Occasional reflections on the wisdom of Ancient Greek and Roman philosophers. More at https://massimopigliucci.com. Please consider supporting Stoic Meditations. (cover art by Marek Škrabák; original music by Ian Jolin-Rasmussen, www.jolinras.info). Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/stoicmeditations/support
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Gesamtlänge aller Episoden: 1 day 9 hours 38 minutes
Do something for posterity
What is the sage’s purpose in devoting themselves to leisure? They know that in leisure as well as in action they will accomplish something by which they will be of service to posterity.
--- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/stoicmeditations/supportAchieve balance in life
It is by no means desirable that one should merely strive to accumulate property without any love of virtue. Similarly, virtue placed in leisure without action is but an incomplete and feeble good thing, because she never displays what she has learned.
--- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/stoicmeditations/supportPut to practice your inquiring disposition
We have a habit of saying that the highest good is to live according to nature: now nature has produced us for both purposes, for contemplation and for action. … Nature has [also] bestowed upon us an inquiring disposition.
--- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/stoicmeditations/support759. How to better serve the human cosmopolis
We are born by accident into a specific nation, but we naturally belong to the human cosmopolis. Reflecting on the nature of virtue and practicing it every day is one way to serve both our fellow citizens and humanity at large.
--- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/stoicmeditations/supportJust do your part
The duty of a human being is to be useful to his fellow human beings; if possible, to many of them; failing this, to a few; failing this, to oneself: for when we help others, we advance the general interests of humanity.
--- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/stoicmeditations/supportThe axiom of futility
If the state is so rotten as to be past helping, if evil has entire dominion over it, the wise man will not labour in vain or waste his strength in unprofitable efforts.
--- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/stoicmeditations/supportShould we get involved in politics?
Epicurus says, “The wise man will not take part in politics, except upon some special occasion.” Zeno says, “The wise man will take part in politics, unless prevented by some special circumstance.”
--- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/stoicmeditations/supportStoicism is not written in stone
Would that all things were already known, that truth were unveiled and recognized, and that none of our doctrines required modification! but as it is we have to seek for truth in the company of the very men who teach it.
--- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/stoicmeditations/supportThere are different ways to be useful to the human cosmopolis
Our Stoic philosophers say we must be in motion up to the very end of our life, we will never cease to labour for the general good, to help individual people, and when stricken in years to afford assistance even to our enemies.
--- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/stoicmeditations/supportSet your own priorities, don't slavishly follow other people's
We oscillate between desire and remorse, for we depend entirely upon the opinions of others, and it is that which many people praise and seek after, not that which deserves to be praised and sought after, which we consider to be best.
--- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/stoicmeditations/support