Stoic Meditations

Latest Episodes:

554. The mixed roots of virtue Feb 25, 2020

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According to Stoic moral developmental psychology we begin life as self centered organisms, whose prosocial behavior develops initially by instinct, and then proceeds further with the aid of reason.

553. Things that have value outside of virtue Feb 24, 2020

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Things like health and wealth are choiceworthy. But what gives them value is, specifically, that they are the raw materials through which we exercise our chief good: virtue.

552. Our natural delight in the use of reason Feb 20, 2020

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Cicero explains that human beings are naturally drawn to the use of reason, beginning when they are children. He also talks about the Stoic concept of katalepsis, the kind of impression so strong that it is undeniable.

551. The root of virtue: self love Feb 19, 2020

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Cicero has Cato the Younger explain a fundamental concept of Stoic developmental psychology: how virtue is rooted in innate self love, and how we do things that are good for us regardless of pleasure and pain.

550. The crucial importance of technical words Feb 18, 2020

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Cicero explains why philosophy needs a technical vocabulary, and we look at the sort of issues this may cause when talking to people who are unfamiliar with such vocabulary.

549. Virtue vs pleasure Feb 17, 2020

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At the onset of book III of Cicero's De Finibus, Cato the Younger explain the difference between the Epicurean and Stoic positions on the respective values of pleasure and virtue.

548. Teach or endure Feb 14, 2020

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People exist for the sake of one another. Teach them then or bear with them.

547. Two scenarios for the after-death Feb 13, 2020

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Marcus Aurelius contemplates two possible scenarios for what happens after we die. Neither one of which justifies our fears on the matter. Better to focus instead on the fact that we are alive, here and now.

546. What is properly ours and what is not Feb 12, 2020

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Marcus Aurelius reminds us that just as we do not control other people's bodies, so we do not control their opinions and judgments. We should, therefore, be concerned chiefly with improving our own.

545. Of bitter cucumbers and thorny briars Feb 11, 2020

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“A cucumber is bitter.” Throw it away. “There are briars in the road.” Turn aside from them. This is enough. Do not add, “And why were such things made in the world?”

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