx.gbl>

 > It depends, I guess. The good life that Stoics (and the ancients in
 > general) were after isn't exactly equivalent to our concept of 
"happiness",
 > but that's probably about the closest fit you're going to get. For a 
Stoic
 > it's ok to be happy,

As long as you are happy about the right things, that is, because the
things under your control (will, desire, aversion, movement towards and
away from an object) conform to virtue, that you do not desire what does
not belong to you.

Hmm.  I apologize, but it's been my experience that the things described 
here are often least under our control, anyone else?  Will--I've spent my 
entire life attempting to discipline this unruly and often lazy aspect of my 
own self.  It definitely aint under my control, nor, when dug into, under a 
preponderance of most people's is their own.

Not being 17 anymore, I can occasionally control my desire; however the bulk 
here would be a great deal less if my my desire for food were also a great 
deal less, for example.

Aversion?  While there are definitely people who grow used to working in a 
sulfur mine, I have never met anyone who could choose to not be adverse to 
doing so.  The other virtues listed appear to be variations on the base 
theme.

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