BLOGG#2 MITTE AMBOS NUDOS AD IGNOTOS ET VIDEBIS

 

 No-This is not a lecture in Latin.--Heaven forbid. This ,surprise, surprise, is my annual Christmas Blogg dedicated to Good Cheer.

I am reading a book of essays by Francis Bacon just now.  I acquired this hundred year old book on Bacon's essays from my late husband-a bibliophile and occasionally dip into it. The essay I am on is "On Cunning."  It is a three page essay discussing the difference between a wise man and a cunning man and how you can tell the difference.  Bacon says you can tell because most cunning men are very successful in business and most wise men are not. The cunning are better at practical application but only  in their own  alley-or known field.  It was at this point in the essay I came across this Latin quote and promptly looked it up on the internet.   The quote comes from the philosopher Aristippus-a student of Aristotle. The translation I discovered, is-  " but send them both naked to those they know not,and you will see," which roughly means put them both in an unknown situation with unfamiliar persons, observe the outcome, and you will see the cunning men will flounder, the wise prevail. 

This amused me and pleased me-as I usually am not in the "have" category, so  I must be in the "wise" category.  I also thought it might be a good idea to make this essay a required reading for all voters.  A successful person  is  admired and often thought wise and an asset in the political field. But as we look at the mess that often happens in politics we see much floundering and nakedness.  The present  situation in our neighbour to the south is a good example.The out going president, a very good example of a cunning man who floundered badly, was completely hopeless in the unfamiliar crises engendered by covid 19.  There were, no doubt, many misguided voters  drawn to his questionable success and admired his cunning and fraudulent nature. However, when confronted with the unknown-the  covid 19 crises-and I promise this is the only time I mention that word, he was completely inadequate,out of his alley, a floundering fool and very dangerous. In fact he became a vicious animal backed in a corner. Over the past months he  floundered  more and more until in these final days he became totally unclothed- a weak totally naked man-an Ambos Nudos.

 

This blogg is supposed to be about Christmas and is meant to be  optimistic but I was having difficulty with optimism until I read Bacon's essay. I now feel encouraged by the fact that wise men are often not successful financially and since the rise of prices in everything recently, I have felt especially  unsuccessful financially. I felt like Scrooge-reluctant to spend my hard earned money on Christmas shopping and was envisioning a bleak cold Christmas. Then I discovered Aristippus the philosopher and his philosophy.  He not only believes cunning men become nudos under unfamiliar stress,but also believes the good life rests on the the fact that among human values, pleasure is the highest and pain the lowest and should be avoided. Also to avoid paining others. He declared there is no reason to not enjoy material goods but to use good judgement and exercise self control.  His motto is "I possess I am not possessed."  In other words he encourages the seeking of pleasure without letting it overpower us.

When I read this I immediately fell in love with this wise philosopher; changed my negative feelings towards this Christmas, and went out, did a little Christmas shopping and bought a half  bottle of my favourite champagne-Veuve Clicquot . I plan -in spite of everything happening now-to enjoy this  Christmas day with my champagne and a turkey dinner. Even if the worst happens and I have to be alone unable to be with my family and the turkey dinner  has to be ordered  from  "Chef-on- the run." I will enjoy Christmas.  I advise you dear readers to do the same and splurge-in defiance of circumstances- on whatever turns you on to help you enjoy the Christmas spirit. Have fun and enjoy a Merry, merry Christmas.

HAVE A JOYFUL CHRISTMAS 2020!!! EVERYONE

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