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

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Mar 25, 2020 · 3 min
574. Live according to nature
Cicero provides three interpretations of the famous Stoic motto, live according to nature.
Mar 24, 2020 · 3 min
573. The virtues of sound reasoning and scientific understanding
The Stoics adopted four ethical virtues, but also two epistemic ones: good reasoning and scientific understanding.
Mar 23, 2020 · 2 min
572. On friendship
Friendship is intrinsically choice-worthy, going beyond just instrumental value.
Mar 20, 2020 · 3 min
571. Our social duties
Cicero explains how the wise person is supposed to be involved in society, politics, and family.
Mar 19, 2020 · 2 min
570. On private property
The Stoic take on private property is that it isn't really property: it's on temporary loan from the universe.
Mar 17, 2020 · 2 min
569. Sociability, not pleasure
Cicero proposes a simple argument for why sociability, not pleasure, is the ultimate human desire.
Mar 16, 2020 · 3 min
568. Expanding our circle of concerns
We learn the rudiments of ethics within our family. But we cannot stop there.
Mar 13, 2020 · 3 min
567. On suicide
Cicero explains what criterion the Stoic uses to decide whether to walk through the open door.
Mar 12, 2020 · 2 min
566. On fame: Chrysippus agrees with Diogenes
Despite the fact that Stoics and Cynics treated externals differently, apparently both Chrysippus and Diogenes thought fame not worth stretching a finger for.
Mar 11, 2020 · 3 min
565. Why some indifferents are preferred
Cicero tells us that some indifferents are preferred for their own sake, some for the results they bring, some for both reasons.
Mar 10, 2020 · 3 min
564. Stoicism, Cynicism, and Aristotelianism
Stoicism occupies a logical space between the kin philosophies of Cynicism and Aristotelianism.
Mar 9, 2020 · 2 min
563. The drowning man metaphor
Virtue is all or nothing, and yet we can make progress toward it. How does this Stoic paradox work?
Mar 6, 2020 · 3 min
562. More on Aristotelians vs Stoics
Cicero explains how Aristotelians and Stoics treat externals, such as health, wealth, and so on.
Mar 5, 2020 · 2 min
561. On pain and mind
Cicero reminds us that how we experience pain -- both physical and emotional -- in part depends on how we mentally approach the experience.
Mar 4, 2020 · 3 min
560. Aristotelianism vs Stoicism
Aristotelianism and Stoicism differ in their conceptions of eudaimonia, the kind of life we should pursue. In a sense, they are both right.
Mar 3, 2020 · 3 min
559. Intentions vs consequences
Unlike much modern thinking in moral philosophy, Stoicism is about intentions. Which doesn't mean Stoics don't care about consequences.
Mar 2, 2020 · 2 min
558. Living according to nature
Cicero reminds us of the quintessential Stoic motto: we should live in accordance with nature. It's a crucial concept, spanning the arc of ancient Stoicism, from Zeno of Citium to Marcus Aurelius.
Feb 28, 2020 · 3 min
557. Why a good life is a moral life
Cicero articulates a Stoic syllogism aiming at demonstrating that the good life is a moral life. We look at whether the syllogism is valid and sound.
Feb 27, 2020 · 2 min
556. The chief good is the moral good
The wise person is happy because she is in complete control of the chief good in life: the moral good. Everything else is a preferred or dispreferred (moral) indifferent.
Feb 25, 2020 · 3 min
555. The metaphor of the archer
Cicero explains the notions of preferred indifferents and of the dichotomy of control by means of one of the most famous metaphors in Stoic literature: a discussion what is and is not up to an archer attempting to hit a target.