What is Andreia?
ανδρεια is required to counter faint-heartedness, laziness, and over-attachment to pleasure. It involves an attitude of ‘taking the fight to the enemy’, where the enemy is ones own foolishness, vice and ignorance. Misused ανδρεια manifests itself as anger, aggression and military vain-glory. Properly used it involves self-directed, constructive anger.
ανδρεια also manifests itself as a willingness for, even a love of, toil and effort. It is one of the four cardinal virtues, along with prudence (phronesis), temperance (sophrosyne), and justice (dikaiosyne). Aristotle noted that, as with other virtues, ανδρεια is an optimal level (a “mean”) between the extremes of too little courage (cowardliness) and too much courage (rashness).
This description comes from John Uebersax. He is a Ph.D. who studying Greek Philosophy in Psychology.
The Andreia Philosophy Creed
An Andreian lives FTA.
Fulfillment Through Accomplishment is the way, but “accomplishment” is up to your definition.
All writing relates to this concept.
Ancient Honor for Modern Conquerors.
The Andreia Philosophy Pillars
Musashi was a Samurai-turned-Ronin wanderer who traveled the land to master the sword. He sought schools & masters to train under and worthy opponents to defeat. He killed 61 men in one-on-one combat. He killed his first man when he was fifteen years old. He killed one opponent in a duel with a wooden oar.
Musashi dedicated his life to the sword. He lived fulfilled. We know this from his work in The Book of Five Rings; a code every Andreian must read. What many don’t know is Musashi dedicated his life to pursuits beyond the sword, like calligraphy. He believed, “The way is the same in all things.”
The Andreian Philosophy contains three pillars: Mind, Body, and Spirit. Three purposes. Three paths that develop together.
Mastery Examples
Teaching
Finance
Family Business
Engineering
Selling
Cooking
Finance
Educating
Surfing
Dancing
Basketball
Lifting
Walking
MMA
BJJ
Snowboarding
Tennis
Surfing
Dancing
Meditation
Christianity
Prayer
Charity
Buddhism
Nature
Children
Surfing
You walk far with three masteries. If your body falls apart, you still have your mind and Spirit; you have flexibility. You will begin to notice patterns in each discipline.
“If you know the way broadly you will see it in all things.”
The Andreian Handbook
The Andreian Handbook is a guide to help fulfill FTA.
It isn’t finished yet, but you can sign up for the mailing list for updates. The code will be free and for everyone. It will come in different formats and will be designed to be a lightweight reference.
The goal of the work presented is to live the FTA Creed while sharing this message with whomever may find it useful.