Ancient Philosophies: Ethics and Aspirations

Ever wonder how ancient philosophers pondered not just 'how to live' but 'why live at all?' Dive into their journey between ethics and lofty aspirations to uncover their deep thoughts.

Philosophy or a Solitary Thinker's Soliloquy?

Hey there! Ever wonder what folks did before binge-watching and social media? Let me take you back in time, to an era where distractions were few and togas were the ultimate streetwear. In the dusty, glorious days of antiquity, people didn't just walk on roads that would become Instagram ruins; they indulged in one of the oldest pastimes ever: philosophy.

Ah, philosophy! Not the kind of thing you can quickly Google or chat about in the shower. We're talking about the big stuff, the deep stuff, the kind of thinking that makes you put your hand on your chin and stare into the void for hours. These ancient thought warriors didn't just make small talk about the weather or who won the latest chariot race. No, they were in a league of their own.

Because when you're not busy surviving barbarian invasions or balancing your household budget without Excel, you've got plenty of time to think. And think big. Our philosophers weren't just solitary thinkers; they were the rockstars of their time. Imagine Socrates, who not only had the guts to ask everyone, "Do you really know anything?" but also rocked that toga like he was born to wear it.

So, while today you might think discussing ethics, justice, and reality is as close as you get to a Shakespearean monologue, for our toga-clad friends, it was their daily bread (or, more accurately, their daily wine). And they were good at it, so much so that we're still scratching our heads trying to figure out what they really meant.

So, put down your smartphone, take a deep breath, and get ready to dive into a world where questions like "Who am I?", "Where do I come from?", and "Where the heck did I leave my keys?" had a whole different weight. And who knows, you might find that philosophizing is more exciting than you think, especially when you don't have to worry about how to wear a toga properly while doing it.

Between Stars and Stones – The Quest for the Transcendent 

Ever found yourself gazing at the stars, maybe with a drink in hand, wondering, "Hey, is there something out there bigger than a good vintage?" Well, you're not alone. This is exactly what our ancient philosopher friends did, though they probably had fewer digital distractions and more time to ponder these big questions, between munching on olives and sipping watered-down wine.

And it wasn't just a casual search for answers. Oh no, these guys plunged into the abyss of big mysteries with the fervor of someone who knows there isn't a TV series that can reveal the final season of life. But what were they looking for exactly? Nothing less than the transcendent – that something beyond the everyday, that makes you feel connected to the universe in a way that can't be explained by posting a selfie on Instagram.

For thinkers like Plato, the visible world was just a shadow of purer, more perfect forms – ideas that existed in a realm even the best VR can't simulate. Imagine living in a world where everything you see is just a faded copy of something way cooler, accessible only through the mind. It's like discovering all the movies you've seen are just trailers for something much, much better.

Then there was Aristotle, who, instead of looking towards an ideal world, said we should focus on the here and now to discover our "eudaimonia", which sounds like a new fitness app but actually means finding the best way to live a human life. No fantasy worlds, just a solid understanding of how to be the best version of yourself, which, let's admit, is pretty epic.

So, as you wander through these ancient ideas, it's easy to feel like a space explorer in a universe of deep thoughts. Each philosopher throws you a shooting star of wisdom, and it's up to you to catch it and let it shine in your own little sky. And the best part is, you don't need to wear a space helmet for this journey through the stars and stones of ancient philosophy.

And as you reflect on all this, remember: the transcendent might not be something to reach or discover but perhaps something we already live when we ask, "What do I do with this olive tree now?"

So What Now? 

After navigating the stars of ancient thought and slipping on the stones of their venerable theories, you might find yourself a bit wiser, a bit more perplexed, or just immensely fascinated by how complicated these ancient philosophy dudes were. Yes, they laid the foundations for almost every big existential question that Google still can't precisely answer.

But what do we take home after all this wandering in the labyrinth of philosophical thought? Maybe the point isn't to find a definitive answer because, spoiler alert, there isn't a neat ending like in movies where everyone lives happily ever after or someone dies tragically. Philosophy, especially the ancient kind, teaches us that the beauty lies in asking, in searching, in doing that strangely human thing of looking at the sky and wondering "why".

So, yeah, you might not have woken up this morning thinking you need to decide whether we live in a shadow of Plato's Forms or if we all need to find our Aristotelian "eudaimonia" in the fitness neighborhood. But diving into these ideas is a bit like stretching: it feels good, even if sometimes it pulls you in ways you didn't know you could be pulled.

And, in the end, if someone at the next party asks you, "Hey, what do you think of Nicomachean ethics?" you can smile wisely and say, "Well, let me tell you a thing or two," and launch into a discourse that might not clarify the universe but will certainly make the conversation infinitely more interesting.

So, take these ancient pearls of wisdom, mix them with your modern perspective, and see what happens. And remember, every step into the world of philosophy is a step closer to understanding not just who those ancient thinkers were but who you are in this vast, crazy world. And if that's not a journey worth taking, then what is?

Why I Recommend It

Diving into these topics not only makes you seem smart at parties but also offers a perspective on how ancient attempts to answer ethical questions can still illuminate our modern dilemmas.

Why I Don’t Recommend It

If you're the type who prefers not to ask too many questions and just take life as it comes, pondering Plato's or Aristotle's reflections on "why we're here" might make your head spin more than a glass of strong wine.