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Brisbane Stoics May 2025 Meetup: Philosophy and Techne
May 11 @ 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM
Hi everyone,
The topic will be ‘Philosophy and Techne’.
At the meeting we will discuss some ‘Techne’ and ‘spiritual exercises’, such as the the ‘view from above’, ‘Prosoche’ and the ‘Praemeditatio Malorum’.
Regarding ‘Techne’ here is a brief explanation –
From a Stoic perspective, techne and philosophical teaching serve different functions, though both involve disciplined learning:
1. Techne (Art or Craft):
Definition: Techne refers to a craft, skill, or practical art—something with clear methods, procedures, and results (e.g., shipbuilding, medicine, rhetoric).
Focus: It aims at external success—producing or achieving something tangible or functional.
Standards: It can be mastered with training and yields predictable outcomes when applied correctly.
2. Philosophical Teaching (Philosophia):
Definition: Philosophy, for the Stoics, is the art of living—a pursuit of wisdom and virtue through reason and self-discipline.
Focus: It aims at internal transformation, aligning one’s judgments, desires, and actions with nature and reason.
Standards: Unlike techne, philosophy cannot guarantee virtue or wisdom merely through instruction—it requires deep moral commitment and continuous self-practice.
Epictetus often emphasized that philosophy is not just learning arguments but learning how to live—and that even someone trained in many technai might still be foolish or morally weak.
Looking forward to a great discussion and seeing you there!
We meet in the meeting room opposite New Farm Library from 9:00 am to 11:00 am.
Afterwards, we head to the local cafe to continue the conversation over coffee and lunch.