Stoic Meditations

Latest Episodes:

364. Virtue is all-or-nothing, and yet, we can make progress May 13, 2019

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Cicero talks about one of the classic Stoic paradoxes: virtue is all-or-nothing, and yet one can make progress toward it. How is this possible? In this episode we explain, by way of a geometrical analogy.

363. Do the right thing because it is the right thing to do May 10, 2019

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Marcus Aurelius argues that when we do something right we shouldn't expect either recognition or a return. Otherwise, we are doing the right thing for the wrong reason.

362. Let us postpone nothing. Let us balance life’s account every day. May 09, 2019

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Seneca reminds us that we do not actually know when "the remorseless law of Fate" has fixed the time of our death. Therefore, we should prioritize what's important, postpone nothing, and balance our life’s account every day.

361. No sensation of evil can reach one who is dead May 08, 2019

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Seneca agrees with Epicurus: there is no sense in fearing what happens after death, since we won't be there to experience it. Therefore, we should not allow religious and political authorities to manipulate us through that fear.

360. Not feeling pain would make us inhuman, not sages May 07, 2019

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Seneca talks to his friend Lucilius about how to console the bereaved, dispelling the stereotype of Stoics as individuals who go through life with a stiff upper lip.

359. The universe is morally neutral May 06, 2019

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Seneca says that good and evil are not in the world per se, but in our judgments about the world, and the actions we take as a consequence of those judgments. Which is why training ourselves to arrive at better judgments is so crucial.

358. Challenge your impressions, don't "just do it" May 03, 2019

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Epictetus tells us about a fundamental Stoic technique: never act on first impressions and implied judgments. Always pause, challenge your impressions, make the judgments explicit, and see whether they were on target or not.

357. The view from above, Seneca style May 02, 2019

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Here is Seneca's version of an exercise most often associated with Marcus Aurelius: when you feel overwhelmed by your problems, take a minute to consider a broader perspective. When your mind is calmer, come back to earth and tackle the problems.

356. What ought to be done must be learned from one who does it May 01, 2019

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Seneca suggests we pick a role model to help us become better persons. This ancient practice actually gets some empirical confirmation from modern psychology. So, who's your model, and why?

355. If someone can withstand fire or exile, surely you can overcome something... Apr 30, 2019

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Seneca lists an impressive gallery of ancient Roman role models, who have done brave things to safeguard their ideals. Surely, then, we can find the courage to overcome our comparatively small problems in everyday life, no?

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