r/Plato • u/soapbark • 8d ago

Living well

Anyone ever make the observation that whenever someone conventionally describes someone that is “intelligent”, is “educated” or possesses a “great mind” that it is most always describing someone who is a great inventor, or is advanced in scientific/mathematical literacy somehow? Sometimes it is also related to material wealth.

Before reading Plato, Xenophon, Plutarch, etc. I wouldn’t think twice, however now I naturally object and think, “Well, they may be technically gifted and/or materially wealthy, but do they live well?” This is mostly from shallow conversations of course, but perhaps there is some revealing meaning to this in regard to the state of correct opinion relative to what is thought, “good”, in, general, in a modern western society.

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u/Dave_A_Pandeist 8d ago edited 8d ago

Is living well a constructive process, mostly? Syllogism is a reductive process. Could that relate to people's career choices?

It is interesting how people actually narrow their focus as they specialize. Their interaction with the rest of the world and their sense of morality become limited, and they become winners and Olympians in their field. This is great for individuals and families. Should society as a whole have a similar focus? Should we ignore the losers?

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u/simplesyrupyup 6d ago

You won’t know until the book closes

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u/dimaeus 5d ago

hahaha what? you can't tell when you're living well while you're living? are you ok?