The Stoic Creed - College of Stoic Philosophers

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8o
THE STOIC CREED
both spontaneously and reflectively ;
and human ex
perience is,
in fundamental points, very much the same
in every land and in every century.
There is a natural
untaught logic, instinctive and effective, as well as a
highly organized logic of the trained disputant. Even
on the plain man life s experiences enforce truth ;
and it
counts for much that every human being has uniform
natural surroundings and is born into society. Where
fore, there is such a thing as common convictions
among mankind, irresistible beliefs ;
and these come
with an authority that is altogether their own. Given
man and given the world in which he lives, and certain
notions will inevitably emerge, accredited by his reason
or satisfying his natural wants. He lays hold of them
and trusts them, and frames his life accordingly. They
are, therefore, in a special sense secure, and need not
the ad captandum argument of Epictetus
:
Pyrrhics
Let
the
and the Academics come and make their
defence. For I, as to my part, have no leisure for
these things, nor am I able to join with them and
advocate common usage. If I had a petty lawsuit
about a small field, would I call in another to advocate
my cause ? With what, then, am I satisfied ? With
that which belongs to the matter in hand. How, indeed,
perception is effected, whether through the whole or the
part, perhaps I am unable to explain ;
and both opinions
perplex me. But that you and I are not the same, I
know with perfect certainty. How do you know it ?
Never, when I wish to swallow anything, do I
carry the
bit there [to your mouth], but here [to mine]. Never,
when I wish to take bread, do I take a broom, but I
always go to the bread as to a mark. And do you