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

May 21, 2020 · 2 min
614. Past, present, and future
Seneca reminds us what is the proper Stoic attitude toward past, present, and future.
May 20, 2020 · 2 min
613. The immortality of philosophy
Honors, statues, and wealth, don't last much after one's death. Philosophy is forever.
May 19, 2020 · 2 min
612. Try some true friends instead
The philosophers of the past are your true friends: they give wisdom without asking for money, or imperiling your life.
May 18, 2020 · 2 min
611. Have a conversation with Socrates or Epicurus
Seneca reminds us of the span of philosophical inquiry, and of how delightful it is to engage with the greatest minds from across time and cultures.
May 15, 2020 · 3 min
610. Spend time in good company
Read the great minds of humanity, those that have insights on how to live a meaningful life.
May 14, 2020 · 2 min
609. On the treatment of humans and animals
Seneca criticizes the slaughter of people and animals for the sake of entertainment. Today, the suffering continues, in slaughterhouses.
May 13, 2020 · 2 min
608. How to properly go to the barber
Thought experiment: if you knew you were to die soon, what sort of things would you prioritize, and what let go of entirely?
May 12, 2020 · 2 min
607. The three periods of life
The mind that is untroubled and tranquil has the power to roam into all the parts of its life.
May 11, 2020 · 2 min
606. How to get to old age
Old age surprises people while their minds are still childish, and they come to it unprepared and unarmed, for they have made no provision for it.
May 8, 2020 · 2 min
605. Live in the here and now
The greatest hindrance to living is expectancy, which depends upon the morrow and wastes to-day.
May 7, 2020 · 2 min
604. Postponement is the greatest waste of life
Life will follow the path it started upon, and will neither reverse nor check its course; it will make no noise, it will not remind you of its swiftness.
May 6, 2020 · 2 min
603. Are you on a voyage, or just tossed about by the currents of life?
There is no reason for you to think that any man has lived long because he has grey hairs or wrinkles; he has not lived long — he has existed long.
May 5, 2020 · 2 min
602. Learning how to live, and how to die
It takes the whole of life to learn how to live, and — what will perhaps make you wonder more — it takes the whole of life to learn how to die.
May 1, 2020 · 2 min
601. Set aside time to better yourself
Are you not ashamed to set apart for wisdom only that time which cannot be devoted to any business?
Apr 30, 2020 · 2 min
600. Time to change your plans, right now
Examine how you spend your time, decide how to improve, and don't wait until tomorrow to chance.
Apr 29, 2020 · 2 min
599. Time vs money
We are very careful with the management of our money, but far less so with that of our most precious commodity: time.
Apr 28, 2020 · 2 min
598. Much of your life is not up to you
The part of life we really live is small. For all the rest of existence is not life, but merely time.
Apr 27, 2020 · 2 min
597. Life is long enough
It is not that we have a short space of time, but that we waste much of it.
Apr 24, 2020 · 2 min
596. On the shortness of life
Is life too short? Depends on what you do with it.
Apr 23, 2020 · 2 min
595. We ought to take care of everyone
To do philosophy means to reason and act correctly toward others.