A Guide To The Good Life

While reading the book, “A guide to the Good life” by William B. Irvine, I noticed the importance of Core 280 and why King’s College requires students to take at least two of these classes. Many of us will probably not be the next Socrates of our time, but we will understand a deeper meaning to our lives and how we can reach goals and conquer road blocks along the way. In his book, Irvine starts out with a small introduction of the role that philosophy plays in our lives every day, and we don’t even notice it. Per Irvine, philosophy has two parts to its main effect on our lives. First it allows us to live our lives to the fullest and set goals so that we don’t “mislive” our lives. Second, it allows us to set strategies to attain those goals
Irvine believes that in life we do have certain attributes in which we are in control of and he agrees with what Epictetus says are the things in which we have complete control of. Moving on to the other side of the spectrum, Irvine does not agree with what Epictetus states with Dichotomy, he believes that things are not so black and white. Irvine challenges Epictetus’ idea of what we don’t have control over and suggest that this category can be broken into things we do not have any control over and things in which we have some but not complete control of. As Irvine introduces the idea of Trichotomy and compares it to Epictetus’ idea of Dichotomy, he must also compare things in which we must concern ourselves with. Epictetus’ suggest that to live a “good life” we must only concern ourselves with things in which we have complete control over. If Irvine wants to implement his idea of Trichotomy, he must define the factors in life in which we should spend our energy and time worrying
Irvine, helped me to realize the importance behind Core 280 , and what impact these philosophical ideas still have on our daily lives. The comparison between Dichotomy and Trichotomy of Control is one that will constantly arise many questions as to which one is correct. Irvine gives us a very in depth explanation as to why former Stoics had it wrong and that all things in life are broken down into what we have complete, none and some control over. Although, I still very much agree with the original idea of Dichotomy of Control, I thought Irvine’s explanations were very brilliant. “It is possible, through the practice of Stoicism, to gain a whole new life.” (page