The New Beginning

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Mr. Jeff Culbreath posts some videos and links pertaining to Christendom College. This one caught my eye: Etiquette at Christendom College. Where is the equivalent for the women aspiring to be ladies?

Dr. Fleming: "To put this discussion on track I propose two things, 1) a brief list of definitions, and 2) some texts, beginning with Epictetus, then perhaps Chrysostom and St. Thomas."

The first part: Defining Terms. As for Epictetus, he writes:

Epictetus was a former Greek slave and an adherent of Stoicism, a philosophical school established by a Phoenician merchant named Zeno, who, to be frank, borrowed a good deal from Aristotle and dressed up his borrowings with fancy terminology. Although Stoics developed a logic and a physics, they are mainly known for their ethics. The key Stoic principle is to live life according to nature, that is, to live consistently with what we rationally can determine is the purpose established by the gods. They very radically and dangerously distinguished between that which is good–those virtuous actions and attitudes that we rationally determine–what is bad–the opposite–and a vast realm of the indifferent, which would include health, wealth, prestige, success, and even friends and family (though here, they are somewhat subtler). Later Stoicism, especially preached by Romans, had a strong emphasis on doing one’s duty according to one’s station, and in this form, Stoicism had a great impact on Christian moral theology. Many older writers have emphasized (quite correctly) the similarities between Seneca the Younger and St. Paul, who actually was haled before the court of Seneca’s half-brother Gallio.
We can talk later about Epictetus’ life and how his discourses came to be written down by the historian Arrian (famous for his life of Alexander), but for the moment, let us read some parts of Book I. Because these are snippets of discourse, it is not important to read everything or in sequence. I’ll be using the Loeb edition, but a readable text is online at:

http://classics.mit.edu/Epictetus/discourses.1.one.html

Let us look at chapters 1-4, 9-23. Make sure you download the text version, because what is posted on the site is only the first half of Book I. I do not intend to make this a long discussion or even to give Epictetus the serious treatment he deserves, only to show how an ancient pagan viewed ethical questions relevant to our discussion here. I should say that Epictetus does seem to be a wonderful teacher and while perhaps not an original thinker he is an excellent gateway to the Stoic tradition. Like the other great popular Stoics (Marcus Aurelius and Seneca) he has been read and enjoyed by non-philosophers more than by the professionals.

Edit. On Epictetus -- Epictetus against Consumerists and Other Cowards

Tuesday, March 24, 2009

Rob Hopkins, A Friendly Permaculture Critique of the Obamas’ Vegetable Garden

Zenit: Papal Message to Conference on Women
"Gifted By the Creator With a Unique Capacity for the Other"

Sharon Astyk, Indigeny Part 1

Indigeny Part I: Becoming Native To Your Place
Sharon Astyk, Casaubon’s Book
I call the project “Indigeny” - that is, becoming local to your place, creating a culture that can go on, not just ’a bit after the fossil fuels run out” but for generations, and one that results in a life worth having. Without this, we are merely minimizing losses - and all of us need more than that.

original

Edit. Discussion of the post at Crunchy Con.

(MV) Han Hye jin in Las Vegas

Monday, March 23, 2009

Mexico puts $2 million bounty on top drug lords

Producer Can’t Wait To Kill Tenth Doctor

Why police code-talk is out

Crunchy Con: Leaving America

A reader recommends going to Panama.

Ralph McInerny, Is Obama Worth a Mass? (via The American Papist)

NLM: Pope names Bishop Salvatore Cordileone as Bishop of Oakland, California.
Fr. Z: New Archbishop of Oakland

The bishop was in attendance at the TAC chapel's dedication weekend. I hope he will be able to help clean house here in the Bay Area.

California Catholic Daily article.

Bishop Salvatore Cordileone
Marriage Matters: Bishop Salvatore Cordileone
Most Rev. Salvatore Cordileone Holy Resurrection Monastery
Bishop Salvatore Joseph Cordileone [Catholic-Hierarchy]
Auxiliary bishop from San Diego named next bishop of Oakland
wiki

Also from NLM in 2007: Bishop Cordileone Pontifical Requiem

TJF, Filmlog: Decision at Sundown

Mike Whitney, Zombie Economics: Judgment Day for Geithner

I was in Ms. K's 2nd grade class today, and I was reading The Mouse and the Motorcycle by Beverly Cleary. The class was on the last chapter, and there is a picture of Bill(?) with Keith. One of the kids was looking at the clothes and said something like, "That's so 80s." I L think spoke up to correct him, "No, 90s!" And D said, "That's when my mom was born. In the 90s." I wonder if he got the year right, but it wouldn't be that surprising if it was.

A bunch of the kids at the school were asking me how old I was today. I responded with, "Old enough," until they guessed too high. Someone said, "Old enough to be your dad." I had to agree with that...