I will ask you the question, “What is your opinion on opinions?” If this were some interactive video enabled site, I would have you answer, but as is I will assume some of your replies. When I ask, “What is your opinion on opinions,” I am really asking do you to label opinions either positive or negative. This is rather vague, I know, but if you had to do this what would you say? Personally I would initial place opinions in the negative category. They are not hard facts, they are simply a perspective. I hold this consideration true to this day, and I will show you why a little later.
In the Enchiridion, by Epictetus, the first argument he made was,
“Some things are in our control and others not. Things in our control are opinion, pursuit, desire, aversion, and, in a word, whatever are our own actions. Things not in our control are body, property, reputation, command, and, in one word, whatever are not our own actions.
The things in our control are by nature free, unrestrained, unhindered; but those not in our control are weak, slavish, restrained, belonging to others. Remember, then, that if you suppose that things which are slavish by nature are also free, and that what belongs to others is your own, then you will be hindered. You will lament, you will be disturbed, and you will find fault both with gods and men, But if you suppose that only to be your own which is your own, and what belongs to others such as it really is, then no one will ever compel you or restrain you. Further, you will find fault with no one or accuse no one. You will do nothing against your will. No one will hurt you, you will have no enemies, and you not be harmed.
Aiming therefore at such great things, remember that you must not allow yourself to be carried, even with a slight tendency, towards the attainment of lesser things. Instead, you must entirely quit some things and for the present postpone the rest. But if you would both have these great things, along with power and riches, then you will not gain even the latter, because you aim at the former too: but you will absolutely fail of the former, by which alone happiness and freedom are achieved.
Work, therefore to be able to say to every harsh appearance, “You are but an appearance, and not absolutely the thing you appear to be.” And then examine it by those rules which you have, and first, and chiefly, by this: whether it concerns the things which are in our own control, or those which are not; and, if it concerns anything not in our control, be prepared to say that it is nothing to you.”
When I first heard this, I was listening to an audio book version, my short conclusion was all things are in fact an opinion. If you remember my earlier statement of I have a negative opinion on opinions, then in that sense all things are regarded as impossible to define. Which when I later talk about dualism, this assumption fits in perfectly. Where in dualism you are unsure of the possibility of your existence and the universe.
If we conclude that everything we have ever stated, read, or other forms of input, is simply a matter of opinion, because it is impossible to prove; then we can easily remove ourselves from the desire to consume our conscious with these thoughts. Most people already take opinions with a grain of salt, but if you took everything this way then everything would simply only matter if your opinion stated it should.
When considering this concept, do not try top change the way you think, but more so try to realize that everything around you is only an opinion. With all opinions you have the choice to retain or disregard them.
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