Philosophical Singularity

I bought the book A New Earth by Eckhart Tolle with some high expectations during my two weeks off from work. It had been recommended by a couple of friends. One had the highest regard for it so I dove into it. Sigh. It was filled with the same melange of philosophy, spirituality and mysticism that excited me so in my teens and early twenties.

I wonder sometimes if my interest in Greek philosophy was a good or bad thing. Almost 3000 years ago they had boiled down the essential questions of existence and happiness and provided direct and concrete answers. What I especially like is all early philosophy focused on things that concern us in our everyday lives. Things like happiness and how to achieve it. Plus they leave questions unanswered when they don't know the answer. I first read Aristotle, then Plato and after much research read the Enchiridon.

Everything philosophically in my life can be measured by my discovery of two authors. Ayn Rand and Epictetus. Epictetus feels like he speaks directly to you even through various authors and interpretations. All philosphy essentially boils down to what he stated 3000 years ago:

"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."

Wow. Take a look at some modern "philosophy". See if theirs can be summed up in a few sentences. Especially at the beginning of a book. It is just up to us to interpret and apply this in our own lives.