The Magic Lantern (in the snow)

Big Frank is reading the Stoics and it seems that the magic lantern does play an important part in all this. Stoicism, the philosophy, was born in ancient Greece with Zeno of Citium (333 - 261 BC). The Greek Stoics put their emphasis on the obtainment of virtue. However, that changed with the Roman evolution of Stoicism, as we know from, among other, Seneca, Epictetus, and Marcus Aurelius. They put the emphasis on tranquility. This latter evolutionary goal is what most today think of when they think of Stoicism. [The previous brief summary comes from William B. Irvine's history of Stoicism included in his great new book: A Guide To The Good Life.]

So, how is it that one attains tranquility. How does one do this? Epictetus says the solution is to never enter contests that you can lose. This rests on the choice to not seek contentment through external things by trying to change the world around you, but rather to gain contentment by changing ourselves, or more specifically by changing our desires. So, to come full circle, your primary desire should be to not form desires that you won't be able to fulfill.

As Epictetus puts it in his banquet metaphor: "Remember that you must behave as at a banquet. Is anything brought round to you? Put out your hand, and take a moderate share. Does it pass by you? Do not stop it. Is it not yet come? Do not yearn in desire towards it, but wait till it reaches you." As he also said: "It is impossible that happiness and yearning for what is not present will ever be united."

So - the magic lantern comes to the rescue. This lantern has the anti-Genie within. This Genie does not grant wishes; rather, he takes away unfullfilled wishes, in essence taking you back to the position where you started - untroubled by the desire to have what you do not have. Don't misunderstand, the lantern is not taking away what you have, only what you desire, but don't have. Enjoy it when you get it; don't trouble yourself about getting it. Big Frank carries the lantern with him now - always!

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And now for something completely different. For those of you who take sleeping pills and have sex in your sleep (when you really shouldn't). Here is some actual advice on what to do from Dear Prudence in Slate.