The Based Life

Written 2nd June 2022 Calhoun's rat experiment is an experiment with a grim warning to the future of mankind, of a population that increases beyond the pyscho-sociological limitations of its limited area.  One of the interesting aspects of the experiment Calhoun pointed out was that man, contrary to rodents, are able to construct a completely fictitious world of roles where we can inhabit. The rodents in his experiment on the other hand where unable to create more roles for the mice to fulfill and therefore degenerated into rodents who pursued non productive activities. Calhoun pointed out that in the state of nature animals that exceed the physical and pyscho-sociological limitations of the environment will divide itself and branch off into different tribes. The physical aspect is straightforward, if there enough land to support 100 individuals, once the population reaches 100 it must separate and emigrate in order for there not to be an overpopulation. The psycho-sociological asp...

 Just yesterday I was taking a look at some of the notes I had written on Stoic philosophy and came across some passages I had copied from Epictetus' Art of Living. Hopefully these passages are a useful reminder of some of the eternal wisdom of life.  First, say to yourself what you would be; then do what you have to do. Some things are within our control, and some things are not.  Never place the blame on others, but on our own attitudes. One of the signs of moral progress is the gradual extinguishing of blame. Never depend on the admiration of others. Don’t demand or expect that events happen as you would wish them to. The trials we endure can and should introduce us to our strengths. Prudent people look beyond the incident itself and seek to form the habit of putting it to good use. Remember to turn inward and ask what resources you have for dealing with it.  Take great care with what you have while the world lets you have it.  Begin at once a program of self...

??? We all have four selves ??? Our first self exists in the here and now It is the only self we ever consciously experience ??? Our second self is of our past This self exists as a more immature, a more childish, self of ours This self is expected to have made mistakes, for that is the essence of youth We, consequently, have to live with those mistakes Do not reprimand your past self for having made those mistakes, for he might disappear And consequently you may lose the source of vitality, energy and wonder Be kind to your past ??? Our third self, our future We have never experienced nor will we ever meet our future self But he exists there as the potential manifestation of all the potential realities we could become This infinitude of potential selves all compete to gain our attention These selves may even play devious tricks by talking to our past  Your future self can become a tyrant, it may try to take you hostage, demanding you satisfy his desires If your future self disappe...

The pursuit of virtue is not a question of rowing the oars of a ship more vigorously. Set your sails up correctly and nature will carry you forward. Even though the ocean is flat and empty, you can learn to use the stars to position and navigate yourself across the flat water. Are you able to able to delegate and coordinate the different tasks to your crew?  Some weeks of life the wind may blow weak, other times it may be strong and you will sail forward rapidly, however, no amount of wind can compensate for a captain with no destination in mind. There may come a moment where strong storms and violent wind throw you off course requiring time to recuperate and find your position again. Fog and thick clouds may even make navigation impossible requiring reduced velocity and patiently waiting for the the fog to clear. If you have put the time into learning to navigate, to read the stars, to be the master of the ship, then your vessel will always make its way towards the destination you...