It isn't ugly, though! Remember when Epictetus writes that people say that the injunction to think, when kissing your child that they might die, is a 'word of bad omen' - well, then, anything relating to the normal processes of organic life must be also of bad omen (Disc. 3.24.88-90; see also Marcus, Med. 11.34)? Also, regarding 'decomposition,' the scholar Carlo Ginzburg identifies this as a key literary technique which has influenced some of the greatest fiction writers ever, such as Tolstoy. So...important, yes; ugly, no.
To some degree this is semantics. I agree that it's not something to be upset over, that in a sense, this might be beautiful. It's valuable. But decomposition points out that our desires can be ugly — not in line with virtue. It is in viewing this ugliness that we learn to reevaluate what's truly important — what's beautiful and good — virtue.
So this seems related to the practice of premeditatio malorum. But, rather than thinking of things we enjoy being taken away, in order to generate gratitude for what we have, it focuses on picturing the ugly aspects of what we like in order to not become attached to them. Would this diminish our gratitude and appreciation for these things while we have them? Any guidance on balancing the two approaches?
I think the effect of this exercise on a thing we already possess is to reduce the hold it has on us and our emotions. Say you love a family heirloom. I have my great grandfather's pocket watch, and I'm fond of it. But It's just think a piece of metal. It's not a human family member. It's not my memories. It's not the love that others have for me. It's just a hunk of metal. If I lost it, I would have lost nothing. It's just not important. Certainly not worth getting worked up over, or losing my temper, or anything else. I find this to be effective reminder that works for all kinds of things I already possess and which I could lose (most things). And yet still, when I pass the place where the pocket watch sits, I can't help but be glad it's there.
However, if it did have the effect of me valuing the watch less, so what? Am I less happy because I'm less attached to a hunk of metal I now attach less or no value to? I wouldn't say so. There are so many great things to appreciate.
It isn't ugly, though! Remember when Epictetus writes that people say that the injunction to think, when kissing your child that they might die, is a 'word of bad omen' - well, then, anything relating to the normal processes of organic life must be also of bad omen (Disc. 3.24.88-90; see also Marcus, Med. 11.34)? Also, regarding 'decomposition,' the scholar Carlo Ginzburg identifies this as a key literary technique which has influenced some of the greatest fiction writers ever, such as Tolstoy. So...important, yes; ugly, no.
To some degree this is semantics. I agree that it's not something to be upset over, that in a sense, this might be beautiful. It's valuable. But decomposition points out that our desires can be ugly — not in line with virtue. It is in viewing this ugliness that we learn to reevaluate what's truly important — what's beautiful and good — virtue.
So this seems related to the practice of premeditatio malorum. But, rather than thinking of things we enjoy being taken away, in order to generate gratitude for what we have, it focuses on picturing the ugly aspects of what we like in order to not become attached to them. Would this diminish our gratitude and appreciation for these things while we have them? Any guidance on balancing the two approaches?
I think the effect of this exercise on a thing we already possess is to reduce the hold it has on us and our emotions. Say you love a family heirloom. I have my great grandfather's pocket watch, and I'm fond of it. But It's just think a piece of metal. It's not a human family member. It's not my memories. It's not the love that others have for me. It's just a hunk of metal. If I lost it, I would have lost nothing. It's just not important. Certainly not worth getting worked up over, or losing my temper, or anything else. I find this to be effective reminder that works for all kinds of things I already possess and which I could lose (most things). And yet still, when I pass the place where the pocket watch sits, I can't help but be glad it's there.
However, if it did have the effect of me valuing the watch less, so what? Am I less happy because I'm less attached to a hunk of metal I now attach less or no value to? I wouldn't say so. There are so many great things to appreciate.
Seems like there are a lot of layers to this!