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Carl Kirstein's avatar

this is in line with stoicism (of which I am a fan):

- happiness is found in virtue, i.e. strive for the best for everyone, do not act selfishly and materialistically

- you cannot control all external things, but you can control yourself, i.e. you are responsible for governing yourself, not blaming external things and acting like a victim

- eliminate toxic emotions, i.e. emotions like anger (temporary insanity), lust, panic, desperation, etc are not helpful.

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Leon G. Marincowitz's avatar

Virtue here being the golden mean applied to rational principles. So according to this view the best is not elimination or distance from perceived toxic emotions, but the ordered experience of those emotions. An ordered experience of anger is very different than denying or eliminating it. Unfortunately most are not mature enough nor have been formed to rationally handle such emotions. Thanks for commenting

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Carl Kirstein's avatar

One can but only strive to the principles and ideals. Perfection is not paramount, only progress -- also from stoicism ;)

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Kevin's avatar

I like your use of the Catholic term concupiscence and it's framing in terms of "lower appetites" and it's juxtaposition with "higher appetites".

Brings new meaning to the idea of going on a diet.

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Leon G. Marincowitz's avatar

Absolutely, it’s not about keeping to the diet for the diets sake. Instead the purpose of the diet is to provide a guideline that allows you to bring yourself into a place where you can control or at minimum direct your appetite

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