Stoic Meditations

Latest Episodes:

334. The fanciness of your scabbard says nothing about the effectiveness of your sword Apr 01, 2019

Show notes

Seneca uses the analogy of a scabbard and a sword to remind us that external goods, like wealth or health, are indeed preferable, but only in a limited fashion. What's truly important is the shape of our character.

333. What does it mean to live every day as if it were your last? Mar 29, 2019

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Marcus Aurelius advises us to live by avoiding both violent emotions and torpor, and by not being a hypocrite. But also, to treat every day as if it were our last. What does that mean?

332. The importance of sound judgment Mar 28, 2019

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Seneca provides a very clear explanation of the Stoic distinction between virtue and external things, leading to the surprising conclusion that even health is not an unquestionable good.

331. How to achieve serenity Mar 27, 2019

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Seneca talks about a major "side effect," so to speak, of the Stoic stance: achieving tranquillity of mind through the development of an attitude of equanimity.

330. Virtue is the only good, naturally Mar 26, 2019

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Cicero asserts the standard, and apparently paradoxical, Stoic position that virtue is the onyl true good. Let's see why.

329. Be aware of what you can and cannot change Mar 25, 2019

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Seneca says that Nature does not discriminate, it hands out suffering and death to everyone, eventually. But we can still make our life better by developing equanimity toward what we cannot change while trying to change what we can.

328. How to shape your character Mar 22, 2019

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Epictetus reminds us that character is a matter of habit. Willfully change your habits, and you will be on your way toward becoming a better human being.

327. Welcoming Cicero to our line up Mar 21, 2019

Show notes

This episode features our first discussion of Cicero. While not a Stoic (he considered himself an Academic Skeptic), he was sympathetic to Stoic philosophy, and frequently borrowed from it to create his own eclectic blend of moral philosophy.

326. These are your choices Mar 20, 2019

Show notes

Seneca, building on the Stoic concept of universal causation, reminds us that we don't get to say how the universe works. Our only choices are to accept it (and work within it), or take "the open door," as Epictetus puts it.

325. Can we really improve ourselves? Mar 19, 2019

Show notes

Seneca reminds us that although some people are naturally more virtuous than others, and that much depends on our family upbringing, we are capable of making rational decisions as adults. So make the decision to practice every day to become a better human being.

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