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/lit/ - Literature

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14744740 No.14744740 [Reply] [Original]

I've been shopping around for a philosophy to try to put into practice in my own life. It doesn't have to be perfect, just better than the random sludge of ideas I've passively absorbed from the culture around me. Does anyone else here approach philosophy like this? That is, principally as something that guides your day-to-day life?

>> No.14744923
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14744923

>>14744740
Read the teachings of Epictetus; he is mainly concerned with practical philosophy and emphasizes methods of incorporating philosophy into your daily life. Stoicism has undeservedly gained a bad reputation lately due to "self-help gurus" looking to make a quick buck, but even if you don't buy into stoicism itself Epictetus provides valuable instructions on living according to your ideals and warns of the pitfalls many students of philosophy fall into. It also helps that Arrian (who recorded the teachings of Epictetus) captured his sense of humor well, making it an enjoyable read even for newcomers to philosophy.

>> No.14744976

>>14744923
I'm actually reading Epictetus right now. I agree; he's both comprehensible and entertaining.

>> No.14745808

Simplicius Commentary on the Enchiridion

>> No.14745840

Doesnt matter which you pick. Very few people who have a philosophy or moral code actually stick to it rigidly. You dont have free will and you dont have enough will power.

>> No.14745976

>>14745840
>You dont have free will and you dont have enough will power.
there's no such thing as will power if there's no free will

>> No.14745979

>>14744740
I think you just mean practical philosophy instead of theoretical. Stoicism is probably the most well known I can think of, philosophical Taoism is also up there personally.

>> No.14746194

>>14745976
The train doesnt drive itself but it still has in built systems to keep it on track
Either way my point is still unavoidable

>> No.14746292
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14746292

Would the philosophy teachings of the ancient Greeks be as profound and true to us if they hadn't been memed as almost mythical iconic figures of our civilization?
Not trying to put it in a bad way, it's a genuine question.

>> No.14746297

>>14746292
Yeah. There are plenty of Ancient Greek schools of philosophy you never hear about despite the fact that they have extant literature and their teachings are well known.
The guys that stuck throughout history up to this day did so for a reason, and it's not a shallow reason either.

>> No.14746336

>>14746297
There are no schools with surviving texts that are not well known.

>> No.14746387

>>14746336
>well known
I think we interpret this word too differently to be able to come to a common conclusion.

>> No.14746396

>>14746387
Well which schools do you mean?

>> No.14746413

>>14746396
Neoplatonism and Epicureanism both come to mind at first. They're relevant with many works but hardly known, their ideas took on other names which eventually shed most of their origins, which is proof enough that most of their ideas failed to hold relevance up to this day without being absorbed by something larger and more relevant, being transformed into something else or without being abandoned.

>> No.14746421

>>14744923
>>14744976
Seneca too

>> No.14746838

>>14744740
Manly P Hall

>> No.14746870

>something that guides your day-to-day life
Think for yourself faggot. Don't be sheep

>> No.14747719

>>14745979
>philosophical Taoism is also up there personally.
Is there an introductory work you'd recommend?

>>14746870
Creating from scratch an original framework for interpreting existence is difficult. This seems like a more practical starting point to me.

>> No.14747884
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14747884

>>14747719
Daoist texts are quite short and especially the texts of Zhuanzi are easy enough to interpret on the surface to start with them directly. There is also an Alan Watts book on the matter and a short audio recording of him on the matter. It's in layman terms and easy enough to understand for the beginning.

Also going window-shopping for a philosophy to follow is kinda dumb since, as other anons have pointed out, reading a little bit on something will not change your perception and behavior to any observable degree. Your already set notions and experiences will continue to drive you subconsciously if you don't participate in serious introspection and reflection. Which isn't a problem in itself since a moral compass isn't really needed.

Take the easy way and go with meme egoism.

>> No.14748083

>>14747884
suppose i go with meme egoism, what exactly should i do

>> No.14748090

>>14744740
You are confusing philosophy with ideology. Try /pol/.

>> No.14748098

>>14748090
I don't want to be a political retard, though. I still have PTSD from grad school; I don't want to go back.

>> No.14748119

>>14745979
Confucianism is incredibly applied, to as autistic a degree as you want.

>> No.14748173

>>14748098
Then stop looking for ideology. This is not how philosophy works.

>> No.14748180

>>14748173
No u.

As I see it, I'm just looking for something that's a step up from the random slurry of ideas I've inherited from the culture around me.

>> No.14748501

>>14744740
Sun and steel did it for me. I read it repeatedly.