Stoic Meditations

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174. Learn from teachers who do, not just talk Aug 13, 2018

Show notes

Seneca advices his friend Lucilius to pay attention to people who act right, not just talk right. When we pick a role model to improve our character, let's pick someone whose actions we want to imitate, they are a better guidance to virtue.

173. Compel Fortuna to play on equal terms Aug 10, 2018

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Seneca argues that we can force Fortuna, the goddess of luck, to deal with us on equal terms, by not being slaves to external things we cannot control. Cultivate equanimity, and Fortuna will play fair with you.

172. Pay attention to what others say, inhabit their minds Aug 09, 2018

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Marcus Aurelius gives some commonsensical advice on how to interact with other people, which leads us to a brief discussion of what counts as "Stoic" advice in the first place.

171. Revenge is not justice Aug 08, 2018

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Epictetus reminds his students that engaging in a wrong act, even one done in response to an injustice, stains our own character, and therefore hurts us first and foremost. Stoics don't favor retributive justice systems.

170. What's the problem with the passions? Aug 07, 2018

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Seneca reminds us of the distinction between unhealthy and healthy emotions: being overwhelmed by the first ones tears us apart internally, while cultivating the second ones brings harmony to our psyche.

169. No pain no gain, says Musonius Aug 06, 2018

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Musonius Rufus, in an implicit rebuttal to the Epicureans, reminds us of all the things that is worth experiencing pain to achieve, most importantly being a good, just, and temperate person.

168. You should live neither in a place of torture nor in a cafe Aug 03, 2018

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Seneca gives rare advice on one's abode. It should be a place that does not get in the way of practicing virtue, which means neither too uncomfortable (if we can avoid it) nor too luxurious or distracting.

167. Philosophy may be painful or a pleasure, but it's worth it Aug 02, 2018

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Seneca disagrees with Epictetus: the first says that philosophy is a pleasant medicine, the second that it is a painful one. And yet they agree that it is a remedy that, taken regularly, makes for a wholesome life.

166. Is the problem with the place, or with you? Aug 01, 2018

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Seneca says that more often than we realize we blame our problems on the time and place we live in, without understanding that the fault may be with us, and that we should work on ourselves, instead of finding excuses.

165. You want to change the world? Begin by changing yourself Jul 31, 2018

Show notes

Seneca argues that we are born with the ability to reason and to improve our reasoning. We are also naturally social, and prefer virtue over vice. Hard to believe, right? And yet, he's got a point.

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