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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Apr 20, 2018 · 1 min
94. We all agree to do good, but disagree on what good is
Epictetus notes that people want to be good, regardless of their ethnicity, citizenship, or religion. But then they get lost in arguments over whether it is acceptable or not to eat pork.
Apr 19, 2018 · 2 min
93. No cell phones at dinner, just friends
Seneca tells Lucilius that one can learn a thing or two even from Epicurus, particularly that it is the company we keep that is the most important part of our meals.
Apr 18, 2018 · 1 min
92. Death is coming, what are you doing in the meantime?
Marcus Aurelius reminds himself that his life is finite and brief. How to live it, then? As a good person would, which is in his power to do.
Apr 17, 2018 · 2 min
91. Whose praise are you so desperately seeking?
Epictetus tells his students that they are fools if they think that being praised is important, particularly by people who they themselves do not think highly of!
Apr 16, 2018 · 2 min
90. Anger is temporary madness
Seneca tells us that anger is a form of temporary madness, not to be indulged by the person who cultivates reason.
Apr 13, 2018 · 1 min
89. Do you have reason? Why don't you use it, then?
Marcus Aurelius asks himself the rethorical question of whether he has reason, and then the less obvious one of why he is not making good use of it. What about you?
Apr 12, 2018 · 1 min
88. Is your mind in the dark, or are you just blind?
Epictetus explains why being blind is far less of a problem than having your mind in the dark.
Apr 11, 2018 · 2 min
87. Practice poverty to remind you of the important things
Seneca explains the Stoic practice of eating poor and scant food, and going outside dressed with old clothes, in order to remind ourselves that we can cope with difficult situations, and to appreciate anew what we have.
Apr 10, 2018 · 1 min
86. Change your mind, if others have better reasons
Marcus Aurelius reminds himself to use his faculty of judgment at its best, which includes changing his mind, should others have better reasons than his own.
Apr 9, 2018 · 1 min
85. A crown of roses looks better than one of gold
Epictetus mocks a student who is bent on pursuing power and wealth. Those things are neither good nor bad for the Stoics, it's a matter of how we use them.
Apr 6, 2018 · 1 min
84. How to handle the holidays, Stoically speaking
Seneca tells Lucilius about two levels of engagement with drunken crodws during the holidays. Good to remember for your next Thanksgiving, Christmans, or whatever you celebrate.
Apr 5, 2018 · 2 min
83. Harm comes from opinion, take away the opinion, then
Marcus Aurelius says that there is a difference between objective facts and our opinions of them. And much of our misery comes from the opinions, not the facts.
Apr 4, 2018 · 2 min
82. Practical philosophy is called practical for a reason
Musonius Rufus tells us that theory is important, and needs to precede practice. But it is the latter that makes the whole thing worth it.
Apr 3, 2018 · 2 min
81. People do bad things because they are fools
Epictetus reminds us of the Stoic doctrine that people don't do bad things on purpose, but rather because they are mistaken about the nature of good and evil.
Apr 2, 2018 · 2 min
80. Fate, God, or Chance, it doesn't really matter
Seneca says that whether the universe is controlled by universal laws, by a god, or by chance, we still have to do the right thing. And philosophy is our guide for that.
Mar 30, 2018 · 2 min
79. What are you going to do today to improve the human polis?
Marcus Aurelius articulates a series of if...then statements that argue that we are all members of a community of reasoners, and that reason dictates that we be helpful to such community.
Mar 29, 2018 · 2 min
78. Got a headache? Excellent opportunity to practice endurance!
Epictetus advises us to start practicing with small things. The next time you are sick, try not to curse or complain. You'll discover in you the power of endurance, and you'll be far less annoying to other people...
Mar 28, 2018 · 2 min
77. Practical philosophy is not an oxymoron
Seneca tells Lucilius that philosophy is not just a way to amuse the mind, but an exercise to guide our actions and mould our souls.
Mar 27, 2018 · 2 min
76. The universe is transformation, life is opinion
Marcus Aurelius here sounds like a Sophist, or a post-modern relativist. But he is a Stoic, so his message is a little more subtle than that.
Mar 26, 2018 · 2 min
75. Ultimately, it is always your decision
Even when threatened with your life, says Epictetus, you are the one in charge, you make the decision to yield or not to yield.