The question of free will is one of the oldest and most enduring questions faced by humanity. It was contemplated by the ancient Greeks in their tragedies, such as in King Oedipus, where it appears that the hero’s fate is predetermined, regardless of his efforts to prevent or change it. The Greeks, and their cultural … Read more
When Plato first arrived in Syracuse at the age of forty in 388 BC, Dionysius the Elder, a suspicious and violent ruler, was in power and seeking to strengthen and expand his rule. By visiting Syracuse, a wealthy and powerful ancient Mediterranean city at the time, Plato aimed to encourage its ruler Dionysius the Elder, … Read more
Consider this in your hearts: if you strive with difficulty for anything noble, the struggle passes, but the noble deed endures; if you do anything shameful for the sake of pleasure, the pleasure passes, but the shame remains. Although less known today, Gaius Musonius Rufus (circa 30 – circa 100 AD) forms, together with Epictetus, … Read more
