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Marcus Aurelius Antoninus to Himself - College of Stoic Philosophers

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in 4 STOIC DOGMA Ixxix<br />

partly on the objective character <strong>of</strong> the representation<br />

itself. It may yield a convinced assurance corresponding<br />

<strong>to</strong> a true and actual representation; or again a convinced<br />

assurance which, however positive and dogmatic, is<br />

founded on a misleading or imperfect representation,<br />

and is consequently false or faulty in its assumptions ;<br />

or, finally, a weaker sense <strong>of</strong> assurance passing through<br />

various grades <strong>of</strong> faltering conviction, until it ceases <strong>to</strong><br />

deserve even the name <strong>of</strong> '<br />

opinion '<br />

(S<strong>of</strong>a)<br />

at all.<br />

The executive criteria then <strong>of</strong> knowledge, wjiich must<br />

be applied <strong>to</strong> outer existences <strong>to</strong> test and measure their<br />

reality,<br />

are tw<strong>of</strong>old sense and innate ideas. Reason<br />

directs their application, and in certain cases there ensues<br />

(according <strong>to</strong> S<strong>to</strong>ic belief) a specific and incontrovertible<br />

sense <strong>of</strong> '<br />

assent/ an answering affection and compulsion<br />

<strong>of</strong> the soul, that carries its own warrant <strong>of</strong> reality, and<br />

assures <strong>to</strong> the Wise Man infallible apprehension <strong>of</strong> very<br />

truth.<br />

Perception and sensation then consist <strong>of</strong> impressions<br />

upon the soul-organ, set in motion by objects <strong>of</strong> sense.<br />

But those impressions the dogma is essential, and the<br />

one guarantee <strong>of</strong> man's moral independence are sub-<br />

ject <strong>to</strong> the sovereignty <strong>of</strong> Reason. They play upon the<br />

organs <strong>of</strong> sense as strings upon the marionette 1 but<br />

;<br />

their power and their authority s<strong>to</strong>p there.2<br />

They try<br />

incessantly <strong>to</strong> force an entrance <strong>to</strong> the inner citadel, <strong>to</strong><br />

confound reason and take it by s<strong>to</strong>rm, <strong>to</strong> anticipate or<br />

sway its verdicts 3 but it is ;<br />

the <strong>of</strong>fice <strong>of</strong> reason <strong>to</strong> keep<br />

1<br />

ii. 2 ; iii. 16 ; vi. 16, 28 ; vii. 3, 29 ; xii. 19.<br />

2 vii. 1 6 ; viii. 41, etc.<br />

3 For these various figures, iii. 6; v. 36 ; vi. 52; vii. 16; viii. 36, 48.

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