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Friendship was, is, and will be one of the most important factors for one's well-being. That's from the long-running Harvard Study of Adult Development.: “People who are more connected to family, to friends, and to community, are happier and physically healthier than people who are less well connected.” https://greatergood.berkeley.e…about_finding_fulfillment While the expectations and responsibilities of friendship were different in ancient Greece (one's literal life could be at risk without fr…

(Quote from waterholic) I'm still not convinced by this sentiment even though I respect all three people making it: Kalosyni , Cassius , and waterholic . Anxiety need not be a given in our lives. We can plan without being anxious. We can endure pain - even deliberately choose pain - without the addition of anxiety if we consider the circumstances or know it will lead to more pleasure. We can choose to remain calm even "under fire" (literally, in the case of the video of David Hogg during a schoo…

(Quote from waterholic) Well stated. My take is that the "virtue" the Stoics use to build their freedom from anxiety foundation is rickety and unstable, whereas the Epicurean foundation of rooting out beliefs, suspicions, and superstitions is much sounder.

(Quote from waterholic) Pain, yes. Anxiety, no. I think we can be concerned about the future or plan for the future or foresee the future without including anxiety in the mix. Anxiety - defined here by me as the opposite of ataraxia - is adding suffering on top of waiting for evidence or planning for the future. If I see a tornado in the distance, having anxiety about it doesn't help me or anyone around me. Of course, I'm going to take it seriously, I'm going try and remember what I know about t…

I would say it's a pain we do not have to undergo. It's turbulence and trouble that isn't necessary.

Insightful comments from everyone. Thanks for engaging!! Let me say that I'm willing to concede that we probably should - to use a Philodemus phrase - feel the bite of anxiety when it is appropriate. Maybe such as at a particular unexpected event like the tornado. I could see feeling "anxious" about that. But we shouldn't let the bite linger unnecessarily or overwhelm us! My position (to offer some concessions and compromises in light of this discussion) is due to my interpreting "anxiety" as "c…