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RE: Why should we become a three-legged dog?
As a Stoic, I like to add Stoic perspectives to commentary.
One of the foundational teachings of Stoicism, in my opinion, is the Dichotomy of Control. Epictetus describes the Dichotomy of Control, in the Enchiridion as:
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.
As the positive feedback loop of negativity is comprised of our opinions and voluntary thoughts (when we allow a passing thought to metastasize into a constant presence there is a voluntary element to it even if the initial condition is not within our control such as losing a loved one) then it is in our control to either continue or to end.
As Seneca said
Which is essentially the same as the 3 legged dog example but just more explicit.
May Fortune Favor You
Thank you for the thoughtful comment @chris-yoder.
I like your Stoic perspective, it reminds us that we actually can control what's inside us, which we often forget and tend to focus on controlling the uncontrollable outside world.
Indeed, one can make the argument that suffering arises from our attempts to control what is uncontrollable.
I agree with you, it might create an "control attempt - control failure - desperation - stronger need for control - stronger control attempt" infinite loop.
Indeed. Another one of my favorite quotes from Seneca is
Excellent quote. I like how he used the words little and chiefly, some philosophers tend to be too exclusive about their veiw and use words like none and only.
I do like Seneca. He is less pendantic than Epictetus and in some ways more applicable than Aurelius. Of course, the former was a teacher and the latter wrote for himself whereas Seneca wrote letters to others in which he gives advice.
Thanks for the description. I've just bumped into this post about stoicism, I guess that it could interest you. Cheers!
I read the article and it was interesting although there were several issues or potential issues with it.