Stoic Meditations

Occasional reflections on the wisdom of Ancient Greek and Roman philosophers with Prof. Massimo Pigliucci. Complete index by author and source at https://massimopigliucci.org/stoic-podcast/. (cover art by Marek Škrabák; original music by Ian Jolin-Rasmussen). Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/stoicmeditations/support

https://massimopigliucci.wordpress.com

Eine durchschnittliche Folge dieses Podcasts dauert 2m. Bisher sind 1095 Folge(n) erschienen. Dieser Podcast erscheint täglich.

Gesamtlänge aller Episoden: 1 day 23 hours 40 minutes

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episode 246: 245. Sagehood is rare, but progress is up to us


Seneca tells Lucilius that he himself is far from being a wise person, which is as rare as the mythical phoenix. Nevertheless, we can all be "proficientes," those who make progress. Which is the whole point of Stoic training. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/stoicmeditations/support


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 November 23, 2018  2m
 
 

episode 245: 244. Stoicism is not a "manly" philosophy


We hear a lot of nonsense about Stoicism being tough and therefore only for men. But Seneca clearly explains that virtue doesn't make us invulnerable to pain and suffering, and that women are just as capable as men to become virtuous. Go figure. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/stoicmeditations/support


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 November 21, 2018  1m
 
 

episode 244: 243. Dining with a tyrant, are you?


Seneca gives us another Stoic "paradox": it may be better to be tortured than to sit at the dinner table. Well, not normally, but surely if you are being tortured to protect innocent lives, or sit at dinner with a tyrant. It all depends on context. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/stoicmeditations/support


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 November 20, 2018  2m
 
 

episode 243: 242. No need to be anxious even in front of a king


Epictetus explains why king Antigonus was anxious to meet Zeno, the founder of Stoicism, and not vice versa. The king had not yet internalized the fundamental principle of the dichotomy of control: making a good impression on others is not up to us. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/stoicmeditations/support


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 November 19, 2018  2m
 
 

episode 242: 241. Take the view from above


A quote from Seneca leads us into a discussion of the difference between Stoicism and modern philosophies of despair. For the Stoic, knowledge of the vastness of time and space is no excuse for nihilism, but simply a way to put things in perspective and get back to the task of living well. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/stoicmeditations/support


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 November 16, 2018  2m
 
 

episode 241: 240. Not just endurance, but tranquillity of mind


Seneca tells Lucilius how Cato, after losing an election, went out to play; and how, before taking his own life, he retired to his room to read a book. Stoicism isn't just about enduring things, it's about achieving serenity in the face of ill fortune. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/stoicmeditations/support


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 November 15, 2018  2m
 
 

episode 240: 239. Philosophy is serious business


Seneca invites his friend Lucilius to consider that philosophy is too serious a business to be left only to professional philosophers, especially those who engage in clever wordplay and logic chopping just to show how smart they are. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/stoicmeditations/support


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 November 14, 2018  2m
 
 

episode 239: 238. Decide on the big picture, the details come later


Seneca makes an argument for why we should adopt a philosophy of life (be it Stoicism or something else). It provides us a framework to make decisions and prioritize things. The rest is details. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/stoicmeditations/support


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 November 13, 2018  1m
 
 

episode 238: 237. Seneca on suicide


Seneca elaborates on how the Stoics see suicide: nature gave us one entrance into life, but many exits. And it is the existence of these exits that guarantees our freedom. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/stoicmeditations/support


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 November 12, 2018  2m
 
 

episode 237: 236. The Stoic argument for the right to suicide


Seneca continues his discussion of suicide with his friend Lucilius, arguing that maintaining agency and exercising our judgments are fundamental ingredients of a good life. It follows that we should be in charge of when and how to quit. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/stoicmeditations/support


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 November 9, 2018  2m