As I write this, more than 250,000 around the world have lost their lives to the COVID-19 pandemic. More than 3,500,000 have been diagnosed with it. Compared to the world’s population of 7.5 billion people these are small numbers.

But when it touches us or someone dear to us, the proportions are irrelevant. Our main concern is us. I am not necessarily suggesting that we are mean or selfish but we are programmed to be concerned more about our stubbed toe than about the stubbed lives of ten thousand people living in a remote country. That’s reality, at least as far as my observations go. 

To be concerned about oneself is natural. As Epictetus says, 

Every creature is attached to nothing as strongly as to its own interest. Whatever appears to threaten its interest—be it brother, father, child, or lover—is hated, accused, and cursed. We are naturally disposed to favor our own interest. This is our father, brother, relatives, country, and god. If we believe that God is hindering us, we are ready to turn even on him, smash his statues, and burn his temples. 

Epictetus, Discourses, 2.22 

Given this how do we, as Stoics, mediate on how to live the right way? Epictetus continues. 

If you believe your interests are served by your body, it will dominate your life; if it is moral choice, then it is moral choice that will dominate; and if external things, then it is external things. You will be where your choices are. 

Epictetus, Discourses, 2.22 

In other words, so long as we believe that we are served by externals such as wealth and reputation, our life will be driven by those. But once we realize it is our choice and judgment that drive our happiness, then we realize that it is in our self-interest to make wiser choices. In doing so we choose life—the good life. A life that enjoys what comes its way and does not care about what doesn’t. We choose life but do not fear death. 

In this issue, our contributors share their contemplations on different aspects of life to help us make the right choices in our journey towards the good life. 

Chuck Chakrapani 

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Dr. Chuck Chakrapani Editor-in-Chief

 

 

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