The CLOWN is an ambiguous figure. S/he goes two ways. The ELDER clown, wearing the famed double mask of theatre, is a seasoned expert at perfecting dual comic-tragic presentation -- being old enough to have seen all sides of life. A clown (also known as the "wise fool" or "holy fool") is a philosopher. Elder ones are often of the Stoic school.
Do schools of philosophy match phases of the life span (and maybe also the eras of human civilization)? Infants are still at one with nature, and humanity's earliest mind-body lore is pagan. Beyond early childhood, which schools match which phases of life?
Adolescence: Nihilism (Morality has no factual basis.)
Early adulthood: Existentialism (Life has no inherent purpose, it's up to the individual to create meaning. Wear weird clothes.)
Early middle age: Hedonism (Pleasure is tops. Seize - and share - the most you can get while you can get it.)
Later middle age: Empiricism (with a topping of Rationalism. Face facts, be logical. Top up your pension, slim down your diet.)
Senior years: Stoicism (Acceptance, inner balance, calmly knowing what you can and can't control, and seeing the humour in it all even in the face of death).
At the Philosophy Cafe the elder-philosophers consider themselves the Last Stoics Standing -- while also falling down laughing.
Visit the Cafe at Just Jests:
https://justjests.blogspot.com/2022/12/chapter-one-epictetus-was-street-corner.html
