What happened?

 Ever hear of Epictetus? If not he was a man born a slave, that became a philosopher. More properly a stoic philosopher. I have read some of his stuff and tend to agree with most of what he said. I quote him on occasion. I was reminded by recent events of something he wrote. He said, " We can't control the impression others form about us, and the effort to do so only debases our character. " That is a translation of course, as he wrote in Greek. Isn't it funny how we quote the Greeks so often, and then we say, " it's all Greek to me? " But I'm getting distracted here. I was thinking about what Epictetus said because of this Brett Kavanaugh thing. Being accused of wrongdoing in the Judicial hearings and his effort to defend himself did cause him to debase himself. It is his character that is being attacked. The problem is, what other option was left to him? He really had no choice at all. 

 I wondered what Epictetus would have had to say about that. I love philosophy and the presenting of ideas. That's good stuff to think about, but what about in practice? It seems it just doesn't work out very well, at least, not in this situation. I haven't read and studied everything he wrote about and so I'm left with that. It's all well and good to say I can't control the impression others form about us, and the effort to do only debases our character, but if we feel the need to defend ourselves from that impression just what should we do? That is what I would ask Epictetus if he were here at this moment. 

 Accusations whether true or false do precipitate others forming their opinion of you and your character. Surely you have to defend yourself against such. Now if the accusations are true perhaps it is the better choice to remain silent. A line comes to mind, oh what a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive. ( Sir Walter Scott ) I put it this way, " truth requires few words, deceit is far more complex. " And for that reason if you are guilty, don't say much. Impressions are illusions that we feel. They are an emotional response to the perceived actions or meanings of others. Emotions do not always compliment reality. That is what happened to Brett Kavanaugh in my opinion. It is as Epictetus said, his effort to control our impression did debase him. That is why the further investigation and questioning of character. He had no other choice!

 Setting aside all the political intrigue, all the infighting and squabbling, Brett Kavanaugh has been nominated for a very prestigious position. For a Judge you can't go any higher than a seat on the Supreme court! The name itself defines that court. You have to feel honored and your ego surely would have to be inflated. I believe that is just a natural human response. After the initial rush, we tell ourselves to be humble. But then someone, or a group of someones, attack that honor. Like a child having their toy taken away, there will be protest, an emotional response. I believe that is also quite the natural reaction from anyone. You are called upon to testify. First you must wait while your accuser testifies for four hours or more, all the while attacking your character with nothing more than accusations. When your chance to respond comes you have this pent up anger. It's not really anger though, it's indignation! It's indignation because you know you did nothing wrong! The accusations are false. You respond and you can't control the impression others form of you. Philosophy is great but we are dealing with reality here. what follows is what Epictetus wrote regarding philosophy. The text can be found in " The Enchiridion" written in 135AD.

   51. The first and most necessary topic in philosophy is that of the use of moral theorems, such as, "We ought not to lie;" the second is that of demonstrations, such as, "What is the origin of our obligation not to lie;" the third gives strength and articulation to the other two, such as, "What is the origin of this is a demonstration." For what is demonstration? What is consequence? What contradiction? What truth? What falsehood? The third topic, then, is necessary on the account of the second, and the second on the account of the first. But the most necessary, and that whereon we ought to rest, is the first. But we act just on the contrary. For we spend all our time on the third topic, and employ all our diligence about that, and entirely neglect the first. Therefore, at the same time that we lie, we are immediately prepared to show how it is demonstrated that lying is not right.