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What is the reaction you're "supposed" to get by thinking about that? I took a moment to think about it and I don't think I got it. My reaction was, "Well then

What is the reaction you're "supposed" to get by thinking about that? I took a moment to think about it and I don't think I got it. My reaction was, "Well then I probably die", but I don't feel particularly different about the present. If that's the thing I'm supposed to feel then so be it, but I feel Seneca intended for some greater profundity, or he would dispense with the mental theatrics. What am I missing? Does it need to be more visceral?

PascLeRasc 8y ago
This is the first time I've heard the quote, but I think it's to appreciate that life is short and could end at any time, and while bleeding out you'd realize that worrying about these long-term things was a waste of time.
- ThePadawan 8y ago
  I fail to see that as highly positive though - with that attitude, I would stop exercising and invest all of my savings into cake and pizza. These things would make me happy each day, but miserable each month.
- adrianN 8y ago
  In the more likely case that you don't die tomorrow worrying about long term things usually pays off.
  - ulisesrmzroche 8y ago
    And what if you lose your fingers and can’t code anymore?
- Draiken 8y ago
  That's not exactly the purpose Stoics do that AFAIK. One of the objectives is to appreciate what you have right now and stopping this urge that we have in today's society to always get more. If you stop and really think about how bad it would be to live without your eyesight, for example, you can appreciate even the smallest things we take for granted. It's not supposed to be a "carpe diem" thing.
  - posterboy 8y ago
    > carpo#Latin > Compare Greek καρπός (karpós, “fruit”) and κείρω (keírō, “to cut off”), English harvest, sharp, shear. Carpe diem totally fits; You just have to consider that an optimum can be approached from two sides, ie the right time to harvest, neither too soon nor too late. In another sense it might mean the day is ripe, I guess. But it's not cape diem, not take the day away.
    - Draiken 8y ago
      I always see this expression being used as some kind of "live life to the fullest" context. Which is what I think is wrong. Never went after the etymology of it, interesting how it has nothing to do with "seize the day" as I originally thought.
- ulisesrmzroche 8y ago
  That’s part of it, but mostly, it’s about thinking if the worst thing that can happen and how would you deal with it: do you bleed out peacefully or crying? We are always thinking nothing will happen to us, yet, we’ve all here have had problems, accidental or due to our own stupidity, that have already changed the course of our life for the worse. Seneca says it’s worth thinking about that every day to find peace of mind.
posterboy 8y ago
it's distraction, nothing more. By the way, I recently noticed my veins are not symmetric on both hands. I'm not sure what to think of that either.
- tripzilch 8y ago
  It means that one of your hands is actually your twin brothers', whom you ate in the womb. Meditate on that for an hour every day :p edit: it's impossible to know which hand is yours.
- deleted 8y ago
  [deleted]
ulisesrmzroche 8y ago
That life is absurd and fortune can bring death as easily as peace. It’s my fault for not putting more time into my comment; it’s more about finding a scenario that scares you: since I also have no fear of poverty or sickness thinking about that does little for me. An absurd death scares me so that’s ehy I used that, but if losing life doesn’t scare you, then maiming? Like you get hit by a self driving car and instead of losing your life, you lose both eyes, or both your arms, etc. You are also paralyzed now. Now it’s very hard to kill yourself. Maybe impossible. But if your mind is still at peace, then you are truly wise, and you’ve made good use of your time in the world. I would be a horrible and mean wretch if that calamity happened to me. I know I’m a mess, and I couldn’t face that future with any poise or grace.

PascLeRasc 8y ago

This is the first time I've heard the quote, but I think it's to appreciate that life is short and could end at any time, and while bleeding out you'd realize that worrying about these long-term things was a waste of time.

ThePadawan 8y ago
I fail to see that as highly positive though - with that attitude, I would stop exercising and invest all of my savings into cake and pizza. These things would make me happy each day, but miserable each month.
adrianN 8y ago
In the more likely case that you don't die tomorrow worrying about long term things usually pays off.
- ulisesrmzroche 8y ago
  And what if you lose your fingers and can’t code anymore?
Draiken 8y ago
That's not exactly the purpose Stoics do that AFAIK. One of the objectives is to appreciate what you have right now and stopping this urge that we have in today's society to always get more. If you stop and really think about how bad it would be to live without your eyesight, for example, you can appreciate even the smallest things we take for granted. It's not supposed to be a "carpe diem" thing.
- posterboy 8y ago
  > carpo#Latin > Compare Greek καρπός (karpós, “fruit”) and κείρω (keírō, “to cut off”), English harvest, sharp, shear. Carpe diem totally fits; You just have to consider that an optimum can be approached from two sides, ie the right time to harvest, neither too soon nor too late. In another sense it might mean the day is ripe, I guess. But it's not cape diem, not take the day away.
  - Draiken 8y ago
    I always see this expression being used as some kind of "live life to the fullest" context. Which is what I think is wrong. Never went after the etymology of it, interesting how it has nothing to do with "seize the day" as I originally thought.
ulisesrmzroche 8y ago
That’s part of it, but mostly, it’s about thinking if the worst thing that can happen and how would you deal with it: do you bleed out peacefully or crying? We are always thinking nothing will happen to us, yet, we’ve all here have had problems, accidental or due to our own stupidity, that have already changed the course of our life for the worse. Seneca says it’s worth thinking about that every day to find peace of mind.

posterboy 8y ago

it's distraction, nothing more. By the way, I recently noticed my veins are not symmetric on both hands. I'm not sure what to think of that either.

tripzilch 8y ago
It means that one of your hands is actually your twin brothers', whom you ate in the womb. Meditate on that for an hour every day :p edit: it's impossible to know which hand is yours.
deleted 8y ago
[deleted]

ulisesrmzroche 8y ago

That life is absurd and fortune can bring death as easily as peace. It’s my fault for not putting more time into my comment; it’s more about finding a scenario that scares you: since I also have no fear of poverty or sickness thinking about that does little for me. An absurd death scares me so that’s ehy I used that, but if losing life doesn’t scare you, then maiming? Like you get hit by a self driving car and instead of losing your life, you lose both eyes, or both your arms, etc. You are also paralyzed now. Now it’s very hard to kill yourself. Maybe impossible. But if your mind is still at peace, then you are truly wise, and you’ve made good use of your time in the world. I would be a horrible and mean wretch if that calamity happened to me. I know I’m a mess, and I couldn’t face that future with any poise or grace.