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Single Idea 1774

[filed under theme 22. Metaethics / A. Ethics Foundations / 2. Source of Ethics / k. Ethics from nature ]

Full Idea

As reason is given to rational animals according to a more perfect principle, it follows that to live correctly according to reason, is properly predicated of those who live according to nature.

Clarification

'Nature' is the Greek word 'physis'

Gist of Idea

Since we are essentially rational animals, living according to reason is living according to nature

Source

report of Zeno (Citium) (fragments/reports [c.294 BCE]) by Diogenes Laertius - Lives of Eminent Philosophers 07.Ze.52

Book Ref

Diogenes Laertius: 'Diogenes Laertius', ed/tr. Yonge,C.D. [Henry G. Bohn 1853], p.291

A Reaction

This is the key idea for understanding what the stoics meant by 'live according to nature'. The modern idea of rationality doesn't extend to 'perfect principles', however.

The 27 ideas from Zeno (Citium)

20801 A wise man's chief strength is not being tricked; nothing is worse than error, frivolity or rashness [Zeno of Citium, by Cicero]
1771 When shown seven versions of the mowing argument, he paid twice the asking price for them [Zeno of Citium, by Diog. Laertius]
20770 Philosophy has three parts, studying nature, character, and rational discourse [Zeno of Citium, by Diog. Laertius]
6022 Someone who says 'it is day' proposes it is day, and it is true if it is day [Zeno of Citium, by Diog. Laertius]
7555 Zeno achieved the statement of the problems of infinitesimals, infinity and continuity [Russell on Zeno of Citium]
20860 Whatever participates in substance exists [Zeno of Citium, by Stobaeus]
21397 Perception an open hand, a fist is 'grasping', and holding that fist is knowledge [Zeno of Citium, by Long]
20799 A grasp by the senses is true, because it leaves nothing out, and so nature endorses it [Zeno of Citium, by Cicero]
20797 If a grasped perception cannot be shaken by argument, it is 'knowledge' [Zeno of Citium, by Cicero]
21395 One of Zeno's books was 'That Which is Appropriate' [Zeno of Citium, by Long]
21398 A presentation is true if we judge that no false presentation could appear like it [Zeno of Citium, by Cicero]
1770 When a slave said 'It was fated that I should steal', Zeno replied 'Yes, and that you should be beaten' [Zeno of Citium, by Diog. Laertius]
3799 A dog tied to a cart either chooses to follow and is pulled, or it is just pulled [Zeno of Citium, by Hippolytus]
21402 Incorporeal substances can't do anything, and can't be acted upon either [Zeno of Citium, by Cicero]
2649 If tuneful flutes grew on olive trees, you would assume the olive had some knowledge of the flute [Zeno of Citium]
20816 A body is required for anything to have causal relations [Zeno of Citium, by Cicero]
1773 A sentence always has signification, but a word by itself never does [Zeno of Citium, by Diog. Laertius]
20841 Zeno said live in agreement with nature, which accords with virtue [Zeno of Citium, by Diog. Laertius]
1774 Since we are essentially rational animals, living according to reason is living according to nature [Zeno of Citium, by Diog. Laertius]
20863 The goal is to 'live in agreement', according to one rational consistent principle [Zeno of Citium, by Stobaeus]
2662 Zeno saw virtue as a splendid state, not just a source of splendid action [Zeno of Citium, by Cicero]
5964 Zeno says there are four main virtues, which are inseparable but distinct [Zeno of Citium, by Plutarch]
20822 There is no void in the cosmos, but indefinite void outside it [Zeno of Citium, by Ps-Plutarch]
20807 The cosmos and heavens are the substance of god [Zeno of Citium, by Diog. Laertius]
2648 Things are more perfect if they have reason; nothing is more perfect than the universe, so it must have reason [Zeno of Citium]
20811 Since the cosmos produces what is alive and rational, it too must be alive and rational [Zeno of Citium]
20810 Rational is better than non-rational; the cosmos is supreme, so it is rational [Zeno of Citium]