they cannot die and also cannot be born
Anything that is able to move itself is immortal --- for whereas anything that is not self-moving must rely upon an outside agency for life, a self-mover never ceases to move. If a self-moving entity (such as man) had a beginning, that would be tantamount to saying it had to rely upon an outside force for motion, to propel it into being, which is clearly impossible for in that case it would not be self-moving at all. Therefore the soul must always have had the motivating power within itself; what has always existed must also be eternal and without the possibility of ending. Since it is clear that anything that is self-moving is eternal, who would deny that that describes the condition of the soul?
Cicero, paraphrased by James, p68.
I think I was a bit premature in celebrating the last bit of research needed for the novel. Cos wonderful philosophical bits aside, it's yielding precious little interesting material. Great how a book that once seemed full of useful stuff before you start actually writing the novel renders itself practically irrelevant when you're just about halfway through the novel.
Do. Not. Panic. Finish re-reading this book and the other book and then panic.
fffffaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrkkkkkkkk.
Cicero, paraphrased by James, p68.
I think I was a bit premature in celebrating the last bit of research needed for the novel. Cos wonderful philosophical bits aside, it's yielding precious little interesting material. Great how a book that once seemed full of useful stuff before you start actually writing the novel renders itself practically irrelevant when you're just about halfway through the novel.
Do. Not. Panic. Finish re-reading this book and the other book and then panic.
fffffaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrkkkkkkkk.