# Sterling's Aims vs Desires Revolution in Correct Use of Impressions

## **The Revolutionary Integration**

Sterling's distinction between **appropriate aims** and **desires** provides the missing content for what to DO with impressions after rejecting false external value assignments. Epictetus shows us HOW to handle impressions; Sterling shows us WHAT to pursue instead.

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## **The Complete Impression-Action Framework**

### **Traditional Stoic Problem:**

- Epictetus: "Don't assent to false impressions about externals"

- **Gap**: What DO you pursue? How do you act positively?

### **Sterling's Solution:**

- **Virtue = pursuit of appropriate objects of aim** (Th 29)

- **Vice = pursuit of objects of desire** (Th 28)

- **Integration**: Transform desire-based impressions into aim-based impressions

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### **Step 1 (Foundation): From Desires to Aims**

**Enhanced Principle**: Impressions containing desires for externals are false; impressions identifying appropriate aims are virtuous

**Practical Application**: 

- **False Impression**: "I want my child to succeed" (desire)

- **Virtuous Impression**: "I aim at my child's development" (appropriate aim)

### **Step 2 (Control Test): Aim vs Desire Check**

**Enhanced Question**: "Is this impression about desiring an outcome or aiming at an appropriate object?"

**Control Analysis**:

- **Desires**: Always involve attachment to outcomes (external/uncontrollable)

- **Aims**: Focus on rational pursuit (internal/controllable)

### **Step 3 (Precision): Appropriate Aims Identification**

**Sterling's Appropriate Objects** (Th 26):

- Life (preservation/protection)

- Health (care/maintenance)  

- Knowledge (learning/truth-seeking)

- Justice (fairness/righteousness)

- Pleasure (appropriate enjoyment)

- Truth-telling (honesty/accuracy)

**Precision Focus**: "What appropriate aim does this situation present?"

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**The Emotional Revolution**:

- **Desire-based emotions**: Anxiety, attachment, disappointment potential

- **Aim-based emotions**: Satisfaction from virtue, good feelings guaranteed (Th 17)

**Recognition**: Positive emotions from pursuing appropriate aims; negative emotions from frustrated desires

### **Step 5 (Real-Time Correction): CATCH-RECOGNIZE-REPLACE-AIM**

**Enhanced Protocol**:

- **CATCH**: False desire impression

- **RECOGNIZE**: This is desire, not appropriate aim

- **REPLACE**: With appropriate aim impression

- **AIM**: Pursue the appropriate object through virtuous action

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## **Three Demonstrations with Aims vs Desires**

## **DEMONSTRATION 1: Job Loss Crisis (Enhanced)**

### **The Impression Stream:**

*"I just got fired. I need another job immediately. I want financial security. I desire recognition and career success."*

### **Steps 1-4: Standard Analysis**

[Previous analysis identifying false external value content and emotional sources]

### **Step 5 (Enhanced): CATCH-RECOGNIZE-REPLACE-AIM**

**CATCH**: *"I'm desiring external outcomes (job, security, success)"*

**RECOGNIZE**: *"These are desires for externals, not appropriate aims"*

**REPLACE**: *"What are the appropriate aims in this situation?"*

**AIM**: 

- **Life**: Aim at reasonable self-preservation through work

- **Knowledge**: Aim at learning new skills and opportunities  

- **Justice**: Aim at fair treatment in job search

- **Truth-telling**: Aim at honest representation of qualifications

**Virtuous Action**: Pursue employment as appropriate aim (life preservation) without attachment to specific outcomes, experiencing satisfaction from excellent effort regardless of hiring results.

## **DEMONSTRATION 2: Relationship Conflict (Enhanced)**

### **The Impression Stream:**

*"I want her to understand me. I need her approval. I desire harmony and love in return."*

### **Steps 1-4: Standard Analysis**

[Previous analysis of false relationship value assignments]

### **Step 5 (Enhanced): CATCH-RECOGNIZE-REPLACE-AIM**

**CATCH**: *"I'm desiring specific responses from her"*

**RECOGNIZE**: *"These are desires for external outcomes from another person"*

**REPLACE**: *"What are appropriate aims in relationships?"*

**AIM**:

- **Justice**: Aim at treating her fairly regardless of her treatment

- **Truth-telling**: Aim at honest communication without requiring agreement

- **Life**: Aim at supporting her wellbeing without controlling her choices

- **Knowledge**: Aim at understanding her perspective without needing validation

**Virtuous Action**: Express care through appropriate aims (justice, honesty, support) without attachment to her responses, experiencing satisfaction from loving excellently regardless of reciprocation.

