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	Cicero's theory of natural law This is probably the part of Cicero you would find most interesting. Cicero argued that law is not simply whatever the government declares. There is a higher standard. In De Legibus, he develops the idea that genuine law is grounded in nature and reason. His argument is roughly: 1 Human beings possess reason. 2 Reason allows us to distinguish good from evil. 3 Moral principles exist independently of particular governments. 4 Therefore, legitimate law must correspond to those principles. 5 A government cannot make something morally right merely by legislating it. That is a profound distinction: legality ≠ morality. A legislature can pass a law. That doesn't necessarily make the law just. 4. "True law is right reason" One of Cicero's most famous passages comes from De Republica: "True law is right reason in agreement with nature." He continues by arguing that genuine law is: • universal • eternal • unchanging • applicable to all people This becomes enormously important in the later history of Western political thought. The basic concept is: There is a moral order above the state. The state doesn't create morality. Rather, legitimate political institutions are supposed to operate within a moral framework that exists independently of them. 5. Cicero and government Cicero was not an anarchist. He believed political society was necessary and valuable. But he also believed that government exists for a purpose. For Cicero, the res publica — the "public thing" or republic — is not simply a geographic territory or a government bureaucracy. He famously defines a republic as a community united by: • common interests • common agreement concerning law • a shared conception of justice That matters. A state isn't legitimate simply because it possesses coercive power. It must actually constitute a public governed according to law and justice. 6. His theory of mixed government Cicero was strongly influenced by Greek political philosophy, particularly Polybius. He believed the Roman Republic's strength came partly from combining different forms of government: Monarchical element → Consuls Aristocratic element → Senate Popular element → Assemblies The idea was that concentrating all political power in one institution creates instability. A properly structured constitution forces different powers to check one another. This became an important ancestor of later theories of separation of powers and constitutional government. 7. Cicero's view of political corruption This is where his biography becomes especially interesting. Cicero believed that political institutions depend upon the character of the people operating them. If political actors abandon virtue and pursue: • wealth • personal power • factional advantage • status • revenge the constitutional structure eventually becomes hollow. This is essentially what Cicero believed was happening to Rome. The Republic wasn't merely being destroyed by one bad politician. Its citizens and politicians were increasingly abandoning the virtues required for republican government. 8. De Officiis — On Duties If you want to read one Cicero book, I'd start here. Written in 44 BCE, near the end of his life, it was addressed to his son Marcus. It asks a fundamental question: How should a rational human being behave? Cicero organizes morality around concepts such as: • duty • virtue • justice • courage • wisdom • moderation • honesty • reputation • public service One of his central ideas is the relationship between the honorable and the useful. Suppose something benefits you materially but requires you to act unjustly. Is it actually advantageous? Cicero's answer is essentially no. Something that appears useful but violates justice is ultimately contrary to your real interests. That idea anticipates a recurring theme in later moral philosophy: You cannot obtain genuine prosperity through injustice without destroying something more fundamental. 9. Cicero on property and justice Cicero takes private property seriously. He recognizes that civilization depends upon respecting people's possessions and agreements. But his framework isn't modern laissez-faire capitalism. He places property within a broader conception of justice and social obligation. His basic position is something like: You have legitimate claims to what is yours, but justice also governs how you interact with other people. This makes him different from later thinkers who derive property rights primarily from individual self-ownership or homesteading. 10. Cicero on friendship De Amicitia is surprisingly good. Cicero argues that genuine friendship cannot simply be based on usefulness. There is a difference between: "I like you because you benefit me." and "I value you because I recognize something admirable in you." True friendship, for Cicero, is closely connected with virtue. This is part of his broader conception of human relationships: a good society depends upon people possessing good character. 11. Cicero and Stoicism Cicero wasn't an original philosopher in the way Plato or Aristotle were. His enormous contribution was different. He translated Greek philosophy into Latin and adapted it for Roman political and moral life. He was particularly influenced by Stoicism, though he wasn't simply a Stoic. From Stoicism he took ideas such as: • reason • natural law • universal human moral principles • self-command • duty • virtue • the distinction between what we control and what we don't But he also engaged extensively with Academic skepticism, Platonism, Aristotelian thought and Epicureanism. 12. Cicero's importance to later political thought This is where Cicero's historical influence becomes enormous. His writings were rediscovered and studied throughout the Middle Ages and Renaissance. He influenced thinkers concerned with: Natural law Republican government Constitutionalism Civic virtue The rule of law Limits on political authority The relationship between morality and legislation His influence extends into the intellectual background of the American and European constitutional traditions. One particularly important transmission chain is: Greek philosophy → Cicero → Roman natural-law tradition → medieval political philosophy → Renaissance republicanism → early modern political thought → constitutional liberalism So although Cicero isn't a modern liberal or libertarian, he is one of the important bridges between ancient philosophy and modern political philosophy.

What Would You Do….??

Although I'm a huge fan of poetry, I can only say that I've been to and listened to less than a handful of spoken word events in my life…and they were all because I dated one of the cofounders of Ottawa's Capital Slam, which was years and years ago…so a lot of time has passed since, and although I am not even close to the same person I was philosophically back then, this piece I'm sharing below has always been remembered.  I heard it at the first slam I went to and it really stood out to me, it grabbed me.  Some might find it too fluffy or feel good or cliche and try to compare it to feelers books like The Secret, but I've always simply liked it because it poses an important question and beckons for more purpose, for a re-evaluation of things.  It strives to help you seek truths by asking you questions.
"What would you do if you knew you couldn't fail?"…and upon trying to answer this question it is very likely that most would not only find themselves not close to achieving their aspirations, many are not even on the path of pursuit.  I could write all day about this but instead I'll just shut up and leave you to listen to the video below in hopes that you enjoy it and that it evokes some thought. :)

"What would you do if you knew you couldn't fail?" by Nathanael Larochette
 (lyrics below & the piece starts just after 1 minute into the video)

What would you do if you knew you couldn't fail?

