From: Anders Sandberg (asa@nada.kth.se)
Date: Thu Mar 11 1999 - 09:53:32 MST
Brian D Williams <talon57@well.com> writes:
> I've been reading an interesting little book, It a a new
> interpretation of the stoic philosopher Epictetus's works
> "Discourses" and "Enchiridion" by Sharon LeBell called "The Art Of
> Living." ISBN 0-06-251332-2.
>
> I've been walking around with it in my pocket since I bought it.
>
> The best self-improvement book I've read.
I like Epictetus, but he seems a bit too content to let things be. His
insights in how to keep a calm and neutral mental state are valuable.
Another Roman philosopher worth reading is Lucretius; his De Rerum
Natura is great writing and a fun (if longish) read. His ideas about
natural science are often impressive (like his discussion how
lightening can be led through metal while it blasts wood), and
sometimes amusingly wrong.
Are there any philosophers that manage to both appreciate change and
balance? Far too many seem to ignore change in favor of balance, and
the philosophers who laud change are often rather irrational.
-- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Anders Sandberg Towards Ascension! asa@nada.kth.se http://www.nada.kth.se/~asa/ GCS/M/S/O d++ -p+ c++++ !l u+ e++ m++ s+/+ n--- h+/* f+ g+ w++ t+ r+ !y
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