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
Gesamtlänge aller Episoden: 1 day 23 hours 40 minutes
episode 281: 281. The asymmetry of being dead
Seneca points out that people regret not being alive a thousand years from now, and yet are not bothered by the thought of not having been alive for the past thousand years.
--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/stoicmeditations/supportepisode 282: 282. Life's a play, act well
Seneca uses a metaphor that later became famous with Shakespeare: life is like a play, so what counts is not its length, but how well we act our parts.
--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/stoicmeditations/supportepisode 283: 283. On the importance of friendship
The Stoics, the Epicureans, and Aristotle all agreed on one thing: friends are important. In this episode we talk about why, and how the Stoics differ from the other two schools on this topic.
--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/stoicmeditations/supportepisode 284: 284. 40 years or 10,000, makes little difference
Marcus says that once we have observed human affairs for 40 years, it's the same as having observed them for 10,000 years. Surely he is wrong? Not necessarily...
--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/stoicmeditations/supportepisode 285: 285. Everything depends on opinion
Seneca tells us that our happiness, or lack thereof, is a matter of our own opinion. No, he's not making a relativist or post-modernist argument on the nature of knowledge.
--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/stoicmeditations/supportepisode 286: 286. Turn regrets into learning opportunities
Seneca reminds us that to indulge in regret is irrational, as the past is outside of our control. That doesn't mean we can't learn from it, though.
--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/stoicmeditations/supportepisode 287: 287. What's a good reason to endure hardship?
Seneca reminds us that athletes willingly subject themselves to harsh regimes in order to succeed. But when it comes to becoming a better person most of us think it's just too difficult.
--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/stoicmeditations/supportepisode 288: 288. Your "happiness" is up to you, really
Epictetus reminds us that the only things that are truly good or bad for us are our judgments, which are under our control. It follows that "happiness," in the sense of a life worth living, is also under our control.
--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/stoicmeditations/supportepisode 289: 289. Pay attention to the good parts of your life
A contemporary theory of consciousness, proposed by philosopher Jesse Prinz, recalls Seneca's treatment of the emotions, and teaches us how to avert painful thoughts by focusing on the good things that happen to us.
--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/stoicmeditations/supportepisode 290: 290. Are you sick? You can be brave about it
Seneca reminds us that courage is not just for the battlefield, but for the everyday difficulties of life, like being sick.
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