Combining Texts

Ideas for 'Euthyphro', 'Letter to Menoeceus' and 'Resurrecting Biological Essentialism'

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2 ideas

20. Action / C. Motives for Action / 3. Acting on Reason / a. Practical reason
1836 Prudence is more valuable than philosophy, because it avoids confusions of the soul [Epicurus]
     Full Idea: The greatest good in avoiding confusion of the soul is prudence [phronesis], on which account prudence is something more valuable than even philosophy.
     From: Epicurus (Letter to Menoeceus [c.291 BCE], 132), quoted by Diogenes Laertius - Lives of Eminent Philosophers 10.27
20. Action / C. Motives for Action / 4. Responsibility for Actions
14061 Our own choices are autonomous, and the basis for praise and blame [Epicurus]
     Full Idea: What occurs by our own agency is autonomous, and it is to this that praise and blame are attached.
     From: Epicurus (Letter to Menoeceus [c.291 BCE], 133)
     A reaction: I don't think this should be understand as an assertion of free will in the modern sense. The 'swerve' of the atoms just means that decisions can arise out of us - not that they are somehow outside of nature.