Plato as Self-Help Archetype
That potentially silly, potentially cool book that caught my attention - "Discover Your Genius" by Michael J. Gelb - has been the focus of my wandering mind recently (and the source of my few quotes below). As I mentioned in my last post, Plato is his first Historical Dream Team Genius(tm). So I read the very brief synopsis of his life and work, with a summary of achievements. Studying Plato is supposed to help me develop my love of wisdom. We then proceed to a self-assessment - how well do I exhibit qualities that embody a love of wisdom? Let's find out.
My happiness is not dependent on being successful at my job. While I do take pride in that, another job with more or less status/pay/whatever would be just as fulfilling. I don't define myself as my position - it's what I do, not what I am.
I have never really cared what others think of me. It's pleasant when others have a good opinion of me, but not necessary. I don't need to offend people or to suck up.
I do count a little on money for my happiness - but not money for its own sake. Without a way to supply my needs, happiness is a moot point. I also like what I can do with money. While I have things I like, I also know that there is only one thing in my house (other than ID) in my house I would go out of my way to grab if a fire burst out, and that is because of the spiritual and sentimental value I place on the object - not any monetary concern.
Does nurturing my soul make me happy? Absolutely. There are times when I really need to do more of it.
I have never sat down and thought about how I think about goodness (that's fun to say out loud), but I have to say, on reflection, that a "well-reasoned perspective" on the matter does in fact exist in my psyche. A strong ethical and moral code? Yes. A little unconventional in some areas, but definite.
"Committed to moral, law-abiding behavior, even if I don't feel like it" - check. Just not into the outlaw life. Now, I would consider an act of civil disobedience for the right cause, but that does also carry consequences. I would accept them.
Is virtue enough of a payback for virtue? Yes. Sometimes a little too much so. It's easy to feel a little smug when one takes the high road. I need to watch that.
I need beauty in my life - I'm not as active as I would like to be in bringing it to myself. (The phrase in the book is "I seek the essence of beauty..." Great. Now I can't get the movie "Zoolander" out of my head.
What about "probing, challenging questions?" I'm working through a self-help book, aren't I? I also like the whys behind opinions and beliefs. So yes, I do ask those kinds of questions of other people as well as myself.
Is my personal philosophy thought out and reasoned? Partly. I also have a great faith in my own gut. Once I follow the intuition, though, I do take time to think about it. Again, I'd like to do more - it could be a little more coherent. Deep thinking about random circumstances probably could be developed into a system, don't you think?
I'm examining my life right now - parts of it, anyway - so I get a check there. I have slacked off in the last few years. Oh, it's completely understandable - everything I had went into getting healthy again. Now, though - I used to think critically about my life and views on a very regular basis. Again, something I feel a need to get back to.
"For which principles would I be willing to sacrifice my life?" The First Amendment. Freedom from tyranny. Love (in the catholic sense - yes, I mean the lower-case c kind of catholic). The right to live and die with dignity (I'm narrowly avoiding a long rant on another topic, so I'll leave it there.)
I have been assessed. I'm not entirely sure how I score this - just how Platonic am I? Is this really the beginning of wisdom and the love thereof? Tune in next time... (Self-improvement as soap opera. If only it were just a joke.)
My happiness is not dependent on being successful at my job. While I do take pride in that, another job with more or less status/pay/whatever would be just as fulfilling. I don't define myself as my position - it's what I do, not what I am.
I have never really cared what others think of me. It's pleasant when others have a good opinion of me, but not necessary. I don't need to offend people or to suck up.
I do count a little on money for my happiness - but not money for its own sake. Without a way to supply my needs, happiness is a moot point. I also like what I can do with money. While I have things I like, I also know that there is only one thing in my house (other than ID) in my house I would go out of my way to grab if a fire burst out, and that is because of the spiritual and sentimental value I place on the object - not any monetary concern.
Does nurturing my soul make me happy? Absolutely. There are times when I really need to do more of it.
I have never sat down and thought about how I think about goodness (that's fun to say out loud), but I have to say, on reflection, that a "well-reasoned perspective" on the matter does in fact exist in my psyche. A strong ethical and moral code? Yes. A little unconventional in some areas, but definite.
"Committed to moral, law-abiding behavior, even if I don't feel like it" - check. Just not into the outlaw life. Now, I would consider an act of civil disobedience for the right cause, but that does also carry consequences. I would accept them.
Is virtue enough of a payback for virtue? Yes. Sometimes a little too much so. It's easy to feel a little smug when one takes the high road. I need to watch that.
I need beauty in my life - I'm not as active as I would like to be in bringing it to myself. (The phrase in the book is "I seek the essence of beauty..." Great. Now I can't get the movie "Zoolander" out of my head.
What about "probing, challenging questions?" I'm working through a self-help book, aren't I? I also like the whys behind opinions and beliefs. So yes, I do ask those kinds of questions of other people as well as myself.
Is my personal philosophy thought out and reasoned? Partly. I also have a great faith in my own gut. Once I follow the intuition, though, I do take time to think about it. Again, I'd like to do more - it could be a little more coherent. Deep thinking about random circumstances probably could be developed into a system, don't you think?
I'm examining my life right now - parts of it, anyway - so I get a check there. I have slacked off in the last few years. Oh, it's completely understandable - everything I had went into getting healthy again. Now, though - I used to think critically about my life and views on a very regular basis. Again, something I feel a need to get back to.
"For which principles would I be willing to sacrifice my life?" The First Amendment. Freedom from tyranny. Love (in the catholic sense - yes, I mean the lower-case c kind of catholic). The right to live and die with dignity (I'm narrowly avoiding a long rant on another topic, so I'll leave it there.)
I have been assessed. I'm not entirely sure how I score this - just how Platonic am I? Is this really the beginning of wisdom and the love thereof? Tune in next time... (Self-improvement as soap opera. If only it were just a joke.)