Tag: self-discipline
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Critique of Seneca’s call for self-discipline
A friend of mine, who is practising martial arts, told me that his master is requiring students to iron their martial arts attire before going to class. I believe that there is a Korean word to designate the robe and pants that students must wear, but I will just call it “attire.” During the exercises…
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Seneca and self-discipline
Realistic individuals are naturally suspicious of propositions that look too good to be true. No wonder. Experience proves to all that there is no free lunch, and that we should better watch out when someone promises anything resembling a free lunch. Seneca (4 BC-65 AD) did not make unrealistic promises. In his writings, he deployed…
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Michel de Montaigne’s advice on self-discipline
There is very little benefit in telling people to do something without telling them how. I mean without telling them exactly how. Clear and precise instructions are the prerequisite of good implementation. Without those, success will depend on luck or serendipity. Michel de Montaigne (1533-1592) was aware that morality and happiness depend on self-discipline. Nonetheless,…
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Michel de Montaigne and self-discipline
Life would be much easier if we could reduce ethics to just one concept. Would it not be great if we could make decisions and implementation plans that always hit the target? Michel de Montaigne (1533-1592) took upon himself the task of reducing ethics to one concept, and he succeeded pretty well. Montaigne believed that…
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