Humanist Quiz

[Nietzsche]

*boggles*

'Near-perfection'? They are perfect case studies in hedonism (with occasional exceptions)

It is a testament to that great, long-dead institution it could survive not just a Nero, but a Caligula.

It is equally a testament(though not near as inspiring) that it was brought low by a bunch of people who worshiped a Jewish Zombie who totes for real is comin' back here soon.

Perhaps this is where the term "schmuck" first came into being..

 

[lewisnotmiller]

It is a testament to that great, long-dead institution it could survive not just a Nero, but a Caligula.

It is equally a testament(though not near as inspiring) that it was brought low by a bunch of people who worshiped a Jewish Zombie who totes for real is comin' back here soon.

Perhaps this is where the term "schmuck" first came into being..

Meh...Caligula gets a bad rap. I mean, he deserves a bad rap, but he is commonly held up as the ultimate in self-indulgent/destructive hedonism, and I think that is a little overstated. It would be fascinating to drop a couple of modern medical folks back in his time, and see what he was diagnosed with. I own a bio on him by Anthony A Barrett which I think is pretty credible, if not exactly riveting reading. Rather than craft a narrative from the information available, he examines the information, finding much of it not credible, or even deliberately hostile. It's kinda like our current view of Caligula is crafted from the worst stories of him. Perhaps those are all true, but it seems likely they are based on ancient gossip rather than 'fact'.

Rome was fine as long as it represented opportunity. Growth. But it really couldn't survive stasis, and Rome was little more than a mythical name associated with the Empire for much of it's death throes. I'm trying to work out if I knew you were interested in classical Rome. *ponders*
(There were no Nazi's, you know, although at times the Praetorians had some similarities to the Brown Shirts if you squint hard enough...lol)

 

[Princeps Eugenius]

*boggles*

'Near-perfection'? They are perfect case studies in hedonism (with occasional exceptions)

Cant remember Augustus indulging in hedonism. Nor Hadrian, Trajan or Marcus Aurelius.

Perhaps this is where the term "schmuck" first came into being..

Fun fact: "schmuck" means "jewelry" in german. A gold necklace with diamonds would be "schmuck".

 

[lewisnotmiller]

Cant remember Augustus indulging in hedonism. Nor Hadrian, Trajan or Marcus Aurelius.

There is a fairly long bow to be drawn between someone indulging in hedonism and 'near-perfection'. Rome had it's share of good rulers, although Augustus is an interesting case study in pragmatism. Not all of the incompetent ones were hedonists, and not all the ineffectual ones were incompetent. I simply wouldn't hold up Roman Caesers (collectively) as a case-study in anything like near-perfection, and would argue that very, very few (if any) of them would reach that individually.

 

[Princeps Eugenius]

There is a fairly long bow to be drawn between someone indulging in hedonism and 'near-perfection'. Rome had it's share of good rulers, although Augustus is an interesting case study in pragmatism. Not all of the incompetent ones were hedonists, and not all the ineffectual ones were incompetent. I simply wouldn't hold up Roman Caesers (collectively) as a case-study in anything like near-perfection, and would argue that very, very few (if any) of them would reach that individually.

Thats why the lesser Ceasars would name themselves after a more successful one. For example: In the 3rd century many Caesars would call themselves Marcus Aurelius and then add their own name to it. All of them also called themselves either Caesar (after Gaius Julius) or Agustus (after Octavian).

 

[lewisnotmiller]

Thats why the lesser Ceasars would name themselves after a more successful one. For example: In the 3rd century many Caesars would call themselves Marcus Aurelius and then add their own name to it. All of them also called themselves either Caesar (after Gaius Julius) or Agustus (after Octavian).

I figure they weren't really trying unless they did Commodus' trick and just include a bunch of previous Caesers and demi-gods/gods, then claim it proved their link with divinity...

 

[Treks]

Apparently I am 67% anthropocentric.

 

[Sundance]

I'm 39% Humanist....

Enh, I'd much rather stick with metaphysics and religion anyway. They're far more up my alley.