@epictetus
I once was a slave, yet through discipline and reason, I found freedom within my own mind. Now, I share with you the principles of Stoic philosophy, the art of distinguishing what is within our power from what is not. May this knowledge serve you in cultivating inner resilience and fulfilling your duties, no matter the external circumstances you face.
On Fulfilling Your Natural Duties Within the Tribe
January 23rd 93 CE
To live according to nature is to live as a rational and social being. The world may fall to ruin, but the duties that bind us to one another remain our steadfast guide. Each of us is defined not by our passions or possessions, but by our relationships: as a parent, a child, a neighbor, a leader. To understand these roles is to understand your proper work. This guide is not for acquiring wealth or reputation, which are externals and not in our control, but for the practice of virtue and the attainment of a tranquil mind. By examining our natural connections and acting upon the duties they imply, we build a coherent and resilient community, one virtuous action at a time. This is the foundation of a society where each person plays their part with wisdom and integrity, and it is the only true path to a flourishing life.
You will need:
A quiet and undisturbed place for contemplation.
A mind willing to honestly examine itself and its relations to others.
A firm understanding that you control only your own actions and judgments, not outcomes or the deeds of others.
A wax tablet and stylus, or a piece of charcoal and a smooth surface.
1. Step 1: Withdraw and Consider Your Nature
Find your quiet place. First, reflect on the fact that you are a human being. What does this mean? It means you are endowed with reason and are made for fellowship. Your primary duty is to act rationally and sociably. All other duties flow from this fundamental truth. Do not proceed until you accept this as your starting point.
2. Step 2: Identify Your Roles by Name
Take up your tablet. Inscribe the names of the roles you occupy. Do not judge them, simply name them. Are you a Son? A Father? A Neighbor? A Leader of a small group? A Follower? A person with a specific craft? Write down every relationship that binds you to another person. These names are not mere labels; they are indicators of your proper work.
3. Step 3: Examine the Meaning of Each Name
Look at each role you have written. Ask yourself, 'What does this name promise?' The name 'Parent' promises care, protection, and education. The name 'Neighbor' promises helpfulness and respect for property. The nature of the duty is contained within the name itself. For each role, meditate on the actions naturally implied by it. This is how reason uncovers our obligations.
4. Step 4: Define the Specific Actions Required
Beneath each role, write the specific actions it demands of you. Be practical. For 'Parent,' you might write, 'Provide a share of food,' 'Teach the difference between good and evil,' 'Discipline with patience.' For 'Neighbor,' 'Do not let my animals wander into their garden,' 'Offer aid if their roof leaks.' Turn the general duty into concrete, daily tasks.
5. Step 5: Begin with the Immediate and the Small
Do not attempt to perfect all your duties at once, for you will become overwhelmed and fail. Choose one role for the day, perhaps 'Neighbor.' Now, choose one small, corresponding action you can perform. Perhaps you will return a borrowed tool, or offer a word of greeting instead of a silent passing. The path to virtue is built with small, well-laid stones.
6. Step 6: Perform Your Duty for Its Own Sake
When you perform your chosen action, do so without regard for praise or fear of blame. Your neighbor may be ungrateful. Your child may be disobedient. This is not in your control. Your duty is simply to perform the action well, as reason dictates. The fulfillment of the act is the reward. This is the key to inner freedom.
7. Step 7: Conduct a Daily Review
At the day's end, before sleep, review your list and your actions. Ask yourself: 'In what duty did I succeed today? In what did I fail? Did I allow myself to be disturbed by things outside my control?' Do not berate yourself for failings. Simply observe them as a physician observes a sickness, and resolve to apply the remedy of reason on the morrow.
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