260810 What I learned in my studies this morning 6 ¡

Today's Meditation:

Letters from a Stoic to His Son by Mihail Yonkov, VII. Associate With Those Who May Improve You

Some bits to not dislike in this section and a few things simply wrong.

First, the bad:

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First he denigrates shepherds (read: people who aren't interested in 'building a tower' [read: personality] in his mold — which, I need remember is so far not distinctly Stoic in any way).

Then he says "don't judge others' 'structures' " (same as tower above) as good or bad.

Then he states plainly a moral relativism utterly antithetical to Stoicism.

Stoicism has virtue, excellence, as it's only good. Nothing else matters. Not money nor property nor high birth nor expensive trinkets and fancy friends.

If you are not pursuing virtue, you are doing it wrong. Other choices are not just as good.

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Let me end with some good advice he offers:

Forgiveness is key if we want to live together in social harmony. Even and especially with those who disagree with us.

Too often, any mistake today becomes a lifetime of harassment because we no longer allow for restitution and genuine rehabilitation, someone who truly has learned from their foolishness.

It actively harms our society in two ways: (1) we lose any talents and abilities the person has that might help the community and (2) some of those people, people who might have truly repented and truly reformed, are so excoriated, so explicitly shown that they will never be allowed to reintegrate into society without being harassed, will lean into it. Thus not only making the situation worse but also doubling down because (remember #1?) they also robbed us of that person's future ideas and contributions.

They may figure 'if you're going to fuck me I might at least deserve it' and become even worse than what they were originally castigated for.

Forgiveness is important. It's vital.