[jimmyed]

I would never use this, when the original is available to read, that too in English! Consider the sheer dumbification at ~27 minute mark, "The universe has it's rhythm, and im vibin' with it".

[llm_nerd]

>when the original is available to read

The original is in classic Koine Greek. Every translation since has been an interpretation and rewriting, often picking up the idioms and standards of the day.

>sheer dumbification

While you clearly just got that from one of the top comments and didn't actually listen to the video, can you explain what is "dumb" about that? If you've read meditations -- and note that this interpretation is basically section by section in order -- it's actually an entirely reasonable, understandable interpretation.

And having read the "original", where the original to me was an English translation performed in the 17th century by Meric Casaubon -- littered with 17th century-isms of English -- I found this video a fascinating listen because it made me reinterpret various sections.

[kstrauser]

I think what they meant is that you can find a modern translation of the original anywhere you can find books. It’s not some rare, lost tome. It’s right there, ready to be read, if you want it. You don’t have to watch a video summary of it.

[avgcorrection]

Part of the charm of reading old works (even translated) is how they clearly phrase themselves in a different way than you. But then you eventually see beyond that and realize that they are 99% like you. The common human experience.

But I don’t get the same vibe from “vibin’ with it”. Ugh.

[lebean]

There's one thing I can't call cap on: that I think.

- Descartes

[Zababa]

Between your comment and the one you replied to, I'm starting to think this is a good exercise. It shows how modern language can be used outside of its usual context, i.e. spoken by modern speakers. As a slightly older person than them, I can understand what they mean better, and remind myself that language evolving is a natural part of life. For them, it can make older works more accessible too, not just by translating them, but by showing to them that there's a mapping between the way they express themselves and the way other people do, and that they don't need to be intimidated by older works with different ways of speaking.

[mannyv]

Dude, I'm here because I'm here. - DC.

[kstrauser]

Hunnit.

[mattgreenrocks]

But maybe Aurelius really wanted to convey the fact that life is about finding the right type of energy?

[messe]

> the original is available to read, [...] in English

In other words, not the original. In fact, literally “in other words”.

[dazzawazza]

While it's certainly not to my taste if it exposes more people to philosophy and helps them on the path to a calmer existence... why should we care?

If we can't expose philosophy to everyone.. then many are stuck with religion and that's not good for anyone.

[mistermann]

Whether religion is not good for anyone is a very interesting and difficult philosophical/psychological question.

[avgcorrection]

What’s bad about being stuck (so-called) with Buddhism compared to this?

For that matter: being stuck with Stoicism compared to Buddhism also wouldn’t be bad.

[jxmorris12]

Unfortunately, Marcus Aurelius didn’t speak English.

[minedwiz]

To the extent that English existed in 180 even

[kylebenzle]

And, "I'm totally stoked that I never got too into poetry..."

[photonthug]

Reminds me of how NPR is always like "yup the dow was super gnarly today bro, now over to Steve so we can get an update on our best-video-games-of-the-year report" and it makes me grimace. Then I think maybe I'm getting old, but then I think, no dammit, this is just dumb, and it's probably ok for me to expect a little more professionalism from journalists. The news shouldn't need to sound like a twitch streamer, and words from our best and brightest like Aurelius shouldn't need this kind of obnoxious paraphrase either. In the end a work is relevant or it is not.. giving the work some unnecessary "update" to attempt to become/remain relevant just seems unasked for, and silly, and desperate.