In These Short Selections We Get a Glimpse of Stoic

question 11

True/False

In these short selections we get a glimpse of stoic philosophy from three of its greatest proponents-Marcus Aurelius, Seneca, and Epictetus, who gets the longest excerpt here. Marcus Aurelius urges that our every act should be done deliberately and attentively, following the dictates of reason and avoiding the distracting disorder of the passions. Seneca endorses suicide as a legitimate option in life because "mere living is not a good, but living well . . . [T]he wise man will live as long as he ought, not as long as he can." Epictetus distinguishes between those things in life that are up to us (intentions, desires, etc.) and those things that are not up to us (our bodies, property, reputation, etc.). If we confuse these two, we will be troubled and impeded. But if we keep them straight, we will be free of burdens, harm, and grief. "Don't seek for things to happen as you wish," he says, "but wish for things to happen as they do, and you will get on well."
-Epictetus says that the wise man knows that if he is richer than another person, he is therefore better than that person.

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Definitions:

Unfavorable Variance

A situation where actual costs exceed the standard or budgeted costs, often indicating inefficiencies or increased expenses.

Favorable Variance

A financial term indicating that actual costs were lower or revenues were higher than planned.

Budgeted Amount

The projected costs or revenues allocated to a specific activity or period, based on estimates.

Budget Ratcheting

The practice of setting future budget allocations based on the current period’s expenditures, discouraging under-spending in fear of budget cuts.