How does one create a community using Amethyst?

"In your study, make it your aim not to know more, but to know better." - Seneca, Letters 89.23

I had a conversation with Bing Chat a few weeks ago about Stoic and modern views of the universe

A good universe without intentions

A conversation with Bing Chat about Stoic and modern views of the universe

I'm trying to buy some bitcoin via Wallet of Satoshi/Moonpay using my Visacard but get told that the transaction can't be accepted. As I understand it is not my bank that is declining the transaction but Moonpay. What could be the cause of this? I have no previous experience with Bitcoin at all.

"Foolishness is a greater evil than all ills imposed by fortune or sustained by the body put together." - The character Cotta in Cicero's "The Nature of the Gods", 3.79

I'm confused about the presence of so many media outlets here on Nostr (search for ":press:" and you will see). Are these all real accounts? None of them get any reactions whatsoever. How is it meaningful for them to run profiles here?

"The starting-point for anyone who is to live in accordance with nature is the universe as a whole and its governance. One cannot make correct judgements about good and evil unless one understands the whole system of nature, and even of the life of the gods, as well as the question of whether or not human nature is in harmony with that of the universe”. - Cato the Younger speaking in Cicero's “On Moral Ends”, III.73

“when we engage in argument we must look to the weight of reason rather than authority. Indeed, students who are keen to learn often find the authority ofthose who claim to be teachers to be an obstacle, for they cease to apply their own judgement and regard as definitive the solution offered by the mentor of whom they approve. I myself tend to disapprove of the alleged practice of the Pythagoreans: the story goes that if they were maintaining some position in argument, and were asked why, they would reply: “The master said so”, the master being Pythagoras. Prior judgement exercised such sway thatauthority prevailed even when unsupported by reason.” - Cicero, On the Natue of the Gods, I.10

"As for assenting to what is false, the Stoics hold that of all things that are against nature, this is the most repugnant to us". - Cato the Younger speaking in Cicero's “On Moral Ends”, III.18

How many modern followers of Stoicism live a life that is dedicated to perfect their rationality? 🤔 “You and I will agree, I think, that one pursues outward things for the body's sake, that one cares for the body in order to show respect for the mind, and that the mind includes subservient parts, responsible for our motor and nutritional functions, which are given to us on behalf of the directive.faculty itself. This directive faculty includes both a rational and a nonrational.component. The former is at the service of the latter, which is the one thing that does not look to anything else but rather refers everything else to itself. As you know, divine rationality is similarly at the head of all things, subordinate to none of them; and.this rationality of ours, which derives from that divine rationality, is just the same. Now, if we agree about this, it is only consistent that we should also agree on the other point; namely, that the happy life consists solely in perfecting our rationality: for perfected rationality is the one thing that keeps the spirit high and takes a stand against fortune. Whatever the situation may be, it keeps us free from anxiety. Moreover, it is the one good thing that never fails. WhatI am saying is that a happy person is one who is not diminished by anything, who has a hold on all that matters, and relies on nothing but himself: one who depends on anything else for support is liable to fall. Otherwise things that are not our own will start to exercise much power over us. Who what wants to rely on fortune, and intelligent person flatters himself because of things that do not belong to him?” Seneca, Letters 92.1-2

“Money never made anyone rich.” - Seneca, Letters 119.9

The most important thing to get right about Stoicism is the thing that almost everyone gets wrong. A conversation with ChatGPT.

Friends, family and community are not indifferents - Part one

The most important thing to get right about Stoicism is the thing that almost everyone get wrong. A conversation with ChatGPT.

“Most foolish of all is the belief that everything decreed by the institutions or laws of a particular country is just. What if the laws are the laws of tyrants?” - Cicero, The Laws I.42

“how will you know what conduct should be adopted unless you have discovered what is best for a human being and have studied human nature? You will not understand what you should do and what you should avoid until you have learned what you owe to your own nature.” - Seneca, Letters 121.3

Thanks, @Edward Snowden for nudging me over here