Figs in Winter becomes The Philosophy Garden
We are changing our name, but not (much) our mission
Dear Reader,
As of today, the newsletter you are currently reading and supporting changes name. We began on September 9, 2022 with “Figs in Winter.” We are now “The Philosophy Garden.”
Let me explain. The notion of figs in winter comes from a metaphor used by the Stoic philosopher Epictetus of Hierapolis, found in one of my favorite passages from that most favorite teacher. It goes like this:
“So if you long for your son or your friend at a time when they aren’t given to you, you’re longing for a fig in winter, believe me.” (Epictetus, Discourses, III.24.87)
The idea is that we should adjust our expectations to the way the world is, rather than vainly hope that the world will somehow fit our expectations. It’s a rational and compassionate way to look at life, and a beautiful reminder of the power of Stoic philosophy. You can read more about it here.
Why the change, then? Because there is another powerful metaphor, also used by the ancient Stoics and yet reflecting a broader approach to the study of philosophy as practiced by most of the Classical and Hellenistic schools of antiquity: that of philosophy as a garden. The garden is then characterized by three components: logic, the fence that blocks invasions by unwelcome weeds; science, which informs and fertilizes our thoughts; and ethics, the ultimate fruit, the thing we really want out of practical philosophy. Diogenes Laertius explains:
“They say that philosophical doctrine has three parts: the physical, the ethical, and the logical. Zeno of Citium was the first to divide it this way in his work On Reason. … [The Stoics] liken it … to a fertile field, of which logic is the surrounding fence, ethics the fruit, and physics the land.” (Diogenes Laërtius, Lives of the Eminent Philosophers, VII.39-40)
This notion too is explained more in detail in another essay published on this site, here.
If you have been following the newsletter for a while, you will have noticed that most of my writings have to do with ethics, understood broadly as the study of how to live a life worth living, what the Greco-Romans called a eudaimonic (literally, characterized by a good demon!) existence.
But you will also have observed that, from time to time, I sneak in an essay that has to do with science and/or metaphysics, that is, with understanding how the world works (for instance, this one, or this one). Also once in a while I publish a post that deals with logic, that is, with good reasoning broadly construed (for instance, this one, or this one). And that’s the general idea: a eudaimonic life is the result of the constructive synergy among logic, science, and ethics. And that’s the goal of The Philosophy Garden: to help people become eudaimon.
Happy reading, and especially, happy eudaimonic path!
Certainly fun, both figs and garden. I’ve finished the audio book the quest for character. Important now for sure, I’ll get paper as audio rarely has bibliography. I’m planning to reference the book on a Facebook post. I’ve already suggested it but seems few interested in the concept of the good life or just politicians. I will contact hatchet as their statement was a warning won’t copy and paste but refer. Thank you. At this moment in a divided society people need to think what is it we want for our grandchildren and friends
I don't dispute your new name as being a good one. It is. But one thing "Figs in Winter" reminded me of was the Christian story of Jesus cursing a fig tree for not bearing fruit out of season. The contrast between accepting that things come when it's the season for them to do so and accepting it, contrasted with the notion that with enough faith you can compel things to happen out of season is a big reason I left Christianity: too much magical thinking.