'Know Thyself Is Actively Advice: It's Actively Dangerous'

“Practice makes perfect” this is a saying on my dad’s side, and they use it for everything: sports, work, and school. Whenever anyone says this, I hardly listen; I do not find it very helpful. Like most people, I have grown up with sayings and beliefs passed down from generation to generation. Some of these sayings and beliefs are original, but others may come from, famous writers, or ancient philosophers. Bence Nanay’s “Know Thyself’ Is Not Just Silly Advice: It’s Actively Dangerous,”, Margaret Atwood’s short story, “Lusus Naturae”, and Massimo Pigliucci “Anger is temporary madness: The Stoics knew how to curb it” all discuss the effects of others trying to push their ideas or beliefs onto someone. People are often trapped by other people’s
Everyone has to deal with anger at some point in their life, but according to Pigliucci’s article, “Anger is temporary madness: the Stoics knew how to curb it”, anger is worthless and a form of temporary madness. Even if people are justified in their anger, acting on it is rarely justified.The ancient philosopher, Seneca, explained anger’s “intensity is in no way regulated by its origin: for it rises to the greatest heights from the most trivial beginnings”(Pigliucci 2). People often express their anger at something they are not really angry about. For example, if a student failed their chemistry test and his friend bumped into him, the student may blow up at his friend when what he is really angry about is failing his test. Contrary to what many people believe, positive actions do not usually come from anger, “anger just isn’t necessary, and in fact it usually gets in the way”. Anger is not beneficial. In fact, Pigliucci explains, anger is something that can and should be understood and managed, and he offers several suggestions for how to do this. His main thought is “above all, be charitable toward others as a path to good living”(4). Seneca’s advice on anger has stood the test of time, and has worked for people like Nelson Mandela, so people would all do well to follow
His main idea is “above all, be charitable toward others as a path to good living”. Seneca’s advice on anger has stood the test of time, and people would all do well to follow it.
In Margaret Atwood’s short story, “Lusus Naturae”, the main character is not understood or accepted by her family, which forces her to be trapped in her house
Her family have set ideas about who she is and they will not confine her to the life they created for her so they will not be embarrassed by her.
They faked her death so others would not ask about her.
The main character accepts her family’s views and treatment of her until they have all left or died.
She felt her own power once she was alone,
“I began to explore the mines of my power”.
When the main character lived with her family she believed her family’s views of her. She could not be anything different than how they saw. When they were gone, she saw the person she thought she was
Looking in the mirror, “‘I saw something, but that was not myself: it looked nothing like the innocent, pretty girl I knew myself to be, at heart”
People are often trapped by thinking they have to know themselves, allowing anger to take over their lives, and seeing themselves the way others see