Stoic Meditations

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. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/stoicmeditations/support

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. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/stoicmeditations/support

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. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/stoicmeditations/support

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. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/stoicmeditations/support

Epictetus says that philosophy begins with awareness of one's mental fitness. So let's work on that, shall we? --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/stoicmeditations/support

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. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/stoicmeditations/support

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. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/stoicmeditations/support

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. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/stoicmeditations/support

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. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/stoicmeditations/support

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. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/stoicmeditations/support

Tough topic for this episode: what is known as Epictetus' open door policy, that is, the Stoic idea that suicide is permissible, under certain circumstances. And indeed, that it is its possibility that gives us freedom and courage to fight on. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/stoicmeditations/support

Seneca explains that one doesn't have to be an Epicurean in order to find value in the words of Epicurus. It's like in the Senate: you vote for the parts of a motion you approve of, and reject the rest. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/stoicmeditations/support

Marcus Aurelius reminds us that justice is a crucial virtue in Stoicism, and we need to constantly keep it at the forefront. He also says that we need to evaluate our impressions of things, before acting. Don't just do it, stop and think about it first! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/stoicmeditations/support

Epictetus uses a nice metaphor in which the universe is our trainer, sending us tough stuff to deal with so that we get used to breaking a sweat and prepare for the Olympics of life. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/stoicmeditations/support

Musonius Rufus tells us that it isn't enough to know that we should be virtuous, we need to constantly practice virtue. Stoicism is not a magic wand, but it will change your life, and is well worth the effort. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/stoicmeditations/support

Seneca tells Lucilius that it is crucial, from time to time, to engage in exercises of self deprivation, so to prepare ourselves for whenever luck will turn, and also to be grateful and appreciative of what we normally have and may take for granted. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/stoicmeditations/support

On the day of Marcus Aurelius' birthday, April 26, let's reflect on a simple Stoic precept: good or bad lie in actions, thoughts, and words, not in the praise or blame that those things get from others. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/stoicmeditations/support

Epictetus clearly states one of the fundamental principles of Stoicism: the dichotomy of control. Once we realize that some things are up to us and other things aren't, it follows that we should focus on the first ones and cultivate equanimity toward the latter ones. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/stoicmeditations/support

Seneca says that talk is easy, but the real measure of whether we are making progress lies in our practice. Have our desires for the wrong things decreased? Are we focusing on what is truly important? --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/stoicmeditations/support

Marcus Aurelius reminds us that fame is ephemeral and intrinsically meaningless. What we do for others and to improve ourselves here and now is what really counts. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/stoicmeditations/support