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).

Subscribe Listen in podnod RSS feed Show website

1,094 episodes
Updated Aug 23, 2022

Episodes1094

Newest first

Jun 18, 2020 · 2 min
634. Are you alone or lonely?
Epictetus reminds us to draw a distinction between our objective situation and the way we feel about it.
Jun 17, 2020 · 2 min
633. Ask your impressions for the right password
We should always examine our impressions and ask whether they pass the test: are they in according with reason?
Jun 16, 2020 · 2 min
632. How to deal with a difficult relative
'My brother ought not to have behaved so to me.' No, but it is his business to look to that; however he may behave, I will deal with him as I ought.
Jun 15, 2020 · 2 min
631. What is always within your power
If now is the time for fever, take your fever in the right way; if for thirst, thirst in the right way, if for hunger, hunger aright. Is it not in your power? Who will hinder you?
Jun 12, 2020 · 2 min
630. Philosophical journaling
Epictetus explains one of the most powerful techniques in the Stoic toolkit for a better and more meaningful life.
Jun 11, 2020 · 2 min
629. The problem with wealth is that it doesn't guarantee you a sound mind
You have vessels of gold, but your reason--judgements, assent, impulse, will--is of common clay.
Jun 10, 2020 · 2 min
628. That is tyranny, not government
Epictetus argues that rational creatures will always oppose tyrannical governments.
Jun 9, 2020 · 2 min
627. Argue less, practice more
Epictetus draws a distinction between philosophy pursued for its own sake and philosophy as the art of life.
Jun 8, 2020 · 2 min
626. What do you like to tend to?
Socrates liked to daily monitor his moral self-improvement. How can we do the same?
Jun 5, 2020 · 2 min
625. Contemplating your final activity
Epictetus asks us to think about what we'd like to be doing when death will overtake us. It's an interesting exercise in self-knowledge.
Jun 4, 2020 · 2 min
624. Facts don't come with judgments attached to them
What, after all, are sighing and crying, except opinions? What is ‘misfortune’? An opinion. And sectarian strife, dissension, blame and accusation, ranting and raving – they all are mere opinion.
Jun 3, 2020 · 2 min
623. The raw material of the good person
Epictetus reminds us that to become a better person we need to apply our reasoning faculty to arrive at better judgments.
Jun 2, 2020 · 2 min
622. We need to be human beings, not statues
Epictetus puts to rest the notion that Stoics are supposed to suppress their emotions.
Jun 1, 2020 · 2 min
621. The three disciplines of Epictetus
There are three areas of training in Stoic ethics: to desire the proper things, to act properly in the world, and to arrive at the best possible judgments.
May 29, 2020 · 2 min
620. Socrates and Alcibiades
Epictetus stresses the difference between physical and inner beauty.
May 28, 2020 · 2 min
619. Give yourself a break (from externals)
Seneca notices that people fear old age in part because they fear irrelevance. But no one is irrelevant so long as they keep striving to be better human beings.
May 27, 2020 · 2 min
618. Free yourself from the fickleness of others
People who seek external goods become the slaves of those who happen to have the power to grant such goods.
May 26, 2020 · 2 min
617. Pay attention to the ledger of your life
What sort of things are truly important in your life, and why? Should you be reconsidering your current priorities?
May 25, 2020 · 2 min
616. How to avoid a wretched life
People with misguided priorities live a wretched life, so let's get our priorities straight and aim for a serene existence instead.
May 22, 2020 · 3 min
615. On the futility of war
Seneca writes a poignant passage reminding us of the futile waste of human life that war is.