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

Mar 23, 2018 · 2 min
74. Take care of the body, but don't treat it as a temple
Seneca says that it is incumbent on us to take care of our body, but that we should even be willing to destroy it, if virtue demands it.
Mar 22, 2018 · 2 min
73. Fame is fickle, and irrelevant
Marcus reminds us that the number of Facebook likes we get is irrelevant to our happiness.
Mar 21, 2018 · 1 min
72. Study logic, reason well about life
Epictetus reminds his students that without logic there is no serious talking about how to live the life worth living.
Mar 20, 2018 · 2 min
71. Be afraid of the right things
Seneca says that we often spend an inordinate amount of time worrying about the wrong sorts of things.
Mar 19, 2018 · 2 min
70. How the Stoics saw women's education
Musonius Rufus says in no uncertain terms that men and women are capable, and indeed deserve, the same education, including in philosophy.
Mar 16, 2018 · 2 min
69. Nobody does wrong voluntarily
Marcus Aurelius reminds us of one of the most difficult, and yet most profound, doctrines of Stoicism: nobody commits wrongs on purpose, but only because they lack understanding of good and evil.
Mar 15, 2018 · 2 min
68. Reason is the name of the game
Epictetus argues that the only way to criticize reason is by way of applying reason. There are no alternative facts for the Stoics.
Mar 14, 2018 · 1 min
67. The truth belongs to everyone
Seneca explains to his friend Lucilius why on earth he approvingly quotes one of the Stoics' main rivals, Epicurus.
Mar 13, 2018 · 1 min
66. The inner citadel of peace
Marcus Aurelius reminds himself that he can always retreat into what Pierre Hadot famously referred to as the Inner Citadel, our own mind, where we can pay attention to and refine our faculty of judgment.
Mar 12, 2018 · 2 min
65. It takes time for a fig to ripe, or a character to mature
Epictetus cautions us to be patient while working on improving our character. Nothing important comes into being overnight.
Mar 9, 2018 · 2 min
64. The advantages of old age
Seneca tells Lucilius to pay attention to the joys of old age, and to be grateful for every day we live.
Mar 8, 2018 · 2 min
63. Fame is fleeting, focus on the here and now
Marcus Aurelius engages in a view from above meditation, reminding himself that the quest for fame is just plain irrational.
Mar 7, 2018 · 2 min
62. Make sure you work on your faculty of judgment
Epictetus reminds us that when we face an impression about an external thing we should consider carefully whether to assent to it, withhold assent, or remain neutral.
Mar 6, 2018 · 2 min
61. Pick a role model
Seneca advises Lucilius to choose a good role model to improve his character, for we cannot straighten what is crooked unless we use a ruler.
Mar 5, 2018 · 2 min
60. Philosophy as medicine for the mind
Musonius Rufus says that philosophy is like medicine: if it does not make you a healthier person, it is not useful.
Mar 2, 2018 · 1 min
59. With great power comes great responsibility
Epictetus reminds people with power that they should remember whom they have power over: fellow human beings, made of the same stuff, wanting the same things.
Mar 1, 2018 · 2 min
58. Keep a sound and upright soul, despise Fortune
The wise person, according to Seneca, needs others to live her life, but not to live a life worth living. For that, all she needs is to keep her faculty of judgment in good order.
Mar 1, 2018 · 1 min
57. Work for the public good
Marcus Aurelius reminds us that we need to work for the public good, not pursue power, fame, or pleasure.
Mar 1, 2018 · 2 min
56. Judgments, Not Externals
Epictetus reminds us that we are in charge of our judgments about things, and talks about Socrates, who chose to be in prison
Mar 1, 2018 · 2 min
55. It's All About Character
Seneca says that it makes no difference whether your house has a roof of gold, what matters is the character of the person who lives there.