![]() ![]() Next, put the impression to the control test: “does it involve up to me, or not up to me?” You will recall that Epictetus says that only “things of our own making” are truly up to us, judgements and opinions, for instance.Īnd lastly, if it falls into the latter category, “not up to me,” dismiss it as inconsequential-which is to say, it is inconsequential to my moral well being. That’s the first step, the receiving of an external impression or thought, and taking a moment to realize it as such. Strip it bear and put it in a simple context: I am aware that my mind has received from my senses a certain impression ( phantasia in the Greek). ![]() Instead, hold it at arms length, challenge it. That is, as advised in the previous posts, do not trust an impression out of hand (despite our habit of doing so). ![]() In summary, he says, develop the habit of examining all external impressions. In the quoted paragraph Epictetus lays out a simple yet powerful guide. We need only turn to Epictetus to find the teaching (quoted above). Now that we’ve got a working knowledge of the Dichotomy of Controllet’s develop a practice around this important Stoic concept. ![]() First and foremost: does it involve the things up to us, or the things not up to us? And if it involves one fo the things not up to us, have the following response to hand: ‘Not my business.’” “ Right now then make it your habit to tell every jarring thought or impression: ‘You are just an appearance and in no way the real thing.’ Next examine it and test it by these rules that you have. ![]()
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