What would you do if anything you set your mind to would come true?

What would you do if you never had a single doubt whatsoever regarding any endeavour?

If all your beliefs and aspirations were not caught in a box locked by grief from hesitation?

What would you do if every idea you ever released into the seas of your imagination always reached it's destination?

Never sinking unseen from memory, beaten and worn from sleet and storms of hates hail, what would you do if you knew you couldn't fail?

Who would you tell that you knew you couldn't fail?

Who would you tell and confide in share this deep revelation and shine with?

Who would you tell that would understand how you felt and pay attention with concentration without trying to take advantage of your situation?

Who would you tell that would help support your admission, that would listen to this wisdom born from intuition and limitless visions?

What may seem like fantasy but in reality is the truest tale, who would you tell that you knew you couldn't fail?

Where would you go if you knew you couldn't fail?

Where would you go if your thoughts stopped over-counting costs and rather sought to hop over mountain tops?

Where would you go if touching a cloud was as close as a blink and a smile if only you took a second to think for a while?

Where would you go if distances were as diminished as if you were part of a star fleet, if belief in your heart's beat brought your dreams within arms reach?

Where would you go if you could dig to the centre of the earth with your finger nails, grow oceans  with hopes motions exploding bigger sails what would you go if you knew you couldn't fail?

When would you realize that you knew you couldn't fail?

When would you realize that all the time you spent waiting, was the same as debating whether or not you should listen to fate sing?

When would you realize that all the strength you've lost in stride was waiting to be refined inside your mind's eye and how much you belief is directly proportionate to what you achieve?

When would you realize that your life's mission was equivalent to combining an infinite glisten with a bright swell and that you control the length and strength of the light trails, when would you realize that you knew you couldn't fail?

But why would you believe that you knew you couldn't fail?

Why would you believe that stress and apathy are actually the cause of all battles and casualties?

Why would you believe that chance and letting it be are like letting your enemy step in-between you and your dance with destiny?

Why would you believe life is worth the fight despite of all the songs we write about the hurt and strife that wrong our rights, why would you believe that all limits are self-conceived, born as the dreams we grieve in beds of self-deceit?

Why would you believe we had everything we need, that when we breath our health reveals that true wealth hides concealed within a frame both real and frail,...

 So what would you do if you knew you couldn't fail?

-Nathanael Larochette

INSIDE JAY NERA: P1 & P2

These were shot back in November 2014.  I'm glad that they finally got published…although I'm pale and I don't speak well into the camera, I like these and I'm happy they are finally getting out there.  Nevermind the titles… yes, they are funny….whatever.

INSIDE JAY NERA Part I - Filling Up the Jar




INSIDE JAY NERA Part II - On My Shoulders

Deadlifting at Skiba's Gym in Jersey

Shot back in November 2014.
Skiba's Gym is rugged, dusty, cold, and yet it has everything you need to have a good training session. I would rather travel at Skiba's gym than any globe gym any day of the week.

Big On the Basics - Front Squat

Here's a BOB vid I did at Skiba's Gym back in Nov. 2014 that Animal just released onto the their youtube channel.  I think that they will be releasing a few more of the videos we shot in Jersey over this next year. :)


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BACK ATTACK at Fortis Fitness - ANIMAL PAK

ANIMAL PAK VIDEO….. BACK ATTACKBack training from a while back at Fortis Fitness.

Random facts about my life of training and pull ups
I LOVE pull ups.  Only recently have I started incorporating pull-ups into my regimen again.  This is due to bicep tendon issues forcing me to take a break.  I believe that this(video) was my second or third time doing pull-ups in close to a year.
For me, I will always be able to do pull ups because I have been doing them since I was 11 years old when my grandmother gave me a pull up bar for my birthday.  I set it up in my bedroom door.  I would do 6 pull ups every time I passed it.  If I went to the washroom I would do 6 on my way out and then 6 on my way back in….this would add up very fast.  **NOTE-  I had a pull up bar setup that stayed in the doorway via expanding and forcing friction.  It slowly pushed apart the door frame and sent a crack up into the ceiling.  Sorry Mom.  Love you.

Before my hiatus from pull ups…I had been doing pull ups 3 times a week and usually 3-4 sets at 3-4 various styles of pull ups for a total of 12-16 sets depending on the style and how i were feeling.  I would usually do anywhere from 10-30 reps per set depending on the style and if weighted or not.  'Rep wise' I would always end up doing 400-600 reps per week. Multiply that by 52 weeks a year and then the 20 years I've been training….now you might understand why I have over 19 inch arms(20 pumped up) even though I hardly ever train arms directly(i do some tricep extensions work here and there).
Anyway, I like pull ups, and I was happy to start doing them again in this video.  Supinated or neutral grip are the only styles I can do without causing pain unfortunately.  So this was after taking a long hiatus from doing pull ups of any kind….and also, after a 25 lb weight gain.  When I stopped doing pull ups I was sitting around 230, in this video I am around 255lbs.





…and just for fun…back to my lighter days at 230lbs….My best set of these was one set of 15 reps.  My best working sets was 5 sets of 11 reps.  Here was my first practice at them after RUM a few years back.

"EMBRACE THE PROCESS" - A quick interview

After doing a seminar with Jeremy Hamilton last summer I stopped for a second to chat with Omar Isuf a bit.