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Artwork for Stoic Meditations
Religion & Spirituality

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
  • Oct 8, 2020 · 2 min

    714. Rich, and yet a philosopher?

    Wealth ought to be despised, not that we should not possess it, but that we should not possess it with fear and trembling: we do not drive it away from us, but when it leaves us, we follow after it unconcernedly.

  • Oct 6, 2020 · 3 min

    712. When an Epicurean goes Stoic

    Diodorus has said what you do not like to hear, because you too ought to do it. “I’ve lived, I’ve run the race which Fortune set me.”

  • Oct 2, 2020 · 2 min

    710. I'm not a sage, but I get better every day

    I am not a wise man, so do not require me to be on a level with the best of men, but merely to be better than the worst: I am satisfied, if every day I take away something from my vices and correct my faults.

  • Oct 1, 2020 · 2 min

    709. Between Cynicism and Aristotelianism

    Why, then, do you talk so much more bravely than you live? Why do you pay regard to common rumor, and feel annoyed by calumnious gossip? Why do you drink wine that is older than yourself?

  • Sep 29, 2020 · 3 min

    707. The real problem with Epicureanism

    Seneca strikes a sympathetic note toward Epicureanism, suggesting that it is a misunderstood philosophy, just like, in some respects, modern Stoicism turns out to be.

  • Sep 28, 2020 · 2 min

    706. The balance between pleasure and virtue

    You devote yourself to pleasures, I check them; you indulge in pleasure, I use it; you think that it is the highest good, I do not even think it to be good: for the sake of pleasure I do nothing, you do everything.

  • Sep 25, 2020 · 2 min

    705. Why are you asking for more?

    Does this not appear great enough, when I tell you that the highest good is an unyielding strength of mind, wisdom, magnanimity, sound judgment, freedom, harmony, beauty? Do you still ask me for something greater?

  • Sep 24, 2020 · 2 min

    704. Virtue is its own reward

    If exercising virtue is pleasurable, aren't the Stoics a kind of Epicureans in disguise? Not at all, because the pleasure of virtue is a byproduct, not the main goal.

  • Sep 23, 2020 · 2 min

    703. Harmonize your mind

    A mind in harmony with itself is a virtuous one, because it is the vices that are at war with each other.

  • Sep 21, 2020 · 2 min

    701. The difference between pleasure and virtue

    If pleasure and virtue were entirely inseparable, we should not see some things to be pleasant, but not honorable, and others most honorable indeed, but hard and only to be attained by suffering.

  • Sep 16, 2020 · 2 min

    698. Do away with hope and fear

    A person may be called “happy” who, thanks to reason, has ceased either to hope or to fear: but rocks also feel neither fear nor sadness, yet no one would call those things happy which cannot comprehend what happiness is.

  • Sep 15, 2020 · 2 min

    697. Fortune vs virtue

    The highest good is a mind which despises the accidents of fortune, and takes pleasure in virtue.

  • Sep 14, 2020 · 2 min

    696. Pursue the pleasures of life, in moderation

    A happy life must also set due value upon all the things which adorn our lives, without over-estimating any one of them, and must be able to enjoy the bounty of Fortune without becoming her slave.