Stoicism

numerous wars and uniting the people in his empire. After more than a century of Augustus’s reign, Marcus Aurelius championed the highest seat in Roman society. Aurelius, unlike his counterpart Augustus, was a benevolent commander who practiced stoicism. The two emperor’s respective natures are depicted in prominent artwork from the time, primarily…

Virtue is the habit of choosing the mean between the extremes of excess and deficiency with regard to some action or emotion. Most importantly, virtue brings upon friendship since virtue is the parent and preserver of friendship and without virtue, friendship cannot exist at all. Aristotle’s aristotelian view on friendship in the Nicomachean Ethics Books 8 & 9 contrasts and compares with Cicero’s eclectic view on friendship in De Amicitia in numerous ways. Aristotle defines friendship as two…

Finally, the cultural values of intensive mothering provide another aspect of the gender-based view of female behavior that is “tolerated” in the patriarchal workplace. Another inequality in the patriarchal workplace is the male gender behaviors of stoicism and perceived neglect in the value of family life. The gender value of the “nurturing mother” is a major gender role, which has been deeply imbedded into the fabric of American society. These two divided gender roles provide a deeper…

through some of their new developments created by philosophers such as Socrates and Aristotles. The concept of ‘school’ had been born because of Aristotles, where more thinkers and intellectuals came together, and invented new philosophies such as stoicism, skepticism and…

In the Greek version of the myth, Laodamia’s actions are dictated by the love she feels towards her husband. Her life ends when his life ends. It is perhaps Ovid who best phrases Laodamias relationship and feelings towards her husband in his Heroides, with Laodamia saying to Protesilaus: “If thou hast any care for me, have a care for thyself. ” Laodamias love can be seen as a form of weakness, a burden upon her soul. The need to have her husband with her is most evident in her creation of a…

Kirk Ormand is a classics professor at Oberlin University who specializes in sexuality in the ancient world. Throughout chapters eight, ten, and thirteen of his book Controlling Desires, Ormand looks at many aspects pertaining to Roman sexuality. An overarching theme of the three chapters looks at what was considered normal sexual behavior in Rome, with a focusing at times on homosexuality in Rome. Over the course of the chapters, Ormand looks at Rome’s origins and interrelation to Greece with…

Hawthorne is a man of loaded words and vague, yet meaningful, expressions. Within his works, are a plethora of lessons to be taken away and messages to be reflected on. One such message being his reference to enjoying the good and the bad life has to offer. On the surface the meaning comes across as nonsensical ramblings, however when thought about for a short period of time, one can easily understand the power behind the phrase. “There is no fate in this world so horrible as to have no share in…

According to Fontaine, yoga is all about personal development through means of psychological and physical practices (242). Apart from the physicality of yoga, it also involves a way for an individual to have the following: "right living (abstinence and personal discipline), right care of the body (body control), and enhancement of vital energy (breath control)" (Fontaine 2015). This aspect of yoga is imperative and it is one that many Westerners overlook - the original use was for…

wanted to move forward. I had to juggle school, house work, taking care of my sisters and putting food on the table. That was my responsibilities. I had to learn how to succeed on my own. The skills of having the courage, determination, faith and stoicism to get through that course to success. When it became time to do my examination my darkest moment came. My grandmother died that Sunday before my first test started. She would say, “believe in yourself because no matter how people start about u…

Illuminating a Walk November 14, 2106 Evening and another lonely walk has begun, intensified by the shadow of my mother's passing. At least it's good exercise – a positive thought. The road, over familiar, its quitetude contrasted by the humming of a nearby highway, the warm air elevating my mood ever so slightly. “Hi Blair” a child's voice! I felt my piqued ears point to somewhere in the dark. At once a friend, familiar and oh so welcoming, illuminated something inside. Dostoevsky…