Stoic Meditations

Latest Episodes:

854. Challenging your incorrect emotions May 14, 2021

Show notes

Cicero gives a nice rundown of the Stoic theory of emotions, which holds up well according to modern cognitive science. Emotions have cognitive components, so we can challenge them when they are not good for us.

853. The nature of fear May 13, 2021

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If our concerns are in agreement with reason, they are healthy; but fear is not in agreement with reason, and it is therefore unhealthy.

852. The nature of volition May 12, 2021

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Where this strong desire is consistent and founded on prudence, it is by the Stoics called volition. And this they define it thus: volition is a reasonable desire.

851. Perturbations of the mind May 10, 2021

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Zeno’s definition, then, is this: “A perturbation” (which he calls “pathos”) “is a commotion of the mind repugnant to reason, and against nature.”

850. What is apatheia? May 07, 2021

Show notes

The sage will achieve a state of apatheia, meaning lack of disturbance from unhealthy emotions like fear, anger, and hatred. But she will also experience healthy emotions, like love, joy, and a sense of justice.

849. Five philosophical takes on grief May 06, 2021

Show notes

Cicero very clearly and succinctly explains the difference among five Hellenistic takes on grief, including two Stoic ones, one by Cleanthes (the second head of the Stoa) and one by Chrysippus (the third head).

848. Grief is an opinion May 05, 2021

Show notes

Grief arises from an opinion of some present evil, which includes this belief, that it is incumbent on us to grieve.

847. Philosophical contradictions May 04, 2021

Show notes

Most people appear to be unaware what contradictions these things are full of. They commend those who die calmly, but they blame those who can bear the loss of another with the same calmness.

846. Willing grief away May 03, 2021

Show notes

Cicero gives an example of people suddenly setting grief aside because they are absorbed in an urgent task. He infers that, therefore, grief is a matter of opinion, not of nature.

845. Facts vs judgments Apr 30, 2021

Show notes

You see, the evil is in opinion, not in nature.

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