1047. A very good question

1047. A very good question

Author: Massimo Pigliucci May 2, 2022 Duration: 2:14

How long are we to go on doing the same thing?


In a world that often feels chaotic and demanding, the ancient philosophy of Stoicism offers a surprisingly practical framework for living with clarity and purpose. Stoic Meditations is a series of thoughtful, standalone episodes where professor and philosopher Massimo Pigliucci draws directly from the source material of thinkers like Marcus Aurelius, Seneca, and Epictetus. Each session focuses on a specific passage or idea, unpacking its meaning and, more importantly, its direct application to the challenges of modern life. You’ll hear Pigliucci’s calm and considered voice guiding you through these reflections, not as abstract history lessons, but as immediate tools for managing anxiety, making ethical decisions, and cultivating resilience. This isn't about academic lectures; it's about turning timeless wisdom into personal practice. The episodes are deliberately concise, designed to be absorbed during a quiet moment of your day, providing a grounded perspective that lingers long after the audio ends. For anyone curious about philosophy that is meant to be lived, not just studied, this podcast serves as both an accessible introduction and a deep, recurring resource. The production, with its original music, supports a contemplative atmosphere, making each meditation a genuine pause for reflection. Tune in to find a steady, reasoned companion for navigating complexity, one ancient insight at a time.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 100

Stoic Meditations
Podcast Episodes
1033. Ethics and morality are the same thing [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:24
Because it relates to character, called in Greek ethos, we usually term that part of philosophy ‘the study of character.’ But the suitable course is to add to the Latin language by giving this subject the name of ‘moral…
1032. On magnanimity [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:18
It is no proof of a great mind to give and to throw away one’s bounty; the true test of a great mind is to throw away one’s bounty and still to give.
1031. The importance of memory [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:55
Consider within yourself, whether you have always shown gratitude to those to whom you owe it, whether no one’s kindness has ever been wasted upon you, whether you constantly bear in mind all the benefits which you have…
1030. Socrates' cloak [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:35
Seneca tells the story of when Socrates asked his friends for money to buy a cloak, and reminds us of our duty to bestow benefits on our friends before they even ask.
1029. The problem with being ultra-wealthy [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 3:10
Wretched is he who can take pleasure in the size of the audit book of his estate, in great tracts of land cultivated by slaves in chains, in huge flocks and herds which require provinces and kingdoms for their pasture gr…
1028. Useful vs leisure knowledge [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 3:02
There is nothing which is hard to discover except those things by which we gain nothing beyond the credit of having discovered them. Whatever things tend to make us better or happier are either obvious or easily discover…
1027. Memorize reminders to be ready to act [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 3:17
The cynic Demetrius had an admirable saying about this, that one gained more by having a few wise precepts ready and in common use, than by learning many without having them at hand.
1025. A long list of dangerous fools [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 3:58
Do you not see how powerful people are driven to ruin by the want of candor among their friends, whose loyalty has degenerated into slavish obsequiousness?
1024. Some things are worth much more than the asking price [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 3:06
Some things are of greater value than the price which we pay for them. You buy of a physician life and good health, the value of which cannot be estimated in money; from a teacher you buy the education of a gentleman and…