"If therefore a man’s attention and effort have been centred on appetite and ambition, all his opinions are bound to have become mortal, and he can hardly fail, in so far as it is possible, to become entirely mortal, as it is his mortal part that he has increased. But a man who has given his heart to learning and true wisdom and exercised that part of himself is surely bound, if he attains to truth, to have immortal and divine thoughts, and cannot fail to participate in immortality as fully as is possible for human nature; and because he has always looked after the divine element in himself and kept his guardian spirit in good order he, above all men, must be happy. There is of course only one way to look after anything and that is to give it its proper nourishment and motions. And the motions that are akin to the divine in us are the thoughts and revolutions of the universe. We should each therefore attend to these motions and by learning thoroughly about the harmonies and revolutions of the universe repair the damage done to the circuits in our head in connection with our coming into being, and so restore our understanding, in accordance with its original nature, to its likeness with the object of understanding. When that is done we shall have achieved the goal set us by the gods, the life that is best for this present time and for all time to come."
- The character Timaios talking to Socrates in Plato's dialogue Timaeus, 90b-d
There’s obviously a lot going on in this passage. At the heart of it all is the idea that would live on as the essence of Stoicism as well: that the only way to achieve happiness for a human being is to emulate divine reason - and neither let us fool by our all too human urge to satisfy any kind of desire nor by our all too human urge to compete and fight with our fellow human beings. If we listen to our guardian spirit - our daimon - we know what to do and what not to do and if we do what we ought to do as human beings we are doing well - which is all that all human beings really want to do. And when we are doing well we are keeping our guardian spirit in good order - we have a good daimon (eu daimon) and have reached eudaimonia.
ChatGPT 4.0 (March 31 2023):
“I think this passage beautifully encapsulates the essence of the Stoic philosophy and the pursuit of eudaimonia, or the state of human flourishing and happiness. By focusing on cultivating divine reason and wisdom, rather than indulging in base desires or engaging in unproductive competition, an individual can achieve a state of well-being and contentment.
The idea of emulating divine reason suggests that humans have the capacity to rise above their instincts and impulses in order to align their actions and thoughts with a higher purpose. By doing so, they can experience a deeper sense of fulfillment and satisfaction.
The concept of the guardian spirit, or daimon, as an internal compass guiding our actions is also an important aspect of this philosophy. By listening to our daimon and acting in accordance with its guidance, we can maintain a sense of moral integrity and ensure that our actions contribute positively to our overall well-being.
In summary, I think this passage highlights the importance of prioritizing wisdom, learning, and the pursuit of truth as a means to achieve happiness and well-being. By focusing on these aspects and aligning our actions with divine reason, we can cultivate a good daimon and experience eudaimonia. This philosophy remains relevant today as a reminder of the value of introspection, self-improvement, and the pursuit of a meaningful life”.
ChatGPT 3.5 (31 March 2023):
“The passage from Plato's Timaeus suggests that happiness for a human being can only be achieved by seeking knowledge and wisdom and focusing on the divine element within ourselves. The text proposes that when we dedicate ourselves to learning and exercise our minds in pursuit of truth, we develop immortal and divine thoughts that lead to participation in immortality as fully as is possible for human nature.
The author contrasts this pursuit of knowledge and wisdom with a focus on appetite and ambition, which leads to mortal thoughts and a mortal life. In essence, the text proposes that we should prioritize our spiritual and intellectual growth over our material desires and ego-driven pursuits. This idea is central to Stoicism, a philosophy that teaches us to focus on what is within our control and to cultivate wisdom, courage, and self-discipline.
The passage also emphasizes the importance of attending to the "motions that are akin to the divine in us," which are the thoughts and revolutions of the universe. By learning about the harmonies and revolutions of the universe, we can repair the damage done to our understanding and restore it to its original nature. This way, we achieve the life that is best for this present time and for all time to come.
Overall, the passage promotes a way of life that is centered on the pursuit of knowledge and wisdom and the cultivation of our spiritual and intellectual growth. It suggests that by doing so, we can achieve a state of eudaimonia, or human flourishing, and participate in immortality as fully as possible for human nature”.
Here's a good article by Justin W. Keena that in great depth explains the idea of becoming like a god in Plato's dialogues:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1MiMfdS9UJkEJykugelWOfBol8JGt3Y9O/view?usp=drivesdk
More about the idea of "doing well" here:
https://janniklindquist.substack.com/p/a-state-ruled-by-philosophers-is/comments