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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
  • Feb 25, 2020 · 2 min

    554. The mixed roots of virtue

    According to Stoic moral developmental psychology we begin life as self centered organisms, whose prosocial behavior develops initially by instinct, and then proceeds further with the aid of reason.

  • Feb 24, 2020 · 2 min

    553. Things that have value outside of virtue

    Things like health and wealth are choiceworthy. But what gives them value is, specifically, that they are the raw materials through which we exercise our chief good: virtue.

  • Feb 20, 2020 · 3 min

    552. Our natural delight in the use of reason

    Cicero explains that human beings are naturally drawn to the use of reason, beginning when they are children. He also talks about the Stoic concept of katalepsis, the kind of impression so strong that it is undeniable.

  • Feb 19, 2020 · 3 min

    551. The root of virtue: self love

    Cicero has Cato the Younger explain a fundamental concept of Stoic developmental psychology: how virtue is rooted in innate self love, and how we do things that are good for us regardless of pleasure and pain.

  • Feb 18, 2020 · 2 min

    550. The crucial importance of technical words

    Cicero explains why philosophy needs a technical vocabulary, and we look at the sort of issues this may cause when talking to people who are unfamiliar with such vocabulary.

  • Feb 17, 2020 · 3 min

    549. Virtue vs pleasure

    At the onset of book III of Cicero's De Finibus, Cato the Younger explain the difference between the Epicurean and Stoic positions on the respective values of pleasure and virtue.

  • Feb 14, 2020 · 2 min

    548. Teach or endure

    People exist for the sake of one another. Teach them then or bear with them.

  • Feb 13, 2020 · 2 min

    547. Two scenarios for the after-death

    Marcus Aurelius contemplates two possible scenarios for what happens after we die. Neither one of which justifies our fears on the matter. Better to focus instead on the fact that we are alive, here and now.

  • Feb 12, 2020 · 2 min

    546. What is properly ours and what is not

    Marcus Aurelius reminds us that just as we do not control other people's bodies, so we do not control their opinions and judgments. We should, therefore, be concerned chiefly with improving our own.

  • Feb 11, 2020 · 2 min

    545. Of bitter cucumbers and thorny briars

    “A cucumber is bitter.” Throw it away. “There are briars in the road.” Turn aside from them. This is enough. Do not add, “And why were such things made in the world?”

  • Feb 10, 2020 · 2 min

    544. The inner citadel

    The mind that is free from passions is a citadel, for we have nothing more secure to which we can fly for refuge and repel every attack.

  • Feb 7, 2020 · 2 min

    543. The courage to stay

    Marcus Aurelius reminds himself that if life is unbearable, one has the option to leave. But we have a duty, toward ourselves and others, to stay, if at all possible.

  • Feb 6, 2020 · 2 min

    542. Value judgments are not inherent in things

    If you are pained by any external thing, it is not this thing that disturbs you, but your own judgment about it. And it is in your power to wipe out this judgment now.

  • Feb 5, 2020 · 2 min

    541. Achieving ataraxia

    Take me and cast me where you will; for there I shall keep my divine part tranquil, that is, content, if it can feel and act conformably to its proper constitution.

  • Feb 4, 2020 · 2 min

    540. On fame, posthumous or not

    Those who rather pursue posthumous fame do not consider that the people of tomorrow will be exactly like these whom they cannot bear now; and both are mortal.

  • Feb 3, 2020 · 2 min

    539. Three things to care about

    It is my delight to keep the ruling faculty sound without turning away from any of the things that happen to people, but looking at and receiving all with welcoming eyes and using everything according to its value.

  • Jan 30, 2020 · 2 min

    537. How not to get overwhelmed by problems

    Do not let your thoughts at once embrace all the various troubles that you may expect to befall you: but on every occasion ask yourself, What is there in this that is intolerable and past bearing?