Chapter 481: Chapter 480: I Crush You with Philosophy (Philosophical Discussion, Order with Caution, Skip if Disliked)
“The Cynic School of Philosophy?” the Clown murmured softly.
Richard, unaffected, continued, “The people of the Cynic School of Philosophy believe that true happiness is not based on external things, such as abundant material wealth, noble status or strong bodies.
True happiness depends not on the epheral, but rather on inner satisfaction. Human desires are obviously endless, and following these desires only leads to suffering. Moderation and controlling desires, abandoning the pursuit of material things, that is how to achieve happiness and joy, just like children.
As for Diogenes, whom I ntioned at the beginning, he took this to the extre. It is said that he lived in a barrel, and his only possessions were a cloak, a staff, and a bread bag, yet he was extrely happy, wanting nothing.
There is a story about him, that one day as he was sitting beside his barrel soaking up the sun, his country’s King, ‘Alexander,’ ca to visit him and told him that he could have anything he desired. Looking at the king, he earnestly said, ‘Please step aside from my spot and let enjoy the sun, thank you.'”
When Richard finished speaking, the Clown fell into deep thought, clearly surprised by Richard’s words, and deeply touched. After a long while, the Clown spoke, addressing Richard, “So, what do you think… this Diogenes, was he right or wrong?”
“My opinion isn’t important,” Richard replied, “but there are many who hold different views from Diogenes, like Epicurus.”
“Epicurus?” The Clown evidently hadn’t heard this na before.
“Yes, Epicurus,” Richard nodded and began to explain, “He was the founder of the ‘Epicurean Philosophy.’
In the Epicurean School, everyone believes that happiness can be obtained through external things. They do not see happiness as sothing special; rather, they view it as quite common—eating delicious food is joy, a comfortable bath is joy, spending a night with a lover is joy, buying things you want is joy, achieving sothing after tireless effort is also joy.
In other words, physical pleasure is the sa as spiritual pleasure. The only way spiritual happiness exceeds physical pleasure is in the ability to enjoy pleasure without observing pain;
The people of the ‘Cynic School of Philosophy’ completely disagree with this standpoint. They believe that it’s absurd to forsake readily attainable pleasure in the pursuit of happiness.
They think that to achieve happiness, one must chase after it. Happiness should be active, not passive. The more happiness one wants, the harder one must work. During this process, foregoing transient pleasures to gain greater, more lasting, or more intense pleasures elevates joy. This way, one does not disappoint life and realizes its aning. Their famous saying is, ‘Fear not the gods, worry not about death, endure misfortune, seek happiness easily.'”
Richard stopped speaking, and the Clown once again fell into contemplation, muttering softly, “Fear not the gods, worry not about death, endure misfortune, seek happiness easily?”
This ti, the Clown’s silence lasted even longer than before, finally looking up at Richard, “So, passing traveler, you tend to lean towards this ‘Epicurean’ way of thinking.”
“Not necessarily,” Richard answered, “There are many philosophical schools, and I am not particularly fond of either the ‘Cynic School of Philosophy’ or the ‘Epicurean Philosophy.’ If I really had to choose, I would rather pick another, like the School of Mysticism.”
“School of Mysticism? Who started that one?” the Clown asked.
“Uh, about the Mysticism School, there really isn’t a clear founder; it’s generally considered to be a hybrid school. In this school, many believe that happiness cannot be obtained from external things, nor from within, and even if obtained, it’s all illusory, not real happiness. Only by experiencing a greater self can one find true happiness.”
“The so-called greater self can be interpreted as ‘heaven and earth,’ ‘nature,’ ‘world,’ or ‘universe,’ and so also call it ‘the Way.'”
“People of this school believe that each of us is humble, insignificant, and aningless. Only by striving to find the greater self and rging with it can we find aning.”
“In the process of rging, we will lose the smaller ‘self,’ just like a water drop rging into the ocean; the drop disappears. But disappearance is not the end, rather the beginning; the drop becos part of the ocean. At that point, the insignificant becos great, and eternal and ultimate happiness descends.”
“Water drop rging into the ocean, the insignificant becoming great, ultimate happiness descending?” the Clown exclaid, his voice slightly shocked, obviously having never heard such ideas from Richard before, and deeply impacted.
After a long ti, the Clown earnestly looked at Richard and asked, “Is this why you do everything, to find the existence of a greater self, try to rge with it, and then attain that greatness?”
Richard shook his head, earnestly saying, “Not really, Mr. Clown. The reasons behind my actions can be said to be simple, but also complex. If we truly want to probe the source, then we need to have a serious discussion about many philosophical schools.”
“From the earliest primal philosophical schools, to the Socratic School, to the Platonic School, and then to the Cynic School, Epicurean School, and Mysticism School we just discussed, followed by New Platonism, Humanism, Rationalism, Materialism, Empiricism, Agnosticism, and so on.”
“After discussing all these, perhaps we will have an answer.”
The Clown was stunned, looking at Richard, unsure how to respond.
At that mont, Richard spoke up, asking, “Mr. Clown, are you sure you really want to discuss this with ? Rember, the question you initially asked ?”
At this!
The Clown looked at Richard, his eyes under the mask revealing a strange expression, and then abruptly said, “It should be almost ti for my performance, I should leave now, we… can talk another ti.”
After saying this, the Clown turned and walked away.
Richard watched the Clown leave and then turned around, not surprisingly seeing the familiar White Crow on a rooftop beside the plaza. The next mont, his hand swiftly lifted, a piece of cold ice having already ford, shards swiftly detaching from the ice, shooting towards the White Crow like arrows.
Shape Energy Water Ice Branch Magic, Zero-Circle High Order, Cold Ice Fragnts!
The White Crow, sensing danger, flew up quickly, dodging the attack, then flew higher and farther.
This did not surprise Richard, but seeing the slightly disheveled appearance of the White Crow, Richard squinted his eyes and said, “Whether with good intentions or malice, I’m not one to simply cooperate, after all… I have my own thoughts, I hope you take note!”
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