I’d specify that the specific type of male rage which the article is talking about is a sign of weakness.
We all make mistakes. We all get angry. Sometimes we get angry at other people when they make mistakes. Sometimes we can carry that anger with us for a long time. I can understand all this. I’ve done all these things.
What I don’t understand is this brand of masculinity that insists on continued anger, and on asserting dominance and control in a way that ultimately draws attention to weakness and fragility. It’s like we’ve empowered a whole slew of men to embrace childish behaviour in the belief that it makes them seem powerful.
That’s a very different thing than just general “rage”. Sometimes rage is an appropriate reaction to a set of circumstances. Personally I don’t think men have many things that are worthy of raging about compared to women, but that number is nonzero.
Personally I don’t think men have many things that are worthy of raging about compared to women, but that number is nonzero.
Personally, the things that make women rage usually also make me rage even when the victim is not me. And there are a bunch of things that should make anyone rage.
A tad bit more western, there’s Seneca’s “Of Anger”. For the Stoics any emotion that dulls, no matter how slightly, rationality and thus wisdom is a vice, generally summed up under the term passions.
The virtuous way to go about is is to find whatever righteous indignation there is, let wisdom dwell on it, if it indeed was righteous then act, which will be indifference (because you realised it’s immaterial / you can’t do anything), forgiving, or cold-blooded (whatever of the two achieves the goal) but never anger. Wisdom got involved, it can’t be.
I’d specify that the specific type of male rage which the article is talking about is a sign of weakness.
That’s a very different thing than just general “rage”. Sometimes rage is an appropriate reaction to a set of circumstances. Personally I don’t think men have many things that are worthy of raging about compared to women, but that number is nonzero.
Personally, the things that make women rage usually also make me rage even when the victim is not me. And there are a bunch of things that should make anyone rage.
Sorry, I should have said “things exclusive to men”.
In Buddhism there’s a difference between anger and wrath.
A tad bit more western, there’s Seneca’s “Of Anger”. For the Stoics any emotion that dulls, no matter how slightly, rationality and thus wisdom is a vice, generally summed up under the term passions.
The virtuous way to go about is is to find whatever righteous indignation there is, let wisdom dwell on it, if it indeed was righteous then act, which will be indifference (because you realised it’s immaterial / you can’t do anything), forgiving, or cold-blooded (whatever of the two achieves the goal) but never anger. Wisdom got involved, it can’t be.
Bonus Bruce Lee
What definition of rage are you working off of? To be honest, it sounds like you’re talking about general anger.
I’m using the article’s definition.
If you are unable to control your rage, justified or not, its still weak.
Being able to take your anger and channel it is strength, not giving way to it…
Yep