To be Jedi is to be a Philosopher
by: Jedi Kidohdin
Our goal as Jedi is to be able to engage in original, critical reflection of our own. Jedi are philosophers too. Studying philosophy (both ancient and modern) will help us to reach our goal.
Philosophy was born during times of personal and perhaps even physical discomfort. Philosophy makes us ask serious questions about the adequacy of our most cherished beliefs. These beliefs are central to our moral identity, the nature of our personal relationships, the manner in which we regard ourselves, the way in which treat others, and rationally dealing with the happiness and unhappiness that form the emotional contours of our practical lives.
In its attempt to ground our beliefs and justify them, philosophy becomes a reflective and critical conceptual activity concerned with foundational questions regarding our deepest assumptions and intuitions about the nature and extent of human knowledge (epistemology); about the nature of reality and the distinction between appearance and reality (metaphysics); about the nature, scope and grounds of moral value (ethics); and about the nature and theoretical foundations of formal reasoning and valid inference (logic).
The ancient philosopher Epictetus is one of my favorite philosophers. Here are a few of his quotes.
"What disturbs people's minds is not the events, but their judgments on the events."
"Men are disturbed not by things, but by the view which they take of them."
"If you would cure anger, do not feed it. Say to yourself: 'I used to be angry every day; then every other day; now only every third or fourth day.' When you reach thirty days offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving to the gods!"
"If you do not wish to be prone to anger, do not feed the habit; give it nothing which may tend to its increase."
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