## **DEMONSTRATION 3: Health Diagnosis (Enhanced)**

### **The Impression Stream:**

*"I want to be healthy. I need this treatment to work. I desire more time with my family."*

### **Steps 1-4: Standard Analysis**

[Previous analysis of health-related false judgments]

### **Step 5 (Enhanced): CATCH-RECOGNIZE-REPLACE-AIM**

**CATCH**: *"I'm desiring specific health outcomes"*

**RECOGNIZE**: *"These are desires for external medical results"*

**REPLACE**: *"What are appropriate aims regarding health?"*

**AIM**:

- **Health**: Aim at reasonable medical care and body maintenance

- **Life**: Aim at rational self-preservation measures

- **Knowledge**: Aim at understanding treatment options

- **Truth-telling**: Aim at honest communication with medical team and family

- **Justice**: Aim at fair distribution of care resources

**Virtuous Action**: Pursue appropriate medical aims (care, preservation, knowledge) without attachment to cure outcomes, experiencing satisfaction from wise health management regardless of medical results.

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## **The Complete Integration: Impression → Aim → Virtue**

### **The Enhanced Process Flow:**

1. **Impression arises** → Contains either desires or potential aims

2. **Value content analysis** → Identify false external desires

3. **Control classification** → Separate aimable objects from uncontrollable outcomes  

4. **Emotional tracing** → Recognize desire-based vs. virtue-based feelings

5. **Aim identification** → Transform desires into appropriate aims

6. **Virtuous pursuit** → Act excellently toward aims without outcome attachment

7. **Virtue satisfaction** → Experience good feelings from excellent action (Th 17)

### **The Revolutionary Result:**

**Before Sterling's Integration**: "Don't desire externals" (negative guidance)

**After Sterling's Integration**: "Pursue appropriate aims" (positive guidance)

**Complete Framework**: Every impression becomes either:

- **Recognition of false desire** → Reject and redirect

- **Identification of appropriate aim** → Pursue virtuously

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## **Practical Daily Applications**

### **Morning Intention Setting:**

*"Today I will pursue appropriate aims (life, health, knowledge, justice, truth-telling) through virtuous action, without desires for specific outcomes."*

### **Impression Analysis Throughout Day:**

- **Desire impression detected** → "This is attachment to external outcome"

- **Aim impression identified** → "This is appropriate object for virtuous pursuit"

- **Action decision** → "How do I pursue this aim excellently?"

### **Evening Review:**

- "What desires did I catch and redirect today?"

- "What appropriate aims did I pursue?"

- "Did I experience virtue satisfaction from excellent action?"

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## **The Complete Stoic Life**

### **Sterling's Achievement:**

**Negative Discipline**: Eliminate false external desires (Epictetus)

**Positive Discipline**: Pursue appropriate aims through virtue (Sterling)

**Result**: Complete life framework with guaranteed happiness

### **The Operational Reality:**

Every moment you're either:

1. **Catching false desires** → Practicing wisdom through correct impression use

2. **Pursuing appropriate aims** → Practicing virtue through excellent action

3. **Experiencing virtue satisfaction** → Enjoying guaranteed positive feelings

### **The Ultimate Integration:**

**Epictetus' "correct use of impressions" + Sterling's "appropriate aims" = Complete functional Stoicism**

- **What to avoid**: Desire-based impressions and external value assignments

- **What to pursue**: Appropriate aims through rational acts of will  

- **How to proceed**: 5-step impression analysis leading to virtuous aim pursuit

- **What to expect**: Continuous satisfaction from virtue regardless of external outcomes

**This synthesis provides both the method (impression use) and the content (appropriate aims) for living a completely virtuous and continuously satisfying life.**