Stoic Meditations

Seneca says that it is incumbent on us to take care of our body, but that we should even be willing to destroy it, if virtue demands it. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/stoicmeditations/support

Marcus reminds us that the number of Facebook likes we get is irrelevant to our happiness. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/stoicmeditations/support

Epictetus reminds his students that without logic there is no serious talking about how to live the life worth living. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/stoicmeditations/support

Seneca says that we often spend an inordinate amount of time worrying about the wrong sorts of things. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/stoicmeditations/support

Musonius Rufus says in no uncertain terms that men and women are capable, and indeed deserve, the same education, including in philosophy. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/stoicmeditations/support

Marcus Aurelius reminds us of one of the most difficult, and yet most profound, doctrines of Stoicism: nobody commits wrongs on purpose, but only because they lack understanding of good and evil. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/stoicmeditations/support

Epictetus argues that the only way to criticize reason is by way of applying reason. There are no alternative facts for the Stoics. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/stoicmeditations/support

Seneca explains to his friend Lucilius why on earth he approvingly quotes one of the Stoics' main rivals, Epicurus. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/stoicmeditations/support

Marcus Aurelius reminds himself that he can always retreat into what Pierre Hadot famously referred to as the Inner Citadel, our own mind, where we can pay attention to and refine our faculty of judgment. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/stoicmeditations/support

Epictetus cautions us to be patient while working on improving our character. Nothing important comes into being overnight. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/stoicmeditations/support

Seneca tells Lucilius to pay attention to the joys of old age, and to be grateful for every day we live. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/stoicmeditations/support

Marcus Aurelius engages in a view from above meditation, reminding himself that the quest for fame is just plain irrational. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/stoicmeditations/support

Epictetus reminds us that when we face an impression about an external thing we should consider carefully whether to assent to it, withhold assent, or remain neutral. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/stoicmeditations/support

Seneca advises Lucilius to choose a good role model to improve his character, for we cannot straighten what is crooked unless we use a ruler. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/stoicmeditations/support

Musonius Rufus says that philosophy is like medicine: if it does not make you a healthier person, it is not useful. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/stoicmeditations/support

Epictetus reminds people with power that they should remember whom they have power over: fellow human beings, made of the same stuff, wanting the same things. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/stoicmeditations/support

The wise person, according to Seneca, needs others to live her life, but not to live a life worth living. For that, all she needs is to keep her faculty of judgment in good order. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/stoicmeditations/support

Marcus Aurelius reminds us that we need to work for the public good, not pursue power, fame, or pleasure. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/stoicmeditations/support

Epictetus reminds us that we are in charge of our judgments about things, and talks about Socrates, who chose to be in prison --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/stoicmeditations/support

Seneca says that it makes no difference whether your house has a roof of gold, what matters is the character of the person who lives there. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/stoicmeditations/support