Plain
Epictetus — The Slave

But you think you correctly apply your basic ideas to specific situations. Tell me — where do you get this confidence? Because you think you do it right? But someone else disagrees with you. They think they're applying their ideas correctly too. Don't they think so? They do. Can both of you be right when you have opposite opinions? No, you can't. Can you show me anything better for applying these basic ideas than just thinking you're doing it right? A crazy person does what seems right to them too. Is 'it seems right to me' a good enough test for them? No, it's not. So we need something better than just what seems right. What is that?

Discourses, What the Beginning of Philosophy is 139 of 388
Knowing Yourself Human Nature
Epictetus — The Slave Original

But now since you think that you properly adapt the preconceptions to the particulars, tell me whence you derive this (assume that you do so). Because I think so. But it does not seem so to another, and he thinks that he also makes a proper adaptation; or does he not think so? He does think so. Is it possible then that both of you can properly apply the preconceptions to things about which you have contrary opinions? It is not possible. Can you then show us anything better towards adapting the preconceptions beyond your thinking that you do? Does the madman do any other things than the things which seem to him right? Is then this criterion sufficient for him also? It is not sufficient. Come then to something which is superior to seeming ([Greek: tou dochein]). What is this?

Discourses, What the Beginning of Philosophy is 139 of 388
Epictetus — The Slave

Here's why this happens. We're born with nature already teaching us some basic ideas about right and wrong. But then we add our own arrogance to the mix. Someone says, 'Why don't I know what's beautiful and what's ugly? Don't I have the basic concept?' Yes, you do. 'Don't I apply it to specific situations?' Yes, you do. 'Don't I apply it correctly?' That's the whole problem right there. That's where conceit comes in. People start with these basic ideas that everyone agrees on. But then they move to controversial topics by applying these ideas poorly. If they could apply them correctly on top of having the basic concepts, what would stop them from being perfect?

Discourses, What the Beginning of Philosophy is 138 of 388
Knowing Yourself Human Nature
Epictetus — The Slave Original

And the cause of this is that we come into the world already taught as it were by nature some things on this matter ([Greek: topon]), and proceeding from these we have added to them self-conceit ([Greek: oiaesin]). For why, a man says, do I not know the beautiful and the ugly? Have I not the notion of it? You have. Do I not adapt it to particulars? You do. Do I not then adapt it properly? In that lies the whole question; and conceit is added here; for beginning from these things which are admitted men proceed to that which is matter of dispute by means of unsuitable adaptation; for if they possessed this power of adaptation in addition to those things, what would hinder them from being perfect?

Discourses, What the Beginning of Philosophy is 138 of 388
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Ancient philosophy, in plain English.

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