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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May 18, 2018 · 2 min
114. No matter what, do your duty as a human being
Marcus Aurelius reminds us that whether we are cold or warm, ill-spoken of or praised, and dead or "doing something else," we still have a duty to make this a better world.
May 17, 2018 · 3 min
113. Where are you going to hide from death?
Epictetus uses his dark sense of humor to remind us that death is inevitable. At the same time, though, fear of it is not. Moreover, awareness of death is what, in a sense, gives meaning to our life.
May 16, 2018 · 2 min
112. Are you on the right path, or do you need a correction?
Seneca says that the right path in life consists in a good conscience, honourable purposes, right actions, contempt of luck, and an attitude of equanimity toward whatever the universe throws our way.
May 15, 2018 · 2 min
111. Think and act the right way, happiness will flow
Marcus Aurelius maintains that if we think and act the right way our life will be an equable flow of happiness. This is because we will do our best, but look at outcomes with equanimity.
May 14, 2018 · 2 min
110. What is philosophy, anyway?
Epictetus says that philosophy begins with awareness of one's mental fitness. So let's work on that, shall we?
May 11, 2018 · 2 min
109. What about pleasure?
Seneca says the problem with pleasure is that if one is too much into it, it rushes us into the abyss of sorrow. So it's time to discuss what pleasure means for a practitioner of Stoicism.
May 10, 2018 · 1 min
108. If this were you last day, what would you be proud of?
Marcus writes near the end of his life about the sort of things he did that he values, from discounting honors and other externals to having been kind even toward people who were not kind to him.
May 9, 2018 · 2 min
107. Respond to insults as if you were a rock
Epictetus counsels us to react to insults as if we were a rock, that is, by ignoring them. An insult is only effective if you let it be, and that power resides exclusively in your own faculty of judgment.
May 8, 2018 · 2 min
106. Above all, learn how to feel joy
Rather unusual advise from Seneca to his friend Lucilius: learn how to feel joy. Which doesn't sound Stoic only if one buys into the incorrect stereotype of Stoicism as a practice to suppress emotions. Let's learn how to feel joy, then.
May 7, 2018 · 2 min
105. The duty of a social animal capable of reason
Marcus says that we have a duty to do what a social animal capable of reason ought to do. And that's to practice virtue for the betterment of humankind.
May 4, 2018 · 3 min
104. Epictetus and the open door policy: Stoicism and suicide
Tough topic for this episode: what is known as Epictetus' open door policy, that is, the Stoic idea that suicide is permissible, under certain circumstances. And indeed, that it is its possibility that gives us freedom and courage to fight on.
May 3, 2018 · 1 min
103. Take truth wherever you find it, it's public property
Seneca explains that one doesn't have to be an Epicurean in order to find value in the words of Epicurus. It's like in the Senate: you vote for the parts of a motion you approve of, and reject the rest.
May 2, 2018 · 2 min
102. How to calibrate your moral compass
Marcus Aurelius reminds us that justice is a crucial virtue in Stoicism, and we need to constantly keep it at the forefront. He also says that we need to evaluate our impressions of things, before acting. Don't just do it, stop and think about it first!
May 1, 2018 · 1 min
101. The universe is your trainer, get ready for the Olympics
Epictetus uses a nice metaphor in which the universe is our trainer, sending us tough stuff to deal with so that we get used to breaking a sweat and prepare for the Olympics of life.
Apr 30, 2018 · 1 min
100. Changing your life doesn't happen by magic
Musonius Rufus tells us that it isn't enough to know that we should be virtuous, we need to constantly practice virtue. Stoicism is not a magic wand, but it will change your life, and is well worth the effort.
Apr 27, 2018 · 2 min
99. Practice poverty as an exercise in endurance and gratitude
Seneca tells Lucilius that it is crucial, from time to time, to engage in exercises of self deprivation, so to prepare ourselves for whenever luck will turn, and also to be grateful and appreciative of what we normally have and may take for granted.
Apr 26, 2018 · 2 min
98. Praise or blame do not make a thing better or worse
On the day of Marcus Aurelius' birthday, April 26, let's reflect on a simple Stoic precept: good or bad lie in actions, thoughts, and words, not in the praise or blame that those things get from others.
Apr 25, 2018 · 3 min
97. Focus on what is up to you, the rest may or may not come
Epictetus clearly states one of the fundamental principles of Stoicism: the dichotomy of control. Once we realize that some things are up to us and other things aren't, it follows that we should focus on the first ones and cultivate equanimity toward the latter ones.
Apr 24, 2018 · 2 min
96. Are you practicing, or just talking?
Seneca says that talk is easy, but the real measure of whether we are making progress lies in our practice. Have our desires for the wrong things decreased? Are we focusing on what is truly important?
Apr 23, 2018 · 2 min
95. 15 minutes of fame? Why would you want that?
Marcus Aurelius reminds us that fame is ephemeral and intrinsically meaningless. What we do for others and to improve ourselves here and now is what really counts.