Greatest Good Is Virtue
© Surazeus
2018 04 15
Lounging in sunlight by the sparkling fountain
in the library of the Villa Adriana,
Marcus Aurelius, wearing pallium,
chats with his tutors of philosophy.
Facing Rusticus, Atticus, and Fronto,
Aurelius gazes at tall marble statue
of Diana the Huntress grasping horns
of a deer while she reaches for an arrow.
Holding cipulus tablet in his hand,
Aurelius writes with stylus on white wax
the word Virtus in large elegant letters
while Rusticus talks about Stoicism.
"The basic principle of Stoicism,
taught by every teacher of our world view
since Zeno of Citium taught in the stoa,
is that strict virtue is the greatest good.
Both Seneca and Epictetus taught,
virtue is sufficient for happiness,
so one must stay calm in all situations
and maintain their will in accord with nature."
Aurelius gazes at statue of Zeus.
"Since Diognetus first introduced me
to the great teachers of philosophy,
I have considered whether Zeus is real.
Homerus wrote in both his epic poems
that Zeus in the temple on Mount Olympus
rules the world like emperors on ziggurats
as the Platonic Idea of the Ruler.
Two schools of thought present opposing views,
that our world was created by a designer
who cares for us and provides for our needs,
so we should love him to appease his wrath.
Epicurus taught that our universe
is composed of hard uncuttable atoms
that swerve through void to assemble in world
where animals and plants transform at random.
Now I conclude after logical thought
that whether or not Zeus of Providence
designed the world, or quick atoms assembled,
the highest good is virtue of our actions.
The universe is a structure made of atoms,
and actions cause construction or destruction,
so we should work to create not destroy,
helping rather than hurting fellow people.
We should study the nature of the world,
observing process of cause and effect,
so we apply our actions to create
since death destroys everything that exists.
Whether the providence of Zeus is real
or random assembly of atoms is real
we must learn the structural nature of things
so we control the effects of our actions."
Sunlight glitters on water of the pool
and birds chirp in trees of the peristyle
where Marcus Aurelius and his tutors
discuss the principles of Stoicism.
© Surazeus
2018 04 15
Lounging in sunlight by the sparkling fountain
in the library of the Villa Adriana,
Marcus Aurelius, wearing pallium,
chats with his tutors of philosophy.
Facing Rusticus, Atticus, and Fronto,
Aurelius gazes at tall marble statue
of Diana the Huntress grasping horns
of a deer while she reaches for an arrow.
Holding cipulus tablet in his hand,
Aurelius writes with stylus on white wax
the word Virtus in large elegant letters
while Rusticus talks about Stoicism.
"The basic principle of Stoicism,
taught by every teacher of our world view
since Zeno of Citium taught in the stoa,
is that strict virtue is the greatest good.
Both Seneca and Epictetus taught,
virtue is sufficient for happiness,
so one must stay calm in all situations
and maintain their will in accord with nature."
Aurelius gazes at statue of Zeus.
"Since Diognetus first introduced me
to the great teachers of philosophy,
I have considered whether Zeus is real.
Homerus wrote in both his epic poems
that Zeus in the temple on Mount Olympus
rules the world like emperors on ziggurats
as the Platonic Idea of the Ruler.
Two schools of thought present opposing views,
that our world was created by a designer
who cares for us and provides for our needs,
so we should love him to appease his wrath.
Epicurus taught that our universe
is composed of hard uncuttable atoms
that swerve through void to assemble in world
where animals and plants transform at random.
Now I conclude after logical thought
that whether or not Zeus of Providence
designed the world, or quick atoms assembled,
the highest good is virtue of our actions.
The universe is a structure made of atoms,
and actions cause construction or destruction,
so we should work to create not destroy,
helping rather than hurting fellow people.
We should study the nature of the world,
observing process of cause and effect,
so we apply our actions to create
since death destroys everything that exists.
Whether the providence of Zeus is real
or random assembly of atoms is real
we must learn the structural nature of things
so we control the effects of our actions."
Sunlight glitters on water of the pool
and birds chirp in trees of the peristyle
where Marcus Aurelius and his tutors
discuss the principles of Stoicism.
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