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Morality isn't supposed to be an intellectual edifice from which experts expound rational arguments. It's a living practice. It's unsurprising to me that the pe
by jorgesborges 8y ago
Morality isn't supposed to be an intellectual edifice from which experts expound rational arguments. It's a living practice. It's unsurprising to me that the people who devote their lives to making useful distinctions between words, or cooking up situations with babies and trains, aren't as moral as we might think. There's a reason Jesus was more influential than Socrates.
- hopler 8y agoJesus (unwittingly) had armies killing and subjugating people in his name to spread his influence, and promising impossible rewards. Jesus isn't popular because people lived his practice.
- jorgesborges 8y agoI'm admittedly not an expert in this area but my point is that Jesus didn't write anything down or intellectualize his teaching: he led by example. That was the foundation of his influence. The subsequent centuries of writing and hermeneutics over his life and teaching is another matter entirely.
- aitchnyu 8y agoCato the Elder was very pleased when a philosopher gave a moving speech in favour of an ethical life. He was later shocked when he listened to another speech where he argued the opposite. He used his power as Censor to exile him. Source: The Daily Stoic, a witty book with anecdotes.