Stoic Meditations

Latest Episodes:

114. No matter what, do your duty as a human being May 18, 2018

Show notes

Marcus Aurelius reminds us that whether we are cold or warm, ill-spoken of or praised, and dead or "doing something else," we still have a duty to make this a better world.

113. Where are you going to hide from death? May 17, 2018

Show notes

Epictetus uses his dark sense of humor to remind us that death is inevitable. At the same time, though, fear of it is not. Moreover, awareness of death is what, in a sense, gives meaning to our life.

112. Are you on the right path, or do you need a correction? May 16, 2018

Show notes

Seneca says that the right path in life consists in a good conscience, honourable purposes, right actions, contempt of luck, and an attitude of equanimity toward whatever the universe throws our way.

111. Think and act the right way, happiness will flow May 15, 2018

Show notes

Marcus Aurelius maintains that if we think and act the right way our life will be an equable flow of happiness. This is because we will do our best, but look at outcomes with equanimity.

110. What is philosophy, anyway? May 14, 2018

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Epictetus says that philosophy begins with awareness of one's mental fitness. So let's work on that, shall we?

109. What about pleasure? May 11, 2018

Show notes

Seneca says the problem with pleasure is that if one is too much into it, it rushes us into the abyss of sorrow. So it's time to discuss what pleasure means for a practitioner of Stoicism.

108. If this were you last day, what would you be proud of? May 10, 2018

Show notes

Marcus writes near the end of his life about the sort of things he did that he values, from discounting honors and other externals to having been kind even toward people who were not kind to him.

107. Respond to insults as if you were a rock May 09, 2018

Show notes

Epictetus counsels us to react to insults as if we were a rock, that is, by ignoring them. An insult is only effective if you let it be, and that power resides exclusively in your own faculty of judgment.

106. Above all, learn how to feel joy May 08, 2018

Show notes

Rather unusual advise from Seneca to his friend Lucilius: learn how to feel joy. Which doesn't sound Stoic only if one buys into the incorrect stereotype of Stoicism as a practice to suppress emotions. Let's learn how to feel joy, then.

105. The duty of a social animal capable of reason May 07, 2018

Show notes

Marcus says that we have a duty to do what a social animal capable of reason ought to do. And that's to practice virtue for the betterment of humankind.

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