Stoic Meditations

Massimo Pigliucci

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).

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1,094 episodes
Updated Aug 23, 2022

Episodes1094

Newest first

Jan 21, 2021 · 2 min
774. Developing a better understanding of things
Either you’re going to be depressed when your wish is not realized or foolishly pleased with yourself if it is, overjoyed for the wrong reasons.
Jan 20, 2021 · 2 min
773. Our obsession with control
The more we value things outside our control, the less control we have.
Jan 19, 2021 · 2 min
772. Just pay attention
Very little is needed for everything to be upset and ruined, only a slight lapse in reason. It’s much easier for a mariner to wreck his ship than it is for him to keep it sailing safely.
Jan 11, 2021 · 3 min
771. What did you lose, and what did you gain?
If you forfeit an external possession, make sure to notice what you get in return. If it is something more valuable, never say, ‘I have suffered a loss.’
Jan 8, 2021 · 2 min
770. Changing friends
Formerly, when you were devoted to worthless pursuits, your friends found you congenial company. But you can’t be a hit in both roles. To the extent you cultivate one you will fall short in the other.
Jan 7, 2021 · 2 min
769. The problem with hyper-consumerism
Freedom is not achieved by satisfying desire, but by eliminating it.
Jan 6, 2021 · 2 min
768. Natural goodness
A plant or animal fares poorly when it acts contrary to its nature; and a human being is no different. Well, then, biting, kicking, wanton imprisonment and beheading–is that what our nature entails? No; rather, acts of kindness, cooperation and good will.
Jan 5, 2021 · 2 min
767. What truly belongs to you
Whoever told you, ‘Walking is your irrevocable privilege’? I said only that the will to walk could not be obstructed.
Jan 4, 2021 · 2 min
766. Learning the art of living
What makes for freedom and fluency in the practice of writing? Knowledge of how to write. The same goes for the practice of playing an instrument. It follows that, in the conduct of life, there must be a science to living well.
Jan 1, 2021 · 2 min
765. The true nature of freedom
So you admit that you have at least one master. And don’t let the fact that Caesar rules over everyone, as you say, console you: it only means that you’re a slave in a very large household.
Dec 31, 2020 · 2 min
764. Not bad person lives a happy life
Who wants to live with delusion and prejudice, being unjust, undisciplined, mean and ungrateful? ‘No one.’ No bad person, then, lives the way he wants, and no bad person is free.
Dec 30, 2020 · 2 min
763. The purpose of philosophizing
Everyone is fond of contemplation. Some make it the object of their lives: to us it is an anchorage, but not a harbor.
Dec 29, 2020 · 2 min
762. The three types of philosophy of life
There are three kinds of life, and it is a stock question which of the three is the best: the first is devoted to pleasure, the second to contemplation, the third to action.
Dec 28, 2020 · 2 min
761. 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.
Dec 24, 2020 · 2 min
760. Achieve 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.
Dec 23, 2020 · 2 min
759. Put 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.
Dec 22, 2020 · 2 min
758. 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.
Dec 21, 2020 · 2 min
757. Just 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.
Dec 18, 2020 · 2 min
756. The 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.
Dec 17, 2020 · 2 min
755. Should 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.”