Musonius believed that wealth isn’t any protection from retirement because wealth lets anyone enjoy dinner, drink, sex, or any other pleasures, but don’t provides heta litauiska singlar delight so you’re able to a rich individual neither banishes his despair
Whenever expected whether or not your mothers can be obeyed in every matters, Musonius responded below. In the event the a father, who had been none a physician nor acquainted health insurance and illness, bought their unwell son for taking anything he felt do assist, but which could indeed end up being useless, if you don’t unsafe, and ill young buck, once you understand this, don’t comply with their dad’s buy, the new child would not be acting disobediently. Also, in the event your father is actually unwell and asked for wines otherwise incorrect dinner who become worse their illness if consumed, in addition to child, knowing most readily useful, refused to provide them with to help you their ill father, brand new young man would not be pretending disobediently. Significantly less disobedient, Musonius debated, is the young man exactly who does not want to inexpensive otherwise embezzle money entrusted to help you him whenever his greedy dad instructions it. The newest example is the fact refusing to complete just what you to definitely ought not doing merits compliment, not fault. This new disobedient individual disobeys purchases which can be best, honorable, and you will of use, and you may acts shamefully from inside the performing this. However, so you’re able to will not obey an uncomfortable, blameworthy command out of a pops simply and blameless. The obedient individual obeys just their parent’s a beneficial, appropriate guidance, and you will obeys each of such as for instance pointers. Legislation away from Zeus instructions us to be good, and being a good is similar issue as being an excellent philosopher, Musonius instructed.
Human nature, he imagine, would be best understood by the researching they toward character from most other animals
The guy contended your smartest thing having on hand during the later years is residing in accord having characteristics, new absolute goal of existence according to the Stoics. Ponies, pets, and cows are inferior to people. We really do not consider a horse to arrive its possible by simply eating, ingesting, mating versus discipline, and you may starting nothing of everything right for a pony. Nor do we regard a dog given that getting its possible in the event the it simply indulges throughout style of pleasures whenever you are performing not one of the things in which pets can be a good. Nor do every other animal arrive at its likely when it is glutted having pleasures but failing to setting in a way compatible so you can its kinds. Which, zero creature gets in lives getting pleasure. The nature of each animal find this new advantage characteristic from it. Little lives in accord that have characteristics except exactly what demonstrates their virtue from the strategies that it works when you look at the agreement with its individual nature. Ergo, Musonius ended, the type from human beings is to real time getting virtue; we did not have been in lifetime in the interest of satisfaction. Individuals who real time to own advantage have earned compliment, can appropriately envision better of themselves, and certainly will feel optimistic, daring, smiling, and joyful. The human, Musonius instructed, is the only animal in the world that is the image of the fresh new divine. Since we have the same virtues once the gods, the guy reasoned, we can’t imagine most readily useful virtues than just intelligence, fairness, bravery, and you can self-control. Thus, a god, as the he has got such virtues, try stronger than pleasure, greed, interest, envy, and you can envy. Therefore, Musonius reasoned, inasmuch given that a person being are a copy out of a jesus, an individual getting need to be considered like a goodness when he serves inside the accord having characteristics. The life of a good people is best lifetime, and you will passing try its avoid. Ergo, the great man existence in the place of be sorry for, and you will considering character of the taking demise bravely and you may boldly from inside the his retirement, lifestyle joyfully and you may honorably until the prevent.