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 1, 2018 · 2 min
14. Read well, not a lot
Seneca reminds us that reading is serious business, and that time is limited. Choose well the authors in whose company you wish to spend time.
Mar 1, 2018 · 2 min
13. The duties of friendship
Marcus reminds us that we have duties toward the people we live with, and how to be positive about our friends.
Mar 1, 2018 · 1 min
12. How to act toward others
The second century Stoic Hierocles sounds very Christian, and for good reasons.
Mar 1, 2018 · 1 min
11. Seneca on not wasting time
This could be the last day of your life. Are you going to waste it by binging on a mediocre television show?
Feb 28, 2018 · 2 min
10. Is the wise person self sufficient?
Seneca puts forth a paradox: the wise person is self-sufficient, and yet she desires friends and neighbors. How is this possible?
Feb 28, 2018 · 1 min
9. Take care of your mind, it's precious
Epictetus notes that we can do a lot more with our mind than with our body. And yet we obsess over the latter and care little for the former.
Feb 28, 2018 · 2 min
8. Don't do anything that requires a wall or a curtain
The emperor-philosopher tells us that there is no profit for our character in doing things that require lying, being hypocritical, or otherwise damage our integrity.
Dec 30, 2017 · 1 min
7. Time to die or to go lunch?
Epictetus tells us that we have to tend to whatever is happening right now. If we are about to die, let’s deal with it. But if not...
Dec 29, 2017 · 1 min
6. Don’t postpone, life speeds by
Seneca tells us that time is a precious commodity, and one that, once loaned, can never be paid back.
Dec 27, 2017 · 1 min
5. Useful vs pedantic knowledge
Musonius Rufus reminds us of the difference between useful philosophy and dull mind games.
Dec 26, 2017 · 2 min
4. Focus on what is in your power
Epictetus reminds us of the wisdom of understanding what is and is not under our control.
Dec 24, 2017 · 2 min
3. Marcus on not getting offended
Marcus Aurelius reminds us that it is a strange thing to get offended by what people say or do.
Dec 22, 2017 · 1 min
2. Epictetus on what is good
Epictetus teaches us what is truly good in life.
Dec 21, 2017 · 1 min
1. Marcus is thankful
Marcus Aurelius is thankful to his grandfather and his mother.