“Deliberation is inquiry into means; we do not deliberate about eternal truths.”
— Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics, Book III, Chapter 3
(Translated by W.D. Ross)
Big Idea
Life’s like a video game with unbreakable rules 🎮:
- Means = Your customizable strategy → Can change (e.g., sword vs. bow in boss fights).
- Eternal Truths = The game’s code → Can’t change (e.g., lava always hurts).
Real-Life Scenarios
📚 School Project Crunch
→ Means: Use Google Docs vs. poster board → Your choice!
→ Eternal Truth: Due dates are fixed → No “debugging” extensions.
🏀 Basketball Practice
→ Means: Practice 3-pointers or layups → Coach lets you decide.
→ Eternal Truth: 10-foot hoop height → NBA won’t lower it for you.
📱 Social Media
→ Means: Post reels or carousels → Algorithm rewards both.
→ Eternal Truth: Likes = dopamine hits → Brain chemistry stays coded.
What You Can Do
- The “Can I Fix It?” Flowchart
Ask:
→ “Can I change this?” → Yes? Deliberate! / No? Adapt! - Strategy Tracker
For 3 days, log decisions:- Math Test: Studied Quizlet (means) vs. Whined about equations (wasted time).
- Game Master Challenge
Role-play fixing vs. accepting:
→ Scenario: “Group chat drama” → Plan kind replies (means) vs. Accept you can’t control others’ posts (eternal truth).