Stoic Meditations

Latest Episodes:

824. Epaminondas, one of the most excellent men who ever lived Apr 01, 2021

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Cicero refers to the story of the Theban general Epaminondas, who sacrificed his life to free his people from the Spartan yoke. If he was capable of that, surely we can withstand the pains and setbacks of ordinary life.

823. When Zeno bit the tyrant Mar 31, 2021

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Cicero tells the story of Zeno of Elea, a philosopher who withstood torture and faced death in order to overthrow tyranny. Remember that, the next time you complain about a toothache...

822. Pain and mental attitude Mar 30, 2021

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While physical pain may be inevitable, our mental attitude makes a significant difference — for better or worse, depending on how we choose to see things.

821. Better to be a sick person with integrity than a healthy lier Mar 29, 2021

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Health has value, and is therefore preferred in the Stoic system. However, it is not an intrinsic good, and if in order to stay healthy you have to cheat others, you should accept the chances that you might get sick.

820. How to learn to bear pain Mar 26, 2021

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Cicero suggests that getting used to one kind of discomfort or pain will allow us to more easily bear another kind. This is the basis for some modern Stoic exercises, like taking a cold shower.

819. The crucial importance of patience Mar 25, 2021

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I do not deny pain to be pain—for were that the case, in what would courage consist?—but I say it should be assuaged by patience, if there be such a thing as patience: if not, why do we speak so in praise of philosophy?

818. Courage vs pain Mar 24, 2021

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For the Epicureans virtue is instrumental in achieving ataraxia, a life of tranquillity. For the Stoics ataraxia is a byproduct, a result of the fact that the virtuous person can take on any challenge in life with a serene mind.

817. Should we ban the poets? Mar 23, 2021

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Poetry and fiction tug at our emotions. They are pleasant and powerful, but they may also be manipulative. While Plato's solution to ban poets is not a good idea, we should keep our critical sense on guard so not to be manipulated.

816. On bearing pain Mar 22, 2021

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I cannot allow the wise person to be so indifferent about pain. If they bear it with courage, it is sufficient. For pain is, beyond all question, sharp, bitter, against nature, hard to submit to and to bear.

815. Pleasure, pain, virtue Mar 19, 2021

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Cicero on Epicureanism: "What disgrace, what ignominy, would he not submit to that he might avoid pain, when persuaded that it was the greatest of evils?"

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