Ancient Literature Discussion (History, Myth, Philosophy &c.)

[Castellan]

Mm'kay, interesting. Although I will clarify that Fionn's F/GO profile references him fighting Aillen and Nuada as two separate instances over the course of his life so it doesn't appear that they are confusing the two at the least.

I have not found a source referencing Fionn ever battling Nuadu, but I'm also open to being wrong - I am not as strong in the Finn Cycle as I am in the Ulster and Mythological Cycle.

(One day I will finish this stupid document for a Lostbelt based on medieval Ireland.)

[LegalLoliLover]

There is a certain irony that while Socrates was known for his Socratic method to question authority (and thus "poison" young minds to do so), his most famous student, Plato, wrote that in his ideal Republic, society will be held together by "noble lies". Lies, no matter how "noble", will generally break under scrutiny. The very scrutiny present in Socratic method.

[RoydGolden]

There is a certain irony that while Socrates was known for his Socratic method to question authority (and thus "poison" young minds to do so), his most famous student, Plato, wrote that in his ideal Republic, society will be held together by "noble lies". Lies, no matter how "noble", will generally break under scrutiny. The very scrutiny present in Socratic method.

I do recall someone saying that Plato's ideal society is the same kind that would persecute questioning free-thinkers like Socrates.

[Five_X]

It's not really ironic at all, just an evolution of thought. Bear in mind that we know of Socratic dialogue as a philosophical method from Plato, who was not only his most famous student but also the one who left actual records - Socrates did not. Plato developed the idea of Socratic dialogues early on, while Republic came later. It becomes more clear when the "Socratic" dialogues we get the idea of the Socratic method from are instead called "Platonic" dialogues, since it's really a genre that he invented. It's a bit like trying to understand Kant if you have none of his own works but only those of Hegel.

[LegalLoliLover]

Your signature reminded me of another question... You know that thing where Marc Antony starts off his famous speech calling Brutus and his lot "honorable men". Essentially, it's like the opposite of poisoning the well, as you start off praising, albeit possibly insincerely, your opponent, rather than denigrating him (or even the Chinese equivalent fastening a "good" hat onto him, rather than a "bad" one), but is there an actual term for that?

[Five_X]

I think the closest best phrase would be "damning with faint praise."

[Sesto]

Reading the Diary and correspondence of Count Axel Fersen, grand-marshal of Sweden, relating to the court of France for writing inspiration again and came across this quote from M. de Sainte-Beuve:

There is a way of considering Marie-Antoinette which seems to me the true way, and I would fain define it, because it is in this direction, as I believe, the definitive judgement of history will go. Some persons may, from a lofty feeling of compassion, fall in love with the ideal interest attaching to her, endeavour to defend her at all points, make themselves her advocates, her knights towards and against all comers and resent the mere idea of stains and foibles that others think they have discovered in her life. The rule of such defenders is to be respected when it is sincere: and we can well understand it in those who worship the traditions of the old royalty.

See bros, I'm normal.

[Ideofago]

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[Sesto]

Yes.

[LegalLoliLover]

Can anyone confirm or deny this? https://www.independent.co.uk/news/s...s-1306263.html About Biblical manna, I mean.

[LegalLoliLover]

In the original Greek, is Plato pronounced Play-toh or Plah-toh?

[Ideofago]

ΠλάτωνPlátōn

[LegalLoliLover]

I once thought that the "no other gods before me" trope was a uniquely Abrahamic thing. Then I realized that the Buddhist demon Girimekhala is probably a diabolized version of either the Hindu Ganesha or Airavata.

[LegalLoliLover]

Actual Journey to the West Wukong reminds me of the Jedi enemies that you face when you play as a Sith in SWTOR. There's this one scene in the kingdom that persecutes Buddhists, and Wukong's looking through the concentration camp inmates to see if Sanzang is there. Because Sanzang is not there, Wukong's about to leave, and the other monks/inmates call out what they should do about being abandoned. Wukong straight up tells them to die to go see Buddha faster and only agrees to rescue when they tell him that some god, through a dream, has forbidden them to die.

[LegalLoliLover]

http://rudrasenafoundation.blogspot....-shocking.html Can someone please confirm the Yahweh/Humbaba dichotomy?

[Sesto]

Le Morte d'Arthur time

"Sir," said Merlin. "see that you guard carefully the scabbard of Excalibur, for you will lose no blood as long as you have the scabbard on your person, no matter how many wounds you may have."
So after this, Arthur trustingly brought the scabbard to Morgan le Fay, his sister.

arthur u dumbass

[LegalLoliLover]

There's a certain irony where the most texts talking about a particular religion aren't even actual scriptures of said religion. For example, Dante's Inferno and Paradise Lost from the Abrahamic religion trio, and Journey to the West for Buddhism and Taoism.

[Dullahan]

well, no, there isn't.

[Herod]

Dante's Inferno and Paradise Lost

uhm what

[Skull]

*Cough*

A useful